The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-11
They Gave Notice at the
Meeting Last Night of
Their Intentions.
TELEPHONE RATES
WERE DISCUSSED
This Proved to Be the Most
Important Matter Before
the Body, and the Report
of the Franchise Commit
tee Was Accepted-A
Lower Rate Now Exists.

Beyond the fact that Aldermen
McHugh and Cann, two of the eldest
members IN point of service compos-
ing the city council. gave notice OF
their intention to resign their seats
at an early date, the most important
matter to come before the council at
its Semi-monthly meeting last night
was the report of the franchise com
mittee dealing with telephone rates
which were recently increased by the
Southern Ben Telephone Co. The
city secures some concessions from
the company, the rates being lowered
in some instances, while the area Is
extended one-q8arter of a mile with
oUt extra charge to subscribers.
Those present at the meeting were
Aldermen Brown, Calm, Durham, In
graham. McHugh, Meyer, Reilly,
Rocheblave Wright and Yonge
Yonge. Alderman Wright was chosen
to preside during the session
Committee Reports.
Chairman Reilly OF the finance COM
mittee reported upon a number of
matters referred TO his committee.
Among these was a request from the
Board of Safety for a new fire engine,
and the committee asked for further
time on this, as a further report from
the Board of Safety is desired. The
report was approved.
Chairman McHugh, of the water
and gas committee submitted forms
of blanks and of books to be used
when the plant of the Pensacola
Water Company is taken over next
month. These had been planned by
the man in Wilmington, Del. who
had been engaged by the council to
submit such forms, and had been
revised by Comptroller Morgan. The
forms were adopted and referred TO
the printing and publishing commit
tee TO secure bids for the printing,
with Instructions to request a special
meeting of the council as soon as
such bids are received.
Aldermen to Resign.
1t was at this point that Alderman
McHugh, after completing his report,
stated that he desired to give notice
of his intention to resign his seat,
and that possibly this would be done
at the next meeting. He stated that
his reason for resigning is that he is
soon to move from precinct No. II,
which he repre- sents, 10 another sec
tion o. the city. He desired TO give
notice for the reason that he is on a
number of important committees.
Alderman Calm, who is chairman
of the finance committee, requested
Nj McHugh to remain a member OF
the council until some Important mat
tiers before this committee is com
pIeted. He stated in mis- connection.
that he too will soon resign his seat,
the reason being that he is also To
move from precinct No. IA.
Both Mr.. McHugh and Mr.. Calm
have represented this precinct for a
number of years and President pro
tenn Wright expressed regret that
the aldermen are soon 10 leave the
council.
Telephone Rates.
The report of the franchise com
mittee on the matter OF telephone
rates, was then submitted by Chair
man Calm. together with a form or
contract TO be entered intO between
the city and company. and a proposed
ordinance authorizing the mayor to
enter into contract with the company
at the rates stipulated in the report.
While the rates are not as low as in
force up to a few months ago, they
are a reduction over existing rates.
while the area covered by the con-
tract IS extended, and the city is to
receive free service for ten phones
The committee report WIS as fol-
lows:
Pensacola, Fla, June 10, 1908.
ITO the President and Members City
Council:
the undersigned, your franchise
committee, beg leave TO report thai
they have considered the question OF
the regulation of the rates OF Lns
Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph
Co, and to that end have inye5ti-
gated the rate of other cities situated
similarly to Pensacola and having
approximately the same population
They invited to be present az one OF
the meetings the officials of the com
pany and Also the members of the
council and some of the officers and
some of the council attended
Your committee is informed that
il is doubtful whether the city has
tfe right to regulate the rates OF me
company, but the company has met
the requirements of the committee
in such a broad and liberal spirit that
youlr committee had thought IL w
necessary 10 go into the legal aues-
tons whicn might be involved IN
compulsory regulation OF rates Inc
company has made several conces-