Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-02-20

SONASA " AhC OohipaIgs anu idiiS 70
disclose that any commission such as
provided for by the franchise has
ever been selected by the company
and council to determine a rate,
though the time for such action upon
their part has long been ripe. The
present rates charged by the com
pany are as follows:
For main line business teIe-
phone, $3.50 per month. For main
line residence telephone. 50 per
month. For two-party line bust
ness telephone, $3.50 per month.
For two-party line residence tele-
phone, $1.75 per month. For a four
party line residence telephone, $3.50
per month.
1t is apparent at a glance and com
parison that these rates are greatly
in excess of those provided for by
the provisions of the franchise, and
it is also apparent at glance that
they can not draw upon the provi-
sions of the franchise for their ex-
istenee, but that they are clearly in
violation of the provisions and spirit
of the franchise and are entirely of
the company's own selection and
making.
c. H. Potter, manager of the Inter-
state Telephone Company, when first
approached with relation to the mat
ter by representative of the Press,
stated that he was unaware that
there was incorporated in their fran
chise provision regulating the fee
to be charged by the company for
two years, and that thereafter a
further provision for its regulation by
commission to be appointde by the
council and company. After he had
made an investigation of the pro-
visions contained in the franchise,
he admitted that these provisions
were contained in it, and also ad-
mitted that no commission had been
appointed.
He also stated that at the time
the rate was established their ex-
change was small in the city and that
there was less expense incident
to it's operation, and that it was, he
believed, the intention of the body
granting the franchise and also that
of the company that as the exchange
grew and the service increased that
a greater rate would be charged. He
stated that he believed that the rate
charged now would be a rate pro-
portionate to the increase OF the ex-
pense of the company in operating
their exchange and that their serv-
ice now required the operation of
more than 400 phones.
H. V. Scalland the mayor was seen
with relation to the matter and adj
mitted that at the time the franchise
was granted he was the villages
chief executive. He also admitted
that because of the time elapsed he
was not familiar with the provisions
of the franchise. He was made
aware of the provisions in the fran
chise relating to the rates to be
charged by the company for their
service and also as to the appoint
ment of a commission. His com
ment upon this was that the council
as a body had their memories bur-
dened with a great many matters
and that they we're unable to remem-
Der all things; that none of the sub
scribers had come to him with com
plant as to the present charges, and
that If they had any complaint TO
make and felt that they were inse-
cure in their rights that they must
appeal to the council for protection
and enforcement. and action would
be taken.
That was in brief the eity's chief
executives statement upon the mat
ter-that was in brief his conception
of the purpose OF the laws upon the
city ordinance books, and their en-
forcement for the protection OF the
rights Of the Inhabitants and citizens
of the city.
The citizens feel that the council
has been dereliet in its duty in this
matter. They feel that they have
been made to pay. and are being
made to pay. rate to the company
which has for its existence no au-
thority in law. and that This eondi-
tion OF affairs is due either to the
fact that the council has wilfully or
innoeentIy reposed while their priYi-