Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-13
RATES DISCUSSED
Mayor Presents Communications
From Various illinois
Cities.
EXPERT TO EXAMINE BOOKS
Council Requests Merchants and Labor
Union Men to Act-Proposed
Advance Saloon License.

the telephone question. The mayor had
made inquiry by telegraph of various
cities in Illinois of about the size of
Rock Island and had received answer
from most of them. Among these were
East st. Louis, Quincy, Decatur, where
the greater difference was found. In
presenting these to the council he eX-
planned the principle in telephone bus
| mess that the larger the population
and exchange, the higher the price of
service must be. and said that he did
not know whether the telephone com
pany figured on Rock Island as unit
or whether the tri-cities composed the
unit.
Tri-Citles the Unit.
Mr.. Rottger of the Central Union
company in answer said that they do
| figure the trl-citieS as the unit, as the
demand is principally for tri-city SER
vice, although they now have rate
for Rock Island aud Moline service.
| AS to East st. Louis it was explained
| that the service and rate there is for
East St. Louis alone, and every time
| they want to talk to st. Louis parties
It costs 10 cents. In Decatur there is
a rate of $4S on an exchange of 1880
phones. The rate for Rock Island and
Moline is the same on an exchange of
5000 phones. but it is $50 for the tri-
cities ON an exchange of over 5000
lphones. In Quincy the rate was cheap
er than in Rock Island, but it is on a
service of 1000 as against the 5000
here. In Peoria the business rate is
he l. hh N
vidual rate is Sc more than it is here.
lalthough the exchange there is less
than 1000 and here it is over 5000.
| Goes Over One Week.
| BY common consent of the council
1.-THE whole matter was allowed to go
lover for one week, it being stated by
the aldermen that this is a large prop
losition, one that they have been work
ing on night and day for weeks and
months, and it is their desire that the
Ipeople become familiar with the ordin-
ance as proposed before it is up for
final passage They realize that the
people are now where the aldermen
stood there months ago, before they
had given so much attention to the
question. Each point has been fought
out on the floor of the council chamber
until now. with the exception of the
labor clause. and possibly the rate
clause, the ordinance is practically
ready for adoption.
Want Constituents Informed.
| 1t was their expressed desire that
the people be informed on the matter
before action was taken, as they are
laware of the difference of opinion, that
exists.
| Aid. Sexton stated that he had not
| changed his opinion in the matter;
that he stood for the passage of the or
dinance, but as he had received pro-
tests from his constituents he thought
it advisable to give more time to the
matter 1t was his opinion that with
education on the subject the prejudice
heretofore held by both aldermen and
people would disappear.
Alderman Eckhart said that the rep
utations of the aldermen had been be-
smrched without cause and upon
| Misrepresentation of the facts: that he
| had been one of the hardest fighters
against the company and was not
through with it yet and he thought
there was time enough for besmirch-
| ing regulations after the council had
done wrong, if it does do wrong.
Aid. Wilson said that there was no
ground for the assertion that the
whole thing had been agreed to; that it
was left open until that evening when
| it was expected that all the aldermen
| would be present and have an oppor-
tunity to offer any amendments de
sired
Secret Sessions.
| Aid. Wilson also referred to the Sc
| cret sessions in a committee OF the
whole, in which the mayor.ccity clerk
and city attorney all took part. He OK
planned, and his explanation was sub
Stimulated by other aldermen and the
representatives of the company, that
a committee asked permission to go
over the books of the corporation. This
permission was given with the proviso
that such information as was gained in
| the search through the private affairs
Of the company should be for the infor-
nation of the council alone and not be
given publication The committee did
investigate and it was this report that
was made in private and secret ses-
sion. The representatives of the COM
pany stated publicly that it was at
their request that these sessions were
held.
Rate Clause.
The rate clause as practically agreed |
upon by the aldermen present at the |
meeting Saturday night provides that |
Rock Island shall have the same rates |
as cities of the same size and character |
for the same class of service (meaning |
individual or party lines). but the city |
1oes not waive the right to fix the |
rates provided any subsequent act of |
the legislature grants to cities this |
right
81, Hear w. c. Nnucker.
w. c. Maucker. rating book secretary |
rfs thee, Retail Merchants association, !.