The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-15
TUESDAY, JANUARY IS, 1907.
THE TELEPHONE QUESTION.

Ar the city hall this evening a special com
mittee WI give hearing on the petition of the
Home Telephone company for permission to erect
poles, string wires and build and maintain conduits
Tor the conduct of general telephone business in
this city.
This petition has been long time before the
council and for one reason another the hearings
previously arranged for were not held There is
much public interest in this matter and it is prob
able the whole question would have been settled
some time ago had the representatives of the peti-
tioning company been as prompt in keeping en-
gagements for hearings and had they taken the
public into their confidence to the extent they
should have done and must do before their request
can be favoraby acted upon
he hearing which will begin this evening will
no doubt be protracted one If the information
needed to establish the identity and responsibility
OF the persons constituting the Home company and
their ability 10 construct and maintain an efficient
telephone system is forthcoming, that part of the
problem can be regarded as solved. If this inform
alton is withheld if the disclosures are not as frank
and definite as they should be- il will be futile to
proceed farther
In the event that satisfactory information is
furnished IT will then be the duty of the commit
tee to consider whether the public interests and
convenience will be best served by permitting the
existing company TO continue its monopoly of the
telephone business whether those interests and
that convenience will be better conserved by allow
ing the Home company to establish competing
system.
This question cannot be decided by the appli-
cation of general principles, since the telephone
business is unlike any other that affects the public
The ultimate judgment therefore if it is to be lust
and equitable, must be the result of careful con-
sideration of local conditions attaching to public
service of this nature
On the one side il is contended with apparent
good reason that the chief benefit of telephone
system lies in It's universally and that its greatest
value is III the ability OF every person who has
n1 ,,1,xpa i
person who has similar connection. Obviously
such service can be obtained only when all tele-
phones are connected and operated under the same
system. This view of the matter necessarily Inn
plies an exclusive monopoly.
When there is divided service the person who
wishes TO cover the whole territory is compelled TO
become subscriber to two or more systems the
number depending upon the number OF competing
companies each of which is restricted to its
subscribers.
On the other hand, there comes from cities in
which competing systems are in operation, the in
formation that the difficulties attending double
telephone service soon disappear by habit and that
most OF the inconvenience which would appear TO
be incidental TO the double service are after all
purely theoretical and do not develop in practice
That is TO say, that while person may be forced
TO subscribe for two telephones in order TO secure
universal connection, he very soon becomes
acquainted with the range of each and is put to
little inconvenience delay on account of the
double system.
One OF the questions to which the committee
Will no doubt, give proper attention before reach
ing decision, is that of cost Ii the Home COM
pany were to establish near the level of those
now charged by the Providence Telephone COM
pany, the effect of competition would be double
rate for those whose business would make the
double service imperative.
1t is said, however, that in places in which
competing systems have been established the orei-
nal companies in the field have reduced their
rates so that the cost OF both services is no greater
but in some cases is less than under the single or
exclusive system.
This telephone question is of vital importance
TO the whole community and in settling it the COM
mittee and the city council must act with prudence
and deliberation Certainly the public will not be
slow to manifest its indignation if by hasty or i'll
considered action its interests and rights are in
frnged or placed in jeopardy.