The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-06-04
A LITTLE TALK
ON TELEPHONES
From Thursdays Daily)
TOR naiIv Panhandle,

the action OF the city board permit
ting the two systems OF telephone to
unite and become one, and also per-
hitting the raising OF tolls, or
charges, when thus united.
notice In yesterdays Issue, that
our newly elected mayor, Judge Lon
ID, Mars, has vetoed this action of
the board, and assigned his reasons
therefor, fully concur with his
action, but would like to have seen
one other and broader reason as
signed In his veto, and that Is, THE
people having by vote. declared for
two systems, II would be thwarting
the expressed will OF the people to
thus permit the union OF the two
systems into one, and TO raise the
tolls or charges In direct violation
OF their expressed will"
II will be noted, when fully anal
lied and dlgested, the mayors OBJ
lection is, the need OF time to con-
slider the effect OF the act, upon the
interest OF the masses or people, and
to ascertain their wishes upon the
subject"
Let me here state In the outset,
my object is not an attack on, and
opposition to telephone system, but
on the contrary, favor, and have
always since living here patronized
the one We have.
II will be remembered, and Is a
matter OF record In my office, of
justice OF the peace OF this precinct,
that there was a suit tried in my
court between Mr.. H, H. Cooper and
the Amarillo telephone exchange, in
volving the force and effect OF one
OF the articles OF franchise rights in
their charter, obtained from the city
OF Amarillo TO institute, and main
tain its business in Amarillo. That
article, stated that for "office phones
It was not to charge more than SO
per month, and for residence phones,
not more than $3.50 per month"
The suit was to recover an over
charge, on an office phone. The
telephone exchange admitted the
overcharge, but commended that that
particular article was void, was not
binding on 1t, for the reason that
the Getty had no power to regulate
their charges" held that that par
ticular article was a part OF the
agreement which they had entered
into with the city and that 1t could
not accept part or the contract and
reject such part as was not suitable
to them. | therefore permitted
Cooper to have judgment for the ov-
er-charge, against the company,
which 1t paid.
The new telephone company, that
by virtue OF an election, the people
granted right to institute and
maintain telephone system in ANA
rillo, have also been limited by in
franchise rights and privileges, in
its tolls or charges, so that in either
system, the people have protection
against excessive rates. (Of course
we expect to pay the maximum linn
it,
But, under the vetoed action of the
city board, the dual system, as voted
by the people, had the mayor ap.
proved same, would have totally dis
regarded the expressed will OF the
people, both as to the separate sys-
tens and tolls, and would have raised |
the tolls under the merger act" from
SO to $3.50 per month for office
phones and from $3.50 to $1.75 per
month for residence phones,
Now, Mr. Editor, II it was neces-
sary in order to determine whether
VI hON' ANO lciNphOhe ogohOho shOulu
be permitted to conduct business
here, that the people should be con-
suited and their wishes made known
by an election for that purpose, 1t is
but just and right, that, before the
city board permits merger of the
two companies and raise in taxes"
(the tolls or charges being a tax on
its patrons), that the people should
have chance TO express their wishes
on the question of merger and raise
in tolls or charges.
The granting Of franchise privil.
eyes to corporations, and individuals,
has in this state been source of
prolific litigation, thereby entailing
great expense upon the people, be-
sides in many instances permitting
exploitation and extortion, and par
ticularly Is this the case of cities, in
the granting OF franchise privileges
to public service institutions. |
do not intend this as censure of
the city board, but to emphasize the
that, in so great matter
before the city board acts in the mat