The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-01-12
A DISCUSSION IS DESIRED
General Assembly Will be
Asked to Take Action.
Before the Proposition is put up 20
The Legislators, a Thorough Dis
cussion of all Phases is Sought Be-
fore the People.

and Marion county since the consum-
nation of the plan win affect in a
degree the telephone service which Is
afforded them.
Some years ago. when the Marion
County Telephone company took over
the interests of the Central Union
Telephone company In Marion and
most of the surrounding villages, a
difference arose between the long
distance lines into the city with the
result that the Independents cut
their lines out of Marion and since
then It has been impossible to secure
long distant service over the Inde-
pendent lines. A suit is now in the
circuit court of this county as a re-
suit of this action. 1t was to have
been heard at the present term of
the circuit court but II was allowed to
go over TO the next term for hear
ing.
In some of the larger cities, par
ticularly In Columbus, the Independ-
ent phone people have the upper hand
and Marion people find II very in
convenient to be restricted to the use
of the Bell long distant lines. The
consummation of the plan as outlin-
ed in the Leader article would rem
edy this condition not only with re-
spcct to Columbus but with all of
the cities in Ohio where the Inde-
pendent phone people have the up
per hand The Leader article fol-
lows:
"The proposed Ohio telephone mer-
ger bill Is expected to put in an early
appearance. 1t will be given to the
public before 1t is introduced in the
Legislature according to plans heard
in the financial district yesterday.
Copies will be placed in the hands
of all telephone exchange managers
in Ohio with instructions that the
bill he given fullest publicity.
"The draft of a merger bill was
taken to Columbus yesterday by ID.
j. Cable, a corporation lawyer OF
Lima, who stated that he will lead
the fight for its passage.
"Cable says his bill eliminates all
the features of the Elson telephone
measure and will permit the merg-
ing of Bell and Independent COM
panies under regulations satisfactory
to all concerned.
nt ltltDnOHt say lllty
want the widest possible public dis
cussion OF the merit of the bill be-
fore its Introduction at Columbus.
&c. A. Otis, Morgan's right hand
telephone man in Ohio, and president
of the Cuyahoga Telephone company,
is credited with having fathered the
idea. Otis led the opposition to the
Elson telephone bill a year ago. Otis
claimed that the Elson bill which
was the product of the Bell interests,
would not satisfy the independent
wing and would never meet with the
approvals OF the public. The Bell
people tried to jam 1t through the
legislature. The independents noti-
fed the Morgan people that they
| would fight the bill in the form in
sisted upon by the Bell. They still
held together the remnants of q once
| threat TO kill 1t.
| Independents Ready Now.
| r"This year all is changed. The in
dependents have been consulted. and
the new bill Is satisfactory to both
Bell and Independents. Otis has
been spending much time with Presi-
dent Theodore n. Vail, of the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany. Vail travels in a private car
and in periodic trips personally covers
the northern half of the continent In
an active supervision of the Bell and
Western Union properties. Otis has
been with him recently on many oi
these trips. The Ohio telephone bill
in all its phases has been framed
by Otis and Vail to suit the varied
phases of the telephone situation In
Ohio.
ut Is Otis idea that the bill b,
framed on broad, public lines, openly
given to the public in advance, ant
adequate provision made for the pro
lection of the public interest. Th,
slugging methods adopted a year age
to jam the measure through will!
nflly are 10 be no part of the presen
program. on this new program thu
telephone people hase hopes OF al
act that will legalize telephone merg
ers.
State Wide Merger.
"The result would be a merger o
the Cuyahoga and cleveland Tele
Iphone companies in this city. In al
cities where Morgan and Bell ex
: changes exist in competition merger
would also be put through. These in
4 clude Toledo. Columbus, Dayton
Youngstown and half dozen Others
The independents not under Morga
control would also swarm In unde
the act, The Bell is ready TO tur
over many towns to the independ
ents. retaining only the long distanc
business.
"The United States Company. whic
Is the long distance wing OF the in
dependents and Morgan properties /
Ohio, would be promptly absorbed b
the Bell long distant system. Th
Bell would probably retain its hol
on local business in big cities lik
Cleveland. but local investors woul
be invited to participate as in Oh
cago and New York, where the publ
investment holdings are larger tina
those held by the parent America
Telephone and Telegraph concern.
Telephone interests are not y
ready TO give details Of. the bill bl
) they claim 10 lbuiItison these lin