Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-06
TELEPHONES TAKEN OUT BY
HUNDREDS At WATERLOO
- AND CEDAR FALLS.
CONSOLIDATED COMPANY
DEMANDING NEW CONTRACTS
Merger of Two Lines Causing Big
Stir and Much Dissatisfaction-con-
tracts at Higher Rates Must Be
Signed by Aug. is or No Service -
Talk Of Competing Company.


phones in Waterloo and Cedar Falls
have been and will be taken out since
the Iowa and Corn Belt services have
been combined and the rates increased
phone subscribers, the Corn Belt Com
pany. which recently bought out the
Iowa, is insisting upon subscribers
signing contracts to pay three months
rentals in advance. At Cedar Falls, it
is reported, the service of more than
200 instruments will be discontinued,
while the number in Waterloo will be
larger. SO many telephones are being
discontinued under the new arrange
ment that the company's employees find
it difficult to keep up with the work
of taking out instruments.
While the rates for residence phones
have been boosted about so per cent
without consulting the subscriber, who
also has no choice as to whether he
shall have single or combined service,
the normal number of instruments I'M
der former conditions will be greatly
diminished The company has been
arguing that under the consolidation
the subscriber would receive twice as
many connections as under the indi-
vidual service, and therefore the in
crease in rates was justified. But IL the
loss Of business already noticeable con-
tinues, the subscriber will not have
anywhere near double the normal ser
vice Of either company under former
conditions.
Everybody Displeased.
It is almost impossible to find any
one who is satised with conditions as
they will be under the new talk trust"
the merged service. One leading
business man said yesterday morn
ling:
at is not so bad to pay $3.50 to
50 month for residence phone If
the service is good and If the subscriber
is consulted regarding the terms But
in the present situation the company
has not consulted the wishes OF the
public. It has arbitrarily merged the
two companies; 1t has arbitrarily raised
the rates and now arbitrarily seeks to
force the consumer Of the service tt
pay three months in advance. OF
course, the citizen has one right left
to him. He can abandon the use Of
the telephone, and many are doing So
You would be surprised at the number
OF people here in Waterloo that are
having their telephones removed. They
will not tolerate such high-handed
methods. The service now Is abomi-
nable."
Franchise Runs Until 1922.
So far as the city's exercising any
control of prices charged, 1t seems that
the people are helpless until the ex-
pdratton OF the Iowa Telephone Com
pany's franchise Aug. 9. 1922. When
the Corn Belt Company formally took
over the property OF the Iowa company
here 1t took over the franchise as well,
because the franchise was granted to
the Iowa. Company, "its successors, as
signs" etc.
The Corn Belt franchise, known as
the Bennett franchise, expires Feb. Is,
1885,
Competing Company Allowed.
The franchise granted to the Iowa
company also allows any other Compel
ing concern TO secure a franchise.
In view of the dissatisfaction ex-
pressed by the public. there is talk of
a new company being formed to build
a city exchange alone. The men of
money who are discussing the move as
a possible remedy for relief from high
rates and other arbitrary considera-
lions realize that such a venture would
not be a dividend bringer, but they
feel so outraged that they are willing
to venture their means without any re-
turning profit. Such an independent
system would be wholly automatic.
thus doing away with the need of cen
trail opera tors. Each subscriber would
connect directly with the party to
whom he wished to converse.
Just how far this proposed plan will
be carried out can not be foretold at
this time.
Asked to Sign by Aug. IS.
All users of telephones recently re-
ceived request from the company
to call at the office and sign contracts
for the consolidated service by Aug.
10. If such contracts are not signed
by them the telephones of the persons
failing to sign will be removed. In
all the contracts the subscriber is ask
ed to pay three months in advance,
making four payment periods each
year.
.