Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-02-20
WANT PHONE
RATES FIXED
Business Men Claim the Company
Charges Too Much

ably aroused over the discovery that
the Interstate Telephone company is
charging a rate in excess of that
fixed by its franchise-a rate for the
levy of which they believe there ex-
lists no authority in the francise. The
subject has been much discussed by
business men and patrons of the
company, and a course will no doubt
be decided upon by them to require
the telephone company and the city
council to live up to the provisions
contained in the franchise of the
company, unless action is taken by
them.
An investigation of the records
shows that the franchise was granted
the Interstate company on March 8,
1905, and it's life was to continue for
25 years from its date Occur
dAlene was then under village gov
eminent and the present mayor was
it's head executive. The franchise
contains a number of provisions COW
ering the conduct and action of the
company with relation to the city
and the public in general, and among
other things in it are fixed the rate
to be charged by the company for it's
business and residence phones, and
with reference to this subject the
franchise in section II provides as
follows:
Section II - That the rates
charged by the grantees herein, with
in the corporate limits Of the village
of Occur d'Alene, Idaho, shall be as
follows, to-wit:
For a main line business tele-
phone. $3.50 per month. For main
line residence telephone. $3.50 per
month. For two-party line bust
ness telephone, 50 per month. For
a two-party line residence telephone,
$1.25 per month. For four-party
line residence telephone, 81 per
month.
The above rates shall apply for
period OF Two years.
Provision is made in section IL of
the franchise as to what the rate
shall be upon the expiration of the
two years above referred to. and it
is as follows:
Section 12-That after the ex-
piration of two years from the date
Of tho roscoUa - fh;. franohssa tho
rates to be charged by the grantees
herein shall be determined and regu-
lated by a commission appointed in
the same manner as provided in sec
ton 2711 of the Revised Statutes of
the State of Idaho. and the decision
of the said board of commissioners
appointed for said purpose under
said section shall have the same
force and effect as provided in said
section
The section of the Revised Stat
utes of Idaho referred to in the above
for the selection of a commission to
determine the rates upon the expira-
ton of the two years, provides as
follows:
Section 2711-All corporations
formed to supply water to cities or
towns must furnish pure. fresh water
to the inhabitants thereof for family
uses, so long as the supply permits.
and without distinction of person,
upon proper demand therefor; and
must furnish water to the extent of
their means in case of fire or other
great necessity free of charge. the
rates to be charged for water must
be determined by a commission Sc
lected as follows:
Two by the city or town authori-
tics, or when there are no city or
town authorities by the board or
county commissioners and two by the
water company, and in case a major
i-y can not agree to the valuation
tie four commissioners must choose
a fifth commissioner: If they can not
agree upon a fifth, then the probate
nudge of the county must appoint
such a fifth person. The decision Of
the majority of the commissioners
must determine the rate to be
charged for water for one year and
until new rates are established. The
board OF county commissioners or
the proper city or town authorities
may prescribe rules relating to the
delivery Of water not inconsistent
with the laws of the territory"
A careful inspection OF the records
fails to disclose that there has been