Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-05

knew there had been no competition
in the telephone field and that ser
vice afforded by the Central Union
could be little worse than at present
Therefore, there is little to lose in
point of-service, in his opinion. He
further stated that the citizens had
had several years now to grasp an
opportunity which would mean live
competition in the field, but had fail
an augur that the people are well
satisfied with but one telephone.
w. A. Rosenf1eid, president of the
Rock Island club, suggested that the
Central Union be allowed to purchase
with the understanding that they OPP
crate the other plant. The company
Is seeking to buy the plant to in
crease its own interest and therefore
should be willing to keep in opera
ton the new plant. He stated that
in his opinion, two phones in any
city were menace, but 1t Is better
to have one poor phone than two OF
even than one good phone and one
poor one.
He stated that in time, laws might
be passed providing for inspectors
who shall see to il that the service
and equipment are up to standard
and then two lines will be super
fiuous. The granting of the new
franchise does not eliminate other
companies from entering the field
and therefore he favored the grant
He said that as far as he could see
there is no competition in the tele-
phone business for, If there are two
phones in a city, a live progressive
merchant must have both and there
fore pay for both, whereas if there
were but one, the merchant would
have to pay for one and although the
rate might be twice as high as either
Of two competitive lines, it would be
favorable, for all people would have
that phone.
FEELING PUBLIC PULSE.
Mayor Schriver stated that he had
been trying since his inauguration,
to find what the popular sentiment
was on the question but had been I'M
able to do so. Some business men
are for two phones while others ia
vor one, with the understanding that
better service be demanded. There
never has been any real competition,
for during the life of the new COM
pany, 1t has had but $500 subscrib-
ers in the three cities together while
the old phone has at least $4,000.
H. S. Cable, president of the Rock
Island Savings bank, speaking from
a personal standpoint, as were the
other speakers, stated that he has al
ways had satisfactory service and
that he would have but one telephone
of who owns the plant. He
said that the sooner the bankrupt
plant is gotten rid of, tho better it
will be for the city. He said that
he ever has considered two plants
as a superfuity and that good SER
vice could be obtained without COM
petition.
NEVER SOUGHT BUSINESS.
S. r. Ransom wished to explain
why the new company had never Of
fered real competition and stated
that II was because they never tried
to get the business. He stated that
the TRICKY Home Independent Tele-
phone company had been ignored by
the new phone people, regardless of
the fact that they had offered $780,
900 for plant which was appraised
at $125. 1000. He made a number
Of assertions which were later en-
phatically denied by several of the
of the new phone
His remarks brought forth a hot
reply from E. J. Burns. who said that
the company for which he~was talk
ing consisted OF franchise fioaters |
who were not open and above board /
and were therefore attempting to in
.erfere with a matter which was
strictly open and above board. Mr. !
Burns stated for the benefit of the |
the facts in regard to the
Interference by the third company /
since the sale was first preached in /
council meeting.
DeRoy Wolf asked that the franchise /
De Immediately considered, as the |
company would within week or ten |
lays, be at the end of its rope. He
stated that his employers were will
ng TO sell TO anyone who presented /
he best proposition, regardless Of /
Who the hackers might be.
OVER FOR a WEEK.
Following the statements OF the
business men and telephone repre-
entatives, Commissioner NJ. T. Rud-
,ren presented a motion providing
hat the council consider the fran
hise. The motion carried and was
by the other that the COM
mission should Law the matter over
i'll next Monday morning when the
'ublic Will be given a hearing.
In response TO the advertisement
or bids for the printing in pamphlet
orm of the official proceedings of
he city commission and other mat
ers which would require such pub
ication, four printing companies
u bmitted bids They were referred