Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1911-07-27

pendent Telephone Line to Con-
meet With the Farmers Mutual
At Fruitland--Wili Not stand
for Toll Charge.
Indignant at the arbitrary manner
in which the Bell system since taking
over the Independent phone system,
has put on toll charges for all talks
to Fruitland and New Plymouth the
Payette Commercial Club held large
Iy attended special session Wednes~
day morning at ten o'clock and at
this meeting it was the unanimous
opinion that a mutual Independent
system should be built at once and
a committee was ordered appointed
10 investigate costs and methods and
report at another special meeting to
be held next Friday evening.
Ever since last Saturday when the
new toll rate governing talks to Ply
mouth and Fruitland where we have
heretofore enjoyed free exchange
went into effect Indignation has run
high finally eliminating in the spe-
cial session of the club. The meet
ing was largely attended almost ev-
cry business man in Payette being
there besides representatives from
north of town and from on the bench
King Cobbs of Boise, Superlntend-
ent Of the Intermountain Bell Tele-
phone Company was at the meet
ing and was asked to address the
club on the attitude Of the company
regarding rates and its intentions. He
stated that he could not say anything
regarding the general rates on busi-
ness, residence and rural phones. Did
net know whether they would be
raised or not. The toll rate to Fruit
land and New Plymouth had been
put on because they felt that it was
fair For four years he claimed that
the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone
Company had made no money and
that the stockholders were beginning
to get insistent When closely ques-
toned however he admitted that
many permanent improvements had
been made adding vastly to the
value Of the plant. He asked that
a committee be appointed to take
the matter up and said he felt that
some arrangement could be arrived
at satisfactory to both the company
and the residents here After ask
ing many questions of Mr. Cobb it
was moved that the club go into ex-
eeutive session. The motion carried
and Mr.. Cobb retired
The situation was discussed quite
generally by the business men and
the feeling existed quite strongly
that the proper thing to do was not
10 ask for any concessions but TO
get busy and organize mad build an
mutual line B. F. Tus-
sing and c. f. Sargent both MEM
1ers OF the board of directors of
he Farmers Mutual at Fruitland
stated that their company had not
been purchased by the new combine
md that It would net be and that It
would be glad to meet the residnets
If Payette and this half Of the val
ey half way on any proposition look
ne toward a mutual system with
rec tolls all over the valley
A motion that the chair appoint a
committee of five to investigate
plans and costs Of con
'truction carried unanimously and
he chair appointed E. C. Keith, Ben
Strohbehn. George Lattig. II. Har-
and and A. p Scritchfieid.
That the sentiment is strong
enough to carry the proposition
through and that the line will be
,uilt there can be no question. Prom
nent ranchmen from every commun-
ty expressed their willingness to
ssist and pledged the support OF
heir neighborhoods.
II is also understood that New
'lymouth viii adopt the same course
nd that an effort viii be made to
nterest Emmett in mutual line
Which if successful will mean solid
MUTUAL phone in Payette Valley and
ne upon which there wiz be free
xchange to all portions Of the Val
ay.