Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-03
COUNCILMEN GET
VOTERS VIEWS
LEARN PHONE SENTIMENT
FIRST HAND
To Square Themselves Action on Rate
Regulation Probably viii BE
Reseinded Monday II
Possible

City councilmen were scarce at the
city hall yesterday.
They spent the day mixing with their
constituents.
The telephone rate controversy with
its side issue has caused many of them
to go into their wards and get close to
the people since the free talk about
recall petitions.
1t is almost certain that the council
will revoke its action, If only to square
things" with the voters. 1t Is an open
question whether the council can change
the situation by revoking the ordinances
Regulating the rates, though an effort
will be made to cut the Sunset com
pany's tolls.
The mayors veto messages will per-
form the same Office and leave the rates
as they were last year-the Sunset COM
pany's at $S a month and the Home
company at S5 a month for business
phones.
Some of the letters which reached
Mayor Harper yesterday were as fol-
lows:
"Home Stock Is Rising"
"Our understanding is that the Home
Telephone company has franchise
agreement as to city rates, and at this
time, through the council, is trying to
abrogate this agreement It has not
been shown that the company is losing
money by the present rates; but 1t is
we'll known that it's stock is rising in
value and that it has ample funds as the
basis for extension to other cities. We
emphatically protest in the face of these
facts against the advance of rates for
either business or private phones.
1.-THE argument-of the Sunset company
in support of its rival at this time is
poorly taken in that 1t has been an
acknowledged fact that the earnings OF
the Bell system generally are greater in
proportion to the outlay than a public
utility warrants; that this has been Il
potent reason for reduction of it's rates
in the past, and more reform in this
direction could be safely instituted.
I'VE would respectfully request you as
the representative of all of the people
of Los Angeles to use your utmost en-
deavor to prevent the rise in rates of
any class of phones of the Home sys-
tenn, to cause the proper reduction of
rates of the Sunset system and to in
stitute a penalty for inferior service on
all systems.
1.-THE last provision If effective would
be especially appreciated by all users of
phones. Yours respectfully,
GRANT G. SPEER."
Suggests Monthly Inspection
1--WE most emphatically protest
against the raising of phone rates. The
rates should be reduced, considering the
poor service that has been obtained in
the past. The SO service of the Sunset
is just as good as the $5 Home. 1t IS
burden enough that business houses OF
the city have to support two phones
under competition that does not COM
pete. We should suggest that the com
/ e,l.e
phones and batteries at least once a
month in order that the service shall not
be impaired-as is the case for days al
a time. WADE & WADE"
"We'II Recall cIampltt"
"How thankful should the people of
Los Angeles be (and they are) that they
have a man capable and willing to stand
as bulwark between the constituencies
rapacity of the corporation and an al
ready suffering people. Why should we
be compelled to add a half million dol
lars annually to the already barely
tolerable charges of the Home Tele-
phone company is an enigma the
keenest intellect is incapable of solving
Thousands who are compelled to use the
phone in their business in order to
secure bare living are willing to join
me in earnestly protesting against the
action of the council-a council, too,
from which we had expected a need OF
justice. Other thousands have not yet
recovered sufficiently from their over
whelming surprise at said outrageous
action to register protest. Veto it, Mr..
Mayor, and accept the gratitude of your
admiring constituents. If our Second
ward councilman persists in supporting
such a measure we will recall him. For
myself and many others, 1 am
JOHN H. FOLKS