The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-15
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THE TELEPHONE NATTER AGAIN
THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
Petition to Council For Increase Of
Telephone Rates-Increase Will Be
Granted But Sumter Telephone
Company Not Permitted to Sell
Out.

COunCI ue1C les t1icli AA1COeiiAC "
o'clock p. m. Wednesday.
Present: W. B. Boyle, Mayor; AL
dernan J. H. Chandler, Pep. Finn,
r. F. Haynsworth, e. H. Rhame and
R. K. Wilder.
Absent: Alderman W. A. Bowman,
H. D. Barnett and H. c. Haynsworth.
Minutes Of July 25th and August
2nd, were read and approved.
Mr.. I. C. Strauss, representing The
Sumter Telephone Company presen-
ted an agreement signed by a ma
iority of their patrons that the COM
pany may have authority to increase
rates as follows: For special line
business service, $3.50 per month.
For special line residence service,
$500 per month.
For duplex business service $500
per month.
For duplex residence service, :s1.5os
per month. &
Agreeing further that there shall:
be no other rates and that rates
shall be the same for all persons USE
ing phones of either class. That all
except residence phones shall be
deemed business phones. The signers
requesting the company to give
through same proper arrangement,
toll line service with the towns Of
Manning and Bishopville.. And pro-
viding that additional charge shall be
made for service over country lines
owned or operated by the company.
Mr.. l.. D. Jennings presented
petition from patrons Of the company
asking that any contact council may
make with the company allowing an
increase of rates shall contain
complete assurance that such new
rates shall insure to the benefit and
advantage of the local company, only
so long as they operate an exchange
themselves, and that the new rates
sshal not be used as means for the
sale of their property to any foreign
corporation and that the stockholders
be prohibited by the said contract
from selling their stock to any for
4ign corporation or allied interest
and put the citizens Of Sumter
und control Of a monopoly. Mr..
Str. IS stated that the company is
not resorting to, deception or subter-
fuge of any kind, and does not now
intend to sell to the Bell Company
or any other company, except by re-
quest of council and majority Of
their patrons. They tiill try the new
rates and if they c@-Inot operate sue
cessfully under them will come back
to the council He further stated
that he was willing that council shall
sipulate that the new. rates shall not
apply to their successors or assigns,
as an evidence of good faith. On
motion of Mr.. Haynsworth, it was
Resolved, that the request Of the
sumter Telephone Company be gran
tee ON condition that they enter into
a contract drawn UP in form salts
factory to the Special Committee in
charge Of the matter, under advice OF
their attorney and subject to ap-
proval of council, guaranteeing that
the Increased rates shall not lnnure
to the benefit of the successor or as
signs of said compnoy. But that'aH
other companies, and any company
10 whom the Sumner Telephone Com
pany may sell their stock, property
rights or franchises, shall operate
under the General Telephone ordl-
nance now in force.
Mr.. Rhame for the Finance Com.
mittee, reported approval of claims
referred 10 lHSIll. anu l4ic~e viz
and treasurers report for July had
been examined and found correct.
On statement of the clerk, that
loan of $4,000 is necessary to meet
current expenses, a resolution was
adopted, authorizing the mayor ana
clerk to borrow that amount, and
give therefor the city's certificate OF
indebtedness in required forms
Messrs. George P. and O. Il. NC
Kagen We're granted the privilege OIL
n,oving a small! galvanized iron build
ing from one place to another With
in the fire limits.
The opera House Committee was
authorized to secure estimates OF re-
pairs and painting needed in the
opera House.
A petition from citizens for a light
and fire hydrant on Haskell St was
referred to the committee Of Puphc