Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-05
COUNCIL TO TAKE
HAND IN FIGHT To
CURB PHONE EVIL
Independent Probe Started and
Legislature Will Be Urged
to Order Quiz.
COMMITTEE WILL VISIT
CAPITAL TO DEMAND ACTION
STARS Campo gn far Relief from
ExtOrti0nate Rates Brings
Results.

An investigation, separate and dis
tinct from the legislative inquiry, into
the discriminating methods of the tele-
phone trust, was ordered last night at
the meeting of the Common Council.
The Aldermen, in following the lead
taken by the EVENING STAR to bring
about q reduction of rates and to cor
rect other telephone abuses, showed
that they meant business.
A resolution was introduced by AL
derman Seeker, of the Sixteenth Ward,
and seconded by Minority Leader Nc
Gowan. The resolution asked, in a
few words, for the appointment of a
committee with full power to investi-
gate, but Alderman MCGOWAN moved
TO refer the matter to the city legisa-
tive committee, which he explained
was acquainted with the subject as the
Legislature had already taken some ac-
tion in the matter. Some of the AL
dermen were in favor of ignoring the
Legislature and proceeding against the
telephone trust, but the cooler heads
decided that better results could be
obtained through the law-making body
at Trenton.
Following is copy of the resolution
adopted by the Council:
Whereas, it is asserted that the
city of Newark is being Disseminated
against by the New York Telephone
Company in the matter of telephone
rates, and,
Whereas. such discrimination is al
legged to be unfair and bur iensome to
the business interests of the city. and
Whereas. 1t is the duty OF this board
to be watchful of such business inter-
ests in that they underlie the prosperity
of our city;
Therefore. be IL resolved that a
committee be appointed with full power
tc investigate such charges and report
thereon to this board with all con-
venieEt speed, to the end that such fur.
ther action may be taken In the prem
| ICES as may be necessary and ad-
| y'sable"
| VIII Co TO Trenton.
The city's legislative committee will
go to Trenton on Monday and use its
influence to have the municipal corpo-
rations committee of the Assembly, to
which the resolution of Colonel Walter
r, Edge, the majority leader OF the
House was referred. take speedy ac-
ton. Assemblyman Henry r. Tatem
is the chairman of the House commit
tee, and is in possession of the docu-
mentary evidence which the EVENING
STAR has gathered, showing that the
New York Telephone Company is
charging excessive rates in Newark,
as compared with other cities through
out the United States
Assemblyman James II. Christie, OF
Bayonne. visited Newark today, and
to an EVENING STAR man explained
that he was heartily in sympathy with
the fight that the STAR was making
for the people. and added that he pro-
posed to use all the influence he can
at Trenton to compel the Legislature
to curb the telephone abuses.
"The telephone trust" said Mr
Christie. has resorted to all kinds OF
methods to bleed the public. Down in
Bayonne the fiat unlimited business
rate is $6S a year OF course, that is
very low as compared with Newark
and Jersey City, but it is exorbitant as
compared with many cities of much
larger size up in New York State.
How Bnyonne Fared.
1.-THE telephone trust canvassed the
residential section of Bayonne about q
year ago and put into our homes u
large number of phones, agreeing tc
give a rate of $1.50 month. or $1S d
! year. They were put in on eight-parts
! lines, and, because of the extremely
| low rate. many residents took ad.
vantage of the offer. Yearly contracts
were signed. They dated from the time
| the subscriber agreed to take the
! phone, and not from the time the
! phone was installed.
THE company suddenly decided tc
cut out the eight-party line, and sub
stituted q new system--a four party
line-and the cost was placed at. $50 a
year. The subscribers who had the use
of their phones for eight or nine
months We're then compelled to pay $3t
year under the new contract or &c
without the service. The public OF
Bayonne was mulcted in that way. and
they consider that the company's
action was, to say the least. tricky"