Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-24
The Local Telephone Question in a
Nutshell.

Two years ago when the council
was considering with representatives
of the Bell Telephone company COM
promise ordinance. the object of
which was to adjust all differences
then pending there came a protest
from the people that resulted in the
abandonment of the negotiations and
an ultimatum on the part of the city
that resulted in an, open rupture be-
tween the council and the company
The city's position was that the
Central Union company either accept
an ordinance, the main provisions of
which were a maximum rate, union
labor provision and franchise tax.
or forfeit its rights III the city. The
Central Union company took up the
gauntlet and precipitated by means
of an injunction, the litigation, now
pending.
A year passed. when suddenly one
night there came before the council
unheralded and unannounced the pres
ident of the Central Union telephone
pass the ordinance the company had
originally desired, with the added in
ducements that the existing litigation
be dismissed at the company's expense
and that the company make some
minor concessions, but ignoring the
main contentious on the part of the
city. The aldermen bowed to the Cen
the ordinance he desired. Immediately
there went up another public protest,
which found expression in a mass
meeting and otherwise, with the re-
suit that the council in mad haste re-
traced its steps and rescinded its ac-
ton. The people remembered the I'M
holy act of yielding to the Bell COM
pany, nevertheless, and in the cleo
ton that followed every alderman vot-
ing according to the monopoly's die
tates, went down to defeat
Another year rolled around. bringing
the situation up to the present time.
The Union Electric, the independent
company. went before the council ask
ing for relief Poor in purse by reason
of its fight for existence against the
gigantic influence of the Bell company
| it asked the council for an ordinance
that would enable it to live, but sub
Scribing TO every condition of the
councils ordinance to the Bell COM
pany, as to maximum rate, the rec
chise tax. The council took up the
proposition. The Davenport council
put the Independent compahy's relief
ordinance through by unanimous vote.
Then the Central Union representa-
tives appeared on the scene again.
The council or at least certain mem
bers of the council began to waver. A
uniform ordinance giving to both COM
panies the same rights and providing
fol a maximum rate, the recognition
of union labor and the franchise tax
was proposed. The Union Electric
said it would gladly accept it. The
Central Union as usual baked. 1t was
willing to accept new 25-year ordi-
nance in lieu of its claim to per-
petual franchise and dismiss the pend
ling litigation. defray the cost of the
same, some $500, and make the here
| tofore promised Improvements, but it
would not consent to any of the condi-
lions the city proposed in protection of
subscribers against exorbitant future
rates. 1t agreed however to have the
stipulations as to maximum rate, the
recognition of union labor, the franchise
tax etc., included in special police. or
ldinance, which might be adopted as a
sort of joker to the main ordinance.
Nhe Union Electric again announced
its disposition to accept any ordinance
| that the city might desire, that was
flair. The police ordinance proposition
was put to the council in committee
of the whole and defeated.
Then came the Union Electric ordi-
nance of last night, which as known
was defeated by the mayors casting
vote And the situation is just where
liz was two years ago.
y Now the question is whether the
council will adopt a general ordinance
fair to both companies, providing for
the essential safeguards to the public
lin the way of maximum rate, the
union labor and franchise clauses, etc,
and strictly specifying that the ordi-
nance becomes void the moment either
company absorDs the other, or other
wise ceases its identity, or whether
lit will permit the Central Union to
continue to dictate in the premises
1t is still within the province OF
the council to save the community
: from falling into the clutches of tho
BELL monopoly. Will it do so?