The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-19
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

CGIY COONOlu Ih1A1AA~NO"
The City Council held its regular
meeting Wednesday evening at s
O'Clock p. m.
Present-Mayor w. B. Boyle, Al
aermen H. D. Barnett, w. A. Bow
man, J. H. Chandler, P. P. Finn, r.
+. Haynsworth, E. H. Rhame and R.
K Wilder.
Absent-Alderman H. c. Hayns-
worth.
Minutes Of August Sta asd goth
were read and approved.
Mr.. M. II. Beck requested council
TO order removal of an electric light
pole from in front of a store on Har-
win street, in order that he might
erect an awning. The request was
referred to the committee Of Public
Works.
Mr.. Nein orDonnell complained Of
coal dust from cinders placed on
East Liberty street, ard asked that
the cinders be removed or covered
with rock OF. clay. Referred to COM
mittee on Public Works with power
TO act
I. {. Strauss addressed the
council in regard to petition of The
su,s,tsr Telephone Company, for per-
mission to increase rates as agreed
by their subscribers. He repeated in
part the arguments and promises
made at previous meetings. He sub
Ynitted a. contract which the company
proposed to enter into with any
members of council, or other citizens
that would absolutely prevent the
sale Of their rights, property or stock
for period of three or five years.
Mr.. Strauss also presented an ordi-
nance for adoption, whereby rates
were to be advanced as agreed by
the subscribers. Major Marion Noise
was also heard on behalf of the COM
pany. He declared that all they
want is to get their business on a
paying basis by charging rates thatare
generally regarded as reasonable and
just Mr.. T. 3. Fraser, attorney for
the special committee having charge
of the matter Of telephone rates, 6e-
clared that parties who may buy the
stock of the company would not be
successors in the legal sense, and
would be entitled to the same rates
as may now be allowed the company.
Mr.. Fraser further stated that an
agreement by the company or the
stockholders not to sell their stock
would not be a binding contract, but
the option contract offered by the
company would be good if made with
individual members Of council or
other persons for a reasonable time.
Whether council should make such
contract is a business proposition
for them to determine for themselves.
A letter was read from The Sumter
Telephone Manufacturing Company,
again requesting the privilege Of
erecting and operating a local ex-
change under the General Telephone
Ordinance without change Of rates or
concessions of any kind. Mr.. Fraser
was Of the opinion that parties now
obtaining a telephone franchise would
haze the right to apply to the Rail
road Commission to fix rates. Messrs.
Strause and Noise protested agasst
sranting. the franchise sought by the
Company, and asked
should it be granted that their com
pany be placed upon equal footing
with them by permitting their COM
pany to accept as of this date the
provisions of the General Telephone
Ordinance. Council went into COM
.nittee Of the whole. and discussed the
question at length. On being called
TO order Messrs. Barnett an Finn
moved that the rates shah not be
changed, but shall stand as they now
are, except Office phones, which
hereafter shall pay the same rates
as business phones and be classified
as such. The resolution was adopted.
Messrs. Finn asd Rhan1e moved
that the request of the Sumter Tele-
phone Manufacturing Company for
a franchise be granted. The motion
was lost.
A letter was read from Mr. L. D.
Jennings presenting a claim of Mr.. S.
Josie for damages to himself and a
vehicle, caused by being thrown into a
ditch on E. Liberty street by a log
lying in the roadway. Referred to
the fnance committee to investigate
and report.
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