The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-12
"HOME' COMPANY IS
AN AR TFUL OOOCER
Every Effort to Obtain the Information Demanded by Tax
payers and Councilman Is Still Futile, Though Represen-
taives of the Local End Of the Big An-Bel Combine
Criticise the Old Company and Give Out All Kinds Of
Promises to What They Are Going to Do.

The Home Telephone company. which.
as stated exclusively yesterday In The
News-D Democrat, is local manifestation
OF a kind OF chronic movement against
the Bell Telephone company ana allied
interests all oyer the country, mas now
succeeded in obtaining franchises In SIX
Rhode Island towns without making any
other guarantee than II offered 70 the
people OF harrington, whose council turn
ed down the proposition.
The town councils OF Warwick. Cow
entry, Burrillville. Glocester Cumberland
and Scituate have granted franchises
without knowing who are the stockhold-
ers In the new company or just what KIND
OF system will be installed.
When asked today whether the Rhode
Island people who are back OF the new
company are the principal stockholders,
or merely own enough TO give them the
name % being stockholders, gentleman
company's interests i'm this section said;
II couldn't say as to that" which gave
the impression that there is at least one
thing about the new company that some
or those interested I'm IL do not know.
That the Bell interests are alive 10 the
situation and are preparing TO meet II,
Is shown by their activity in various sec
tons OF New England. In one instance
they have offered to string wires a dis
tance OF six miles and install phones IL
only three persons will sign contracts for
Telephone company 10 install phones free
for "A three months trial is also regarded
as bid for business that possibly might
not have been made at this time had not
the spectre of competition appeared on
the Rhode Island horizon.
Discussing the enormous profits In the
telephone business, as illustrated during
the battles before town councils In this
state for and against the granting OF
franchises, representative OF the Home
Telephone company said today:
''Why, the Providence Telephone people
offered the town OF Warren the munih-
cent sum Of / per cent. OF their gross
earnings In the town in exchange for an
exclusive franchise. and when asked what
the gross earnings were said 80, 900. which
meant that the company was willing 10
give the town s9e per -yeaT-It also offered
one free telephone. another at half price.
and TO reduce prices in Warren 20 cor
respond with any redi---ion that might be
made elsewhere in the state. a rather un-
certain guarantee. 10 my mind.
When asked what were the net earn
inRs. II was stated that they were about
40 per cent. Think OF IL. 40 per cent. on
such an outlay, an everage of over $40 per
phone in n little town like Warren.
You haven't any idea about how the
people feel on this franchise question.
have II on excellent authority that the
fear that the old town council In South
Kingstown would grant an exclusive
franchise TO the Providence Telephone
company wus the most potent factor I'm
the defeat OF the Republicans in that
town at the last election.
THE people do not want and will not
countenance monopoly. They want
honest competition. and that is what the