The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-29
OPPOSE
ONE TELEPHONE
FRANCHISE HERE

The Butchers, Grocers' and Market
mems association OF Rhode Island, fatty
declared against any exclusive telephone
franchise in this city last evening and al
so voted to appropriate 500 toward the
Old Home Week fund. appointing George
c. Leonard to represent the organization
on the general executive committee which
has the celebration in charge. The dona-
tion OF this sum illustrates the interest
the society has begun to take in the en-
terprise.
The feature OF the meeting was furnish
ed by an address on the part of a repre-
sentative OF the Home Telephone COM
pany. Judge Thomas u. Lee. When he had
concluded his remarks IL was agreed
unanimously that the organization was
against an exclusive franchise, and favor
ed competition.
Councilman William +. Sears offered a
motion that 500 be appropriated by the
society for use in the Old Home Week
celebration, and this was carried unani-
mously.
President II. X. Clarke referred to the
telephone agitation and introduced Judge
Lee who spoke at length OF the good ef-
fects OF competition and the evil of an ex-
elusive franchise in the telephone busi-
ness quoting figures In support OF the
Home company's petition. In part he
said
JUDGE LEES ADDRESS.
"The Butchers. Grocers' and Market
mems association of Rhode Island is now
and has been for many years an organiza-
tion OF business houses more in touch
with the interests OF the city and its peo-
pie than any other organization, and
welcome this opportunity TO present for
your consideration the Home Telephone
companys side OF the telephone question.
"Twenty-seven thousand citizens OF
Providence including a large number OF
taxpayers and voters, 90 lawyers, l2 city
employees. 1877 doctors. 3s9 musicians. 45'
butchers and grocers, Sal business houses
I'm the Westminster district and 9S7 cor
porations, firms and individuals doing
business in Providence have, by petition
in writing now on file at the city hall, re-
quested the city fathers TO permit the
Home Telephone company TO do tele-
phone business in Providence.
"In the Fifth ward alone 1854 signers.
nearly GO OF whom are taxpayers, have
declared in favor OF competition. Yet II is
currently rumored that the alderman
from that ward, a member OF the tele-
phone committee, is strenuous in his en-
deavor TO obtain an exclusive franchise in
Providence for the local telephone COM
pany and eliminate for a period OF six
years any competition.
"Sixty-six local councils OF union
labor representing 24,92S wage earners,
have augmented the petition now on
file so that In round numbers $1,000
citizens OF this city. or nearly one
fourth OF its entire population, have
spoken for n franchise for the Home
T.Ia u
tition col names are on. record. COM
posed OF stockholders in or houses do
ing business with, the Providence
Telephone company.
NOT 90 PER CENT HAVE PHONES.
out OF 4e5 butchers and grocers In
Providence. nearly all or whom nave
signed our petition. only 90 have tele-
phones because the business rates now
charged for apparatus and service are
Jan. /. 1907. there were 12.4ol telephones
I'm the Providence district. so-called, rep
served by the exchanges Of Union, West,
Angel. Broad and East Providence, and
comprising the city of Providence ana
the towns OF East Providence, North
Providence, Cranston, Johnston. Scituate
and Foster, population $4,000, or about 81
telephones per thousand people. Roches-
ter has loo telephones per thousand popu-
latlon, Toledo 100. Cleveland lS. Kansas
alone should have upward OF 5000 tele-
phones. In a canvass OF 55 streets, taken
at random, where the rents range from
SIS TO $50 per month, IL Is estimated that
90 per cent OF the residences OF ProVi-
dence are now without telephone service.
UP-To-DATE CONSTRUCTION.
"Where underground service Is TO be
maintained there will be little digging I'm
the streets Westminster street will not
be disturbed ~ all. and as up-to-date
construction requires that buildings be
fed from the rear instead OF from the
front. there will be comparatively Few
poles erected on the highway and In the
congested districts the work Will be done
az night. so as To cause little inconveni-
ence.
"The Home Telephone company wishes
an opportunity 20 develop the field that
the Providence Telephone company has
never touched. There is room enough
here for two companies, and no person