Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-04

Gil the Independent company WOuiO
be compelled to close it's exchanges
and sell its physical assets as junk.
Subscribers willing.
A petition signed by large percent
age of the users of the Union Electric
service in the business section re-
questing the council to permit the
merger was read. Mr.. Sucker said
that it was costing the company a
loss of $1,000 monthly to keep its
plants here going.
Alderman j. c. Simser favored ig-
noring the ordinance entirely. He
made motion to that effect, and was
seconded by Alderman John Holz-
hammer. subsequently the motion
was withdrawn. Alderman G.. L.
Thompson felt that the council ought
to seriously consider the ordinance.
Alderman S. A. LaVanway wanted
the Union Electric people treated
fairly. Alderman Holzhammer had
heard that parties other than the
Central Union wanted to buy the
Union Electric plants. Alderman G.
L. Schmid wanted to see the city re-
ceive some compensation in the event
that the merger was allowed. If the
council could not dispose of the ques-
ton. he wanted to see it put to a vote
of the people whether the Union
Electric was to be permitted to sell
to the Central Union. Alderman
Martin McNealy stood for competi-
ton in the telephone business, and
therefore he would oppose a sale of
the independent plant to the Central
Union, at least until he was shown
that other parties could not be inter-
ested. Mr.. McNealy was of the opin-
ion that the tri-city plants of the
Union Electric company could be put
on a profit-earning basis.
Talk About Local Capital.
1t was limited that sufficient local
capital to purchase the plants of the
Union Electric Telephone company
might be raised, and thereby forestall
the condition that would result from
merger with the Central Union.
President G.. E. Sucker of the Union
Electric informed the council that he
had been endeavoring for two years
to interest local money in the proper
ty, but had failed, and while it was
rather a late day for supposedly in
terested persons to come from under
cover, he would be glad to listen to-
their proposition, If they had one that
carried with it real money. In order
to ascertain whether the purchase
proposition other than that of the
Central Union was sincere the coun-
Gil took an adjournment until this
evening to allow the parties who are
reported to be anxious to get control
of the plant to be heard. President
Sucker promised to be at the meet
ing, and assured the aldermen that he
would be on hand prepared to do
business with the first individual who
was able to protect his bid with
certified check.
Mostly Hot Air.
In answering Mr.. McNealy's ques-
ton as to whether the Union Electric
had received bids on its property here
from others than the Central Union,
President Sucker said: Yes, we
have. Anybody can make a bid, but
everybody can't show real money. We
have secured the United States with
a fine tooth comb the past two years
in endeavoring to interest capital in
our property, but without success. 1t
is impossible now to float independent
telephone bonds. They are no longer
considered good investments. Our
stockholders and our subscribers are
anxious to be relieved. and 1 fail to
see who is to be hurt by the council
passing this ordinance. We have
made an honest and an earnest fight
to make the independent telephone
business win, and are frank to admit
that we have failed. 1t is true we
have had offers to buy our property,
but they have been mostly built of
hot air If there is a man or men
here at this meeting or in the city
who are sincere in their desire to buy
business Immediately. That ought to
answer any insinuations that we are
owned by the Central Union. Such
a charge is groundless, but it is true
that the Central Union can make the
best use of our physical properties.
will remain over until tomorrow
night to meet these men who say
they would like to secure our plants.
l am willing to let the councilmen
be the judges of their sincerity and
ability to do business
Upon motion of Alderman Nc
Nealy the council, after hearing the
report of the committee of the whole,
adjourned to this evening for the pur-
pose of further considering the tele-
phone ordinance.
Denkmann Square Sidewalk.
The council ordered that the side
walk around Denkmann square, in
the west part of the city, be brought
to grade. The expense will be $500.
The street and alley committee was
instructed to bring in a report next
Monday evening on the Taxman junk
yard, on Fourth avenue between Fiji
teenth and Sixteenth streets, against
the further liberation of which there
is a protest from the owners of
property on file with the
council.
LANCE & Tom, whose bid was
$3.50, and Strecker and Lewis, whose