Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1911-12-23

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the company makes the phone renter
pay the difference. II there should
happen to be an excess Of nicksls the
company gobbles them all. The phone
renter gets no credit for that excess.
That's the logic Of the monopoly.
~AA
All telephone rates are now subject
to revision every I'VE years.
The telephone company wants the
city to raise rates and abolish the pro
vision In the ordinance calling for -
vision every I'VE years.
They want to keep the people where
they have them 30 that they can't ~
away.
The expert" on pages 1os and 1os
Of his report apparently feels much
sympathy for the company On this sub
jsst.
Will the aldermen show any syn
patty for the psorssf
The telephone company wants the
public to pay high rates because -
the improvements It has put IN the
service. II this kind Of reasoning holds
good. then Marshall Field 4 @. ~
The Fair should charge higher prices
for the goods because Of tho Ans
buildings and other improvements
they have paid for. And on the same
like Of argument the Northwestern
Railroad should double the price Of
railroad fares because Il has erected
. S2s.o0o.00o depot.
All telephone patents should b con.
6scated by the government when they
become the exclusive property Of the
Telephone Trust. The following from
an editorial In the Chicago Daily
News Of July II. 1911. hits the cass
exactly:
I'm IN argument before the national
senate's interstate commerce CONT
tee. Senator Kenyon recently urged
several notifications Of the Sherman
antitrust law. One Of them provided
that when any patent granted BY the
government 10 used to build up Q trus,
or combination the patent shall b for
feited."
Municipal ownership OF telephones
10 favored by Aid. Herman J. Bauler
WHO has been advocating penny tele
phones" He serves notice that un
less the Chicago Telephone company
agrees to new schedule OF rates be-
fore the aldermanic election next
April. he will endeavor to bring the
municipal ownership idea before the
people for a referendum vote.
AID. Bauler think II would be pos
sible for the city to purchase the
automatic system already installed
and to operate 1t on municipal
ownership basis. He asserts 1t Is his
intention. unless new rates are set
tied by the council and the Chicago
Telephone company. to get up a peti
ton and ask for an expression from
the voters on the question of the mu
nicipality operating telephone sys
tenn. II Is understood Aid. Baulel
proposes to get this expression un
der the public policy act, which per
mits the submission Of question o.
publ, policy to the voters. the de
cision being merely advisory and no
binding.
Mayor Harrison made q populsl
move when he ordered a new repor
on the telephone situation. The "ex
pert" whose report is now In thu
hands OF the Council Committee fav
ored the raising of rates and q gen
eral contribution to the necessities o
the phone gang. His report strangel.
enough showed that the Chicago
branch OF the monopoly IL ownet
body, boots and breeches by thu
American Telephone crowd who con
troll the telephone business OF tn,
whole country. His report also show
that the Chicago branch OF the monop
oily Is obliged TO buy all OF It's equip
rnent from q notorious Electric Com
pany which is also owned by thu
American Telephone Trust. This com
pany makes its own prices for wha
II sells to the other concern and thu
people of Chicago are expected to pa,
for the profits OF both subsidiary insti
tutions OF the Trust.
Talk about the Tobacco Trust, tn,
Standard OIL Trust and every othe
trust. The trust that Is the real thin
is the Telephone Trust. This Trus
hits over quarter OF a million peopl
in Chicago Recently II has grown d
bold that It managed to grab of 70
the purchase Of its watered stock
big sum OF money donated by the gen
erous Chicago public for the inmedl
ate relief OF the widows and orphan
of brave hremep who gave up thei
lives last December In the discharg'
OF their duty. Any alderman Wit
votes for an ordinance favor1ng tn
Telephone Trust deserves the ignom
my which he win certainly receive.