The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-21

At four-hours' triple session yester-
day afternoon and evening with ls-Tninute
adjourrments between the board OF aid sr-
men >ourred by vote OF 10 8 with the
common council vote 10 grant 10 the
Providence Telephone company a six-year
franchise. Every attempt 10 delay action
was met by the majority led by the re-
sourceful veteran. william X Reynolds,
and by Mr.. Parks. both members OF the
phone committee
The ordinance is now up 10 Mayor Nc
Carthy for approval or veto. If no ac-
tion is taken by him II becomes n law at
the first meeting OF the common council
after the expiration OF 10 days from the
date OF its presentation 10 the mayor; ;
but II he should veto IL the measure must
again be passed by both branches OF the
city council by a three-fifths vote OF the
entire membership OF each body. In the
lower branch last Monday evening 26 vot-
ed in It's favor and ~ against 1t. There
are seven aldermen favorable 10 IT, so
that the three-fifths vote in each branch
IS assured. unless. II the mayor should
veto IL. he gives arguments that will re-
suit In changing at least five votes in the
council and two In the board.
Twice during the afternoon adjourn
sments OF Is minutes each were taken on
motion OF Alderman Reynolds, after tho
mayor had ruled that an adjournment In
order to nullify the operation OF rule q
invoked fer the purpose OF checking i'm
mediate consideration. must be 10 another
day. Upon an appeal the mayor was de-
feated. He explained that he had misun-
derstood the motion. thinking II was TO
adjourn in Is minutes instead OF TO take n
15-minute adjournment
When the report of the telephone COM
mittee was reached on the docket Alder
man Reynolds moved that the board con-
cur with the council.
Alderman Peterson invoked rule s and
had the matter laid upon the table until
the next meeting. This required the sup
pert OF three members.
ALDERMAN PARKS.
Alderman Parks stated that as n mem
Der OF the committee that considered tel
ephone rates he thought that the matter
was so thoroughly discussed at the COM
mon council meeting Monday night thai
the members OF the board would he in a
position to take final action Immediately
upon the question.
There is one phase OF the subject that
wish 10 explain he said, ''and that ~
in relation to the $40 rate. II has been
said that the committee should have used
Its endeavors TO secure a reduction Of
that rate II this matter was thoroughly
understood II would be found that while
there has been no apparent reduction In
that rate the users OF that service have
been materially benefited through the ex-
tension OF the distances that have been
provided for under the proposed contract.
''The number OF subscribers to the $50 |
service is only 10 per cent OF the whole |
nusnber or subscribers. or 91T These in
struments are held by a sman number
who from choice subscribe to this service |
instead OF taking advantage OF the meas
lred service. although I have no doubt
that several Of these parties could receive
heir telephone service for about 800 In
stead of the s12o provided they accepted
The measured class"
He analyzed the occupations OF those
who have this class OF service.
Alderman Dunn asked why the Provi-
dence Telephone company Increased the
price Of unlimited service from $50 to sl2o
4 couple of years ago.
REYNOLDS REMINISCENT.
Alderman Reynolds made a long reply
In which he reviewed the history OF the
telephone in this city from rle time In
1879 when a few subscribers were willing
20 struggle along with the service given
over housetops and with two companies
IN operation. few months later the
two concerns combined the iron wires
were thrown out and poles used for
gtringjng the wires. For this Improve
ment there was An advance in price of SIP
per yean from $36 TO $4S.
During tho 30 years that tho Provi-
dence Telephone company has been in. OPP
eration IN this city" he continued. ut
has thrown away its plant four different
times. each time for the purpose OF i'm
proving tho service 10 its subscribers.
Today the company is proposing TO
change the six-party lines 70 two-party
lines. This is one OF the reasons why
there has been an increase in the ex-
psnses OF operating the telephone to the
ITO equip this additional number OF
Hines II requires three times as many
wires, IL requires three times as many
switohboards and three times as much
help TO operate them.
'4Whfle I balieve that the men interest
ID In The Home Telephone company ara
honest and sinocre I'm their contentious.
let us look for moment at what that
company could give this city II Il were
granted franchise 10 do business here.
It makes a great pretcnce In relation to
The measured or meter service that ft
proposes TO Introduce The use OF this
service means $50 per year. and not $26
- represented. at the hearings. The rea-
son Il simple. Whenever the receiver is
lifted from the hook the meter begins 10
register. that IN The instrument at each
md OF the pne working al the same time
% that both the user and the receiving |
party Is paying for the talk"
DUNNS EXPERIENCE.
Alderman Dunn declared that II made |
no difference TO him whether an iron wire 4
or a platinum wire was used 20 long as |
he got the service. He claimed that he |