The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-06-05
Not Keeping the Agreement.

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When the Delaware and Atlantic Tele
phone Company applied for franchise t,
i lay its conduita and wires under the street
of Mount Holly, it agreed to furnish fv,
telephones, to be placed where designated
by the Township Committee, for free use
of the places where put. There was
string to the agreement, however, anc
that was in the shape of a proviso that the
telephones should be used for municipal
purposes only. The Township Com
mittee designated as the places for these
instruments the four fire houses and the
public school building.
Within the past two weeks the agent of
the Telephone Company, who has been en-
deavoring to secure certain privileges, has
very calmly presented to those In change
of the buildings referred to, contract
reading as follows: Permission is hereby
granted to the Delaware and Atlantic
Telegraph and Telephone Company to
place and maintain its conduits, cable,
junction box, rings and wires on the prem
ises known as (name of the building J
said Company agrees to maintain and in
stal free of charge a telephone for the ex-
elusive use of the borough authorities and
for matters directly connected with fire
company or school affairs, to all stations
connected with the exchange to which
this telephone Is connected, as per agree
ment of September 16. 1906"
In presenting this the agent has told of
securing the consent of all but the institu-
tion to which he is then applying, when
as fact 1t is question whether he has
secured single permission. There is no
reason why such contract should be
signed. Under the agreement of Septem-
Der 16, 1905, the Telephone Company is
bound to put in instruments without any
privilege whatever being given beyond |
he valuable franchise granted by the |
Township Committee The only question
is whether the fire companies will allow
telephone to be put in their houses with
the restrictions that the agreement recites,
VIZ: Ito be used for fire purposes only. :"
How worthless such telephone would be
is plain to be seen.
The Board of Education, at its last
meeting, with all the members present.
adopted a resolution to
refuse to allow phone to be
Installed in the school building on the
terms of the agreement signed by the
Company and not to allow the conduits or
other appliances placed on any part of the
school property under any condition.
The action of the Telephone Company
Is another instance of its sharp practice In
dealing with the public. The agreement
On file In the Office of the Township Clerk
Is entirely different from the verbal prom
ses OF the agent who worked the fran
ohise through. He distinctly stated that
he I'VE telephones to be put In would be
given unrestricted use over a certain cir
lie. His attention was especially called
20 the fact that Delaware and Atlantic
telephone would be of much benefit as a
means OF communication between our
schools and the County Superintendent
Ind he said that arrangement should be
made. But that promise was entirely ig-
lored, the Company drew its own agree
nent and the Township Committee meek
y signed the paper presented.
Probably that emboldened the corpora
ion to make further demands and it ,
nay be working on the idea that the en-.
Ire town is an easy mark. 1t should /
'e made to discover its error.