Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-21
THE TELEPHONE FRANCHISE,

Editor Of The Yorkville Enquirer:
In your issue Of the 18th instant, un-
der the caption Telephone Franchise
YOU printed an article signed by Mr.
G. H. O'Leary in which the following
appears: During the past several
DAYS, representatives Of the Piedmont
or Bell Telephone company have been
having private conferences with the
town council with reference to secur-
ing a twenty-five years franchise for
that company in Yorkville," and REFER
ring further to the mayor casting his
vote on a tie against the town and IN
favor of this rich corporation" And
still further, About three years back
this company tried the same game, but
was baff1ed by the citizens In a pub
lie meeting"
Answering these charges, I desire to
saw that no member or representative
Of either the Piedmont or Bell Tele-
phone company had any private con-
ference" with the mayor, nor, so faI
as l know, with any member or the
town council. Mr. Maupin Of the Bell
company appeared openly before the
committee appointed by the council
and at the council meeting. Mr.
OLeary knew these parties were in
town. Had he called at my office
would have been glad to have shown
him the proposed franchise and given
him any information in my possession
The first I ever knew Of any dissatis-
faction on his part, or the first time
heard of him in connection with the
franchise, was when his card appeared
in your paper.
There was mo game" or trick or
subterfuge in any transaction the coun-
Gil had. The mayor did cast the de-
Gliding vote, and it happened In this
manner; when the proposition OF al
lowing the telephone company to
charge $3.50 for a business phone
when the number Of subscribers at this
exchange was under 800 afterwards
changed to $500, the vote stood, in IA
vor of allowing this charge 5, and op-
posed to it I. The mayor cast no vote
here. On the second proposition to al
low the telephone company to charge
$500 for a phone at business station
when the number of subscribers was
over 300 afterwards changed to $500
and under 500 afterwards changed to
600), there was tie vote and then II
was the mayor cast his vote In favor
Of sustaining the report Of the major
ity Of the committee appointed by
council to suggest a suitable franchise
this majority having reported in favor
Of allowing the charge.
l have never cast any vote against
the town in favor of the rich corpora
ton" so far as lay in me to see what
was right, and anv statement by Mr.
O'Leary. or anyone else, saying that
have done so is simply untrue. One
Of the aldermen suggested that the
proposed franchise be published.
stated that nv idea had been to show
the pronOsed franchise to the business
men and subscribers in Yorkville. but
deemed the suggestion that the fran
chise be published a better idea than
mine and yielded to 1t without any
hesitation. This is how much l en-
deavored to hide the terms of the fran
chise.
As to whether this council is true
to the interests Of the town or trying
to subserve the interest Of this rich
corporation" is too absurd to answer,
and when Mr.. O'Leary, who father
cd" the card alluded to, recovers from
his excitement, he will realize as fully
rs do the other citizens Of Yorkville,
the absurdity Of his question.
7 do not desire anv newspaper con-
troversy and with this I dismiss the
matter. Jno. r. Hart.
Yorkville S. c., Aug. 20, 1908.