Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-17
Merchants Association Against
Telephone Ordinance in
Present Form.
FIX THE RATE is DEMAND
Situation AS a Result Of Last Nights
Meeting at the Rock Island
House.

sent, without a maximum rate clause
: In this manner after the telephone
question had been we'll gone over al
2 the meeting of the Retail Merchants
association last evening at the Rock
Island house a resolution was passed
authorizing the appointment of com
mittee with instructions TO draw reso
lutions condemning the last proposed
ordinance and to present them to the
council.
Parpose Accomplished.
; The purpose of the promoters of the
meeting was accomplished The dis
cussion was not given over to person
alities, street car franchises or any
I other franchises except for telephone
l service There was a sensible discus
i sion of the question, which resulted in
a full understanding of each others
position by the Central Union Teie-
phone company and the Retail Merch-
ants association. The merchants
heard the same things from the tele-
phone company that the council has
been hearing for weeks, and the tele-
phone representatives heard the same
things from the merchants that they
| had heard from the council two months
or more ago. The councilmen, not act
ing for themselves individually, but for
their constituents, moved slowly and
with consideration; the merchants had
no hesitancy in stating their positions
without any proposed compromise.
History of Controversy.
w. c. Maucker was called upon by
President Myers of the association to
open the discussion with something on
pending
I'm years past" he said, Eve had
only one telephone company, the Cen
trail Union. About or 10 years ago
the service afforded the people was
very poor The telephone users COM
planned most bitterly. Committees
were called together from both Rock
Island and Moline relative to tele-
phonic affairs and to see if we could
not get better service. Joint meetings
were then called of all the organiza-
tons in the two cities TO insist on bet |
ter service for the money the telephone
users were paying.
Il was a solicitor for the Bills indie |
pendent company. and received assur- !
anceS from the merchants that they |
would cut out the old service if new |
company was admitted This company |
came before the council with its prop
osition and was voted down and out
That was the end of the first effort to
secure better service
Lntcr Results.
After that agitation the Central
Union company made strenuous efforts
to improve the service, but the fire of
discomfort had been kindled and at
later day the new company came in
AMI was given franchise
This franchise was given not as /.
basis for better service. but on a lower
rate. There was tacit agreement
among the business men to turn to the
new company for telephone service,
but this corporation did not have cap /.
tai enough for modern equipment !,
and for months it was anything but
Thus, instead of the pa ;
ronage going to one company it was
divided and today VIC have the two y.
telephones
Ratc Qucn.iOn.
Mr. Maucker then took up the rate
question expressing il as his opinion +,
hat the mailman be fixed and as his
that the company will =
lot be satisfied with fixing it's present
maximum rate in the ordinance, but
wants TO leave that open for an In
rease with the growth of the city. 1t
vas his opinion that the new company ,
hould be accorded the same privileges
s the old and in that case the mer- :,
hants might be compelled TO pay $3.50 =.
year for telephone service. He made
ONE criticism of the city council for =
s executive sessions and it's proceed
re. .,
Hon. William NoEniry.
Mr.. Maucker has made a very fair -
tatement of the history of the situa- ;,
on as l recall it, said Hon. William =
IcEniry, who was called upon to pre- ;,
9nt the side of the Central Union Tel
phone company "One correction | n
ould make, however, is as to his init :,
ation that the franchise of the Cen
al Union Telephone company has ex- =,
red. 1t contends that it's rights are
lie same as in 1897 But trouble has
risen, and the Central Union Tele- o.
hone company is like you merchants. =.
hen there is difference between you ::
Id one of your customers you want
settle it amicably if you can. The
has been determined not to
, outdone by the council in its prop tb
ition to meet and treat with them III
Opening OF the Books. o.,
1.-The council presented TO the com. ad
my an ordinance and asked it to ac- Pl
pit that. The Telephone company CT
piled that it would not accept it. but
ould submit one to the council. The an
uncil said, You have cut out the tax
d the rate clause The company
i'd, We will open our books to you