Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-21
BRANDS PHONE AS
PROMOTER IDEA
Commissioner M. T. Rudgren
Objects to Serious Consid-
Grafton of Franchise.
OF AUTOMATIC COMPANY
Thinks Rights Once Secured viii Be
Sold to Wall Street SpecuIat-
ors for Profit.

Claiming that the Tri-City Automat-
&c Home Telephone company, which
hled petition signed by 1900 electors
OF Rock Island, simply wanted en-
trance TO the city and an ordinance
for the purpose Of satisfying promo
tiers who guaranteed in their ordi-
nance nothing 70 the city. Commission
er Martin T Rudgren this morning
gave several reasons why he was op-
posed 20 granting the ordinance as
the petitioners ask. Four days after
the said promoters had fled the petit
ton calling for an election on the mat
ter of the Central Union Telephone
company ordinance, they fled the Pc
tition asking the council TO pass an
ordinance which would allow them to
construct and maintain a telephone
system in Rock Island for period Of
80 years. The petition asked that
either the ordinance be granted in its
present form or referred 10 a vote of
the people.
CALLS 1T PROMOTERS SCHEME.
Necessarily the petition will have TO
lay over 30 days in the clerks Office
unless the commission takes favorable
action on il, which hardly seems like
~. The franchise fails TO state a
specified time for beginning the work
and its completion. Therefore, after
Commissioner Rudgren had read the
document to the commission. he gave
five reasons for opposing its passage.
First he objected TO the length OF the
life of the franchise, and urged that
20 years be the life. If it be granted.
SaCnnd time fG snacffaJ for
ming and completion of the plant.
Third, that IL is an attempt Of bunch
of promoters TO obtain rights which
they wish to sell to Wall street or 9th
er capitalists Fourth, that there is
no guarantee. Fifth. that they should
complete the plant in five years and
file a bond Of $4,000. TO be forfeited
unless the work is completed.
Commissioner Rudgren asserted
that the ordinance is not identified
with any one and no one know what
it is worth. He declared that it is
simply a promoters scheme.
PRESENTS WORN RESOLUTION.
Concerning the telephone situation,
Commissioner R r. Reynolds this
morning again offered his resolution
asking that the commission reject the
ordinance of the Central Union Tele-
phone company. Again il was lost for
want Of a second. Commissioner Rey-
nolds informed the other members Of
the council that the natter might be
one Of laughter 10 them. but not so for
the people.
CHARGE DISC NTNATION.
\ resolution which was unanimously
passed VIII be forwarded TO the Tri-
city Railway company demanding
that the corporation comply with the
terms OF its franchise and give 10
Rock Island citizens the same service
TO Silvis as 20 Moline citizens The
resolution was offered by Commissioner
Reynolds Rock Island citizens who 80
70 Silvis must pay 10 cents, while Mo
line people go 10 Siivis for half the
amount This is a discrimination in
favor of Moline. and contrary 70 the
terms of the franchise granted by the
Rock Island council in April, 1910.
ORDERED TO APPEAR
Charles Brady. proprietor OF the /
junk yard al 1917 Fourth avenue, I
was notified by the commission, on .
motion Of Commissioner Archie
Hart TO appear before the council
Thursday morning at 10 o'clock to .
give cause why the council should
not abolish his junk yard at that 10
cation of the grounds that il is
public nuisance.
on motion OF Commissioner Jonas
Bear. q resolution TO let the con
tract for the laying Of walks in
Denkmann park to George W Evans
was laid over for a week. during
which time it will be on file in the
city clerks Office. The contract price