The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-18
Continued from Page one)

while IL has been asserted by the
commissioner OF public works that
there will be great inconvenience from
tearing up of streets. you must re-
member that there can be no improve
ment without some inconvenience. Two
former city engineers say there is
ample room for other conduits. Those
now down, understand, were I'M
perfectly put in, evidently with the
purpose of shutting out any other
company.
RAP AT COMMITTEE.
reference is made TO the fact that
telephone competition in certain cities
has not reduced rates. This is only
newspaper talk and what dependence
can be placed on newspaper accounts
can be judged by what is said by some
OF the local papers. In the proposed
ordinances the matter OF franchise Is
provided for. I am satisfied that IL
the committee had felt that IL could
get a 20-year franchise through this
body IL would have reported one. /
have never heard any member OF the
majority say he thought that a 20
year franchise was too long.
Relative to the board OF trade ac-
tion, everyone knows that that body
has always been backward and seldom
progressive. II has been far too con-
servative in the past. To Offset the
action OF the board OF trade there Is
the Butchers Grocers and Market
mems association This association
represents the people OF this city far
better than the board of trade, and
that association voted unanimously not
TO grant the Providence Telephone
company an exclusive franchise.
Speaking of the stand taken by the
local newspapers, | have only to say
that a reporter on one of the papers
visited several cities where there are
taIA Ip,,f
have never seen any account OF this
trip in that paper, and don't think II
ever will print IT," After analyzing
the two petitions presented In support
OF the two companies requests, show
ing that there were $1,000 names back
OF the Home company and less than
1000 behind the Providence company.
Mr.. Sears said:
1--WE may block the independent tele-
phone companies tonight from enter
ing this city. But they are coming in.
They are going from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from Canada to the
Gulf. Three of the larger cities of the
country have tried to keep them out.
but these cities are being defeated.
and Providence must sooner or later
fall into line
THE ordinance that Is before us to-
night will have to be construed by
the supreme court on the question OF
not. The Providence Telephone COM
pany will claim that II is perpetual
franchise; the city OF Providence that
II is not a perpetual franchise. You
know what the decisions OF the su-
preme court are when a question in
volving one OF these monopolies comes
up. / have been in this city for only
seven years, but this has been long
enough to me to hear on all sides Bit
ter criticism of perpetual franchises.
and / do not believe that the citizens
desire to have another saddled upon
them.
'T am told by five disinterested law
yers that this is a perpetual franchise.
1t is unnecessary. uncalled for. unusual
and unwarranted.
st cannot hnd In any other instance
where a telephone company has an
unlimited franchise and I cannot think
but that there could be no great dis
advantage to the Providence Telephone
company II this matter was continued
for a month at least This matter has
been in the hands of the committee
for a year and to hustle this through
at this time II seems to me is uncalled
| for.
"If this ordinance is passed tonight
| a howl will go forth from the
people the like of which has never
| been equalled.
THE time Is coming when every
| tenement Of this city that rents for s25
| or $50 per month will have telephone
which will be a portion OF the equip
ment of the tenement as much as
| water or sewers. This will not be
| charged to the tenant, but to the
| owner OF the house.
"One company cannot possibly meet
| this demand because of the increased
| cost of increasing service. This must
| be so, for the Providence Telephone
| company and the Independents both
| say So"
FLYNN AGAINST LIFE SENTENCE.
Councilman Flynn expressed himself
as opposed to longterm franchises
for public utility corporations He
said in part:
'If we adopt this resolution tonight
Il will be equivalent to sentencing Proi-
dence for life. The Providence Telephone
company has been doing business I'm this
city for many years. But one should not
be misled by this name. I believe that
single stroke OF the pen down In New Jer-
sey will entirely wipe out the Providence
Telephone company, because the Bell
Telephone company, which controls
rs or 40 per cent OF the Providence Tele-
phone company in retaining ownership OF
all the instruments. can take them out IL
IL should so elect
Therefore, when IL Is said that the
Providence Telephone company is
Rhode Island corporation i think that
careful consideration OF this will easily
convince one to the contrary.
Now. regarding rates. understand
that the stated reason that the si20 rate
has not been changed is because the COM
pany has no right 10 do anything that
will affect any other town. In relation To
the house rate. IL Is said that this class
has been benefited because 100 calls have
been added to the use OF the system. But
we are told IS per cent OF the householders
do not now use all the 800 calls allowed.
That being So what benefit Is IL to have
more calls than they can use?
THE legality of the exclusive franchise
plan for public utilities has never been
satisfactorily decided and think that we
should 60 slowly upon this matter. l,
therefore. move that this report be re-
ferred back TO the committee to see IL
better rates. especially In regard 10 the
$40 class. can not be secured for the bust
ness men"
CARPENTER REPLIES.
Mr.. Carpenter I'm reply declared that any
recommittal TO the committee would be
useless because the matter has been fully
considered. lie replied TO some OF the