Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-13
The Telephone Situation.

of the subject attention and thus to
form their own conclusions as to the
wise course to pursue in the interest
OF public welfare as well as public con-
venience. The council has been going
through season of education on the
subject of telephony as prescribed by
the Central Union company and as ap-
plicable TO Rock Island. The people
should have the benefit of the same eX-
perience, and TO the end that they may
have the advantage of such informa-
ton as is at hand the present status
OF the case may be summed up briefly.
This is the condition that confronts
the city: 1t may effect a compromise
with the company enjoying privileges
in the city at the present time, obtain
what it can in betterment of service,
accommodations and rates, on the
strength of a 25-years franchise, or it
may throw the entire controversy into
the courts for adjudication.
So far the council has been inclined
toward compromise if this can be ac-
compliShed in a manner profitable
TO those who are to be served with
telephone service. To this end, the
company has agreed to do a number
of things. which may be enumerated as
follows: To put its wires under ground
in the fire district at an expenditure
of 100000, to give the city 10 tele-
phones, 80 of which are for public
service, fire, or police alarm and the
others, supposedly for city officials, and
to supply such other instruments as
may be desired by the city at half
rates; to waive its claims TO perpetual
franchise; 70 use two of its ducts in
the underground system and also its
poles in all parts of the city for the
conveyance of wires for the fire or
police alarm service; 10. charge only
such rates as are in force in cities of
like size and character, with the pro-
vision that the council does not waive
the right of the city to fix the rate at
any time the power be so given under
existing franchises by legislative en-
actment
The council has yielded TO the COM
pany on the point that while the COM
pany is to install the wires essential TO
the operation of the police and fire
alarm systems both in the underground
and on the poles. the company need not
furnish the material or take upon it
self the responsibility of maintenance;
that the company is not to forfeit all
property in case its stock is transfer
red to competing company.
This leaves three points still in dis
pute-the per cent franchise tax, the
rate question, and recognition of union
labor
Regarding what has been accom-
plished. the company has made con-
cession as TO the underground system,
which, while it may not have come
otherwise during the life of the pres
ent material in use in the overhead
apparatus. will prove mutually advan-
tageous as between the company and
the people, and in any event is emf
nently desirable and the quicker it is
secured the better. The free telephone
concession is something, particularly
as it would apply to general city bust
ness, but it would not prove so service
able to the fire department if an auto
matte alarm is installed. The taking
care of police and fire alarm wires
and overhead would be
very desirable.
AS to the points on which the city
has made concessions, they are not ma
terial and seem reasonable. In bust
ness transaction any corporation would
be expected to protect itself from re-
sponsibility over which it had no con-
troll in the matter of maintenance and
an agreement that would involve the
possibility of forfeiture of property
would, it is contended, affect bond is
sues.
So that, coming down to the three
points still at issue, the question
least important as far as the uses of
the service are concerned, and might
be withdrawn if the company could be
brought to reasonable terms on the
other propositions. The rate question
might be adjusted through limitation
of the franchise or stipulation as to
how many years stated rate may be
in effect The labor condition is of
utmost Importance. The council has
asked that the company agree to sub
scribe to the union labor scale and the
day. The company has held
this to be impracticable owing to diff
ferent conditions existing in different
cities, but has expressed willingness TO
include a clause not to discriminate
against union labor in the employment
of help The council has met this with
a counter proposition that union labor
be given the preference. And there
hat matter rests. The suggestion has
been made that this phase of the ques-
ton could be readily cleared up by the
company entering into a contract with
union labor as applied to it's Rock Is
and plant. and this might afford a log
cal solution.
With the situation thus in mind, the
people may reach their conclusion as