The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-04
'ENSLEY PROTESTS
 AGAINST INCREASE Hear Manager Mcconnell of
 Peoples Company WILL GET TO WORK Mcconnell Says Merger of His Com pany With Bell Company Is
 Impossible Because of
 Franchise Terms

1 At meeting of the Ensley club in the inferior court room last night the protests against the rate increase of the Bell telephone system in Ensley were heartily indorsed. A large num-
 Der of citizens of Corey, Palmer, Fair view, Wylam and Pratt City were pres- ent who joined in the action taken, The meeting had more of a semblance to a gathering of political insurgents | than a quiet session of the Ensley club, as the crowd appeared to be at fever heat and seemed willing to remove telephones at once.
 The meeting was called to order by Dr. A. w. Averyt. who stated that the topic up for discussion was the tele- phone question. MT. Miller was select ed as temporary chairman. MT. McCon- mel, manager of the Peoples Telephone company, was present and was called on as representative of that company. MT. Mcconnell said Although the Peoples company has few subscribers in Ensley at present, they are will ing and able to make the desired change. l will say that we can have everything in readiness to handle the new phones in 90 days. This will mean that we will have to put up many new poles and a great deal of wire, but we are prepared to do this at once"
 He stated further in connection with the rumor that the Bell system was going to merge the Peoples system. T want to absolutely refute this state ment. There will be positively no af- filiation. The Peoples company has a 30 years franchise, dating from 1900, and the rates are fixed in that fran chise so that no change can be made for 19 years. All that we want is the Ensley and We will extend our lines to take care of the new patrons"
 MT. Mcconnell went on to explain that the Peoples system was original ly put in Birmingham by men from Youngstown, Ohio. and that the plant was taken over by local capital last summer. He said that the most prom inent business men of the city were stockholders in the company and that its interests were right here in Bir- mingham.
 In the speeches that followed MT. McConnell's talk the new Bell rate was bitterly denounced and the aboli- ton of that system was advised. Dr. Averyt explained how the change would save Ensley about $500 a month A motion by Dr. Wynne that a com mittee be appointed to solicit the names of those that desired the change was withdrawn and new motion was carried that provided for a committee to go out and get Peoples contracts. This committee consists of Chairman Swann, Burke, Acuff. Burgn and Gas ton. These men will begin work Thurs day morning and will be accompanfed by representatives of the Peoples com pany with the contracts. The district will be divided into sections and each one will be canyassed. Another com- mittee will wait on Vice President Crockard of the Tennessee company this morning and try to have the Peo- pies phone used throughout that plant
 Other business transacted at the meeting was the indorsement of Judge Lane for his efforts against the raise.
 A number of those present complain ed about the inadequate police protec- ton of the region around Ensley and a committee was appointed to take the matter up with the commissioners. In connection with this the people of Pal mer had a meeting last night and they will also protest about the number of robberies that have taken place in Pal mer One man said that 20 houses have been broken into in the last 15 days.
 It was also advised that those hay ing water bills to pay should write on the bill paid under protest" A num- Der of examples were given of excess sive water bills. One speaker went so far as to say that if he had used all of the water he had paid for in the last three months he would have had to leave his house in row boat.
 Through the instrumentality of Glenn Barron, a stock dealer and butcher. who resides at East Thomas, Eugene f1eld has been captured and landed behind the bars of the county iail. Yesterday morning Fields attempted to sell MT. Barron a fine Jersey COW. Sus- pecting the negro had stolen 1t, MT. Barron took the COW and held the ne- gro until the police authorities were notified Officer Wiggans of the Ems ley force went after the negro and brought him and the COW to Enslev where the animal was identified as the property of L. II. Worthy, a neighbor of Fields
 The accused was given a hearing be- Tore Judge Camp of the inferior court and was bound over to await the action or the grand jury in the sum of $500 MT. Barron has assisted the police ma terlally in the capture of COW thieves and has helped to bring soveral of tban,