The independent-reporter., 1910-01-06
SOMERSETFARMERs'
TELEPHONE co.
Annual Meeting Held
On Monday
+. L. Ames Reelected Business Man.
ager.

+. l.. Ames Reelected Business Man.
The Somerset Farmers Cooperative
Telephone company held special and
the annual meetings in Grange hall
Monday. The special meeting being
held in the forenoon beginning at ten
o'clock and the annual meeting in the
afternoon commencing at two o'clock.
A fine baked bean dinner was served
by the ladies of Somerset Grange dur
ing the recess between the two meet
ings. There was an attendance of
stockholders and a considerable num-
ber of spectators, for the meetings of
this company have a reputation of
being spicy although on the whole,
good natured. and thus visitors are
attracted to see the fun. The stock
holders are for the greater part, as
the name Of the company indicates,
farmers of the various sections of
Somesse, county and for the most
part broad minded. liberal men. A
few, and perhaps the percentage is
small, in this company of nearly a
thousand stockholders, are known as
kickers and are willing to air their
troubles, real and imaginary before
the annual meetings and this Is what
makes the spice before referred to.
And bless the kickers-for what would
Sunday school affairs, annual meet
ings. town meetings and football be
without them. The outlook Is that
the Somerset Farmers Cooperative
will have Disgusting marks so that
it will not be taken for a Sunday
school for some years to come, how
ever.
The special meeting in the forenoon
was used to listen to the reports of
the clerk, directors, treasurer, and
of the business manager, which were
read and accepted:
To see what contracts for connec-
ton of lines the company would make
with the Franklin Farmers, the Peo-
pies and with the Kennebec Farm
and City Telephone Companies for
the ensuing year (This matter was
left with the board of directors.)
To see what sum the company
would vote as the compensation of the
business manager. (This was fixed at
two dollars and fifty cents per day
for actual time spent in the work.
The pay of the clerk and treasurer
was fixed at ten dollars each with
necessary travelling expenses for the
clerk.
1t was voted to require subscribers
to pay toll for the use of the line after
a five minutes talk, provided the op-
orator gives notice that the line is
wanted for a toll message.
The following resolution was adopt
ed by strong vote:
Resolved, That the company dis
approves any offers Of the New Eng
land Telephone. or its allies, looking
toward a connection Of oeir lines with
theirs; we believe any such connec-
tion would eliminate competition in
the telephone business In Somerset
co~nty, and prove disastrous to the
usefulness and financial strength of
our company.
This closed the forenoon session.
Two articles, the pay of the business
manager and as to whether the SUBJ
scribers should pay toll after the five
minutes time of talking had elapsed
If the line was wanted for toll
message, were the only ones discussed
xuifh q xfn
family secrets became quite public
property in the speeches and sharp
retorts which followed.
Fortified by the soothing fullness of
the dinner provided by Somerset
Grange, the afternoon was opened at
two o'clock by the president, J. w.
Packard of Skowhegan, with balmy
skies and signs of fair weather as
the presidents sunny face beamed ov-
er the meeting. The report of the
auditor was read and accepted and
the next in regular order was the bal
loting for clerk; a little opposition
was thrown in here and the meeting
again sat up and took notice. Fred
Magoon of Bingham was reelected
for the Office.
The Office of presid dont went with
out dissent to j. w. Packard of Skow-
hogan who has faithfully filled the
position for several years. Mr.. Pack
ard declined to servo after express
ing his appreciation of the honor con-
ferred, and Willis Emery of No. An
son was chosen to the office.
The Office of business manager was
the eliminating point from which all