The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-09-26
SEEKS TO ANNUL
PHONE FRANCHISE
RESOLUTION is DRAFTED
COMPANY CLAIMS, HOWEVER,
MAJORITY AGREE TO IN
CREASE IN RATES.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
A resolution seeking 10 annul the
franchise under which the Southwest
ern Telegraph and Telephone Com
pany are operating their exchange IN
Conway will be introduced at tomor-
row nights meeting OF the city cOun-
ell, according to a statement MADE by
Alderman r. 3. McCulloch Unsatis-
factory telephone service and an al
legged violation of the antitrust law
are set UP as grounds for the anuU-
nlent of the franchise in the resoiu-
ton, which has already been drafted.
Mr.. McCulloch claims that service
rendered by the company since it has
been in possession Of the exchange Il
so poor as TO constitute just ground
for the revocation OF the franchise.
1.-The further fact that the Southwest
ern company is buying up exchanges
all over the state for the purpose q
raising rates and sitting conpe1i-
tion," Mr. McCulloch said, is sutfi-
Gent to justify the council IN annull-
ing their franchise on the grounds
that they are doing business IN viola
ton of the antitrust laws Ct the
state"
That over two-thirds o. the tele-
phone subscribers here signed the pc
tition acquiescing in he proposed IN
crease in rental rates was the decIa-
ration of p r. Ridgeley, VINO has
been representing the Southwestern
company in canvass O the sub-
scYibers in this city. He states that
the work Of rebuilding the plant he1e,
which is to De done a a estimated
cost of S20,000. will ne started as
soon as the material can be piaeeQ on
the ground, 1t being -ae purpose o.
the company 10 have the outside line
work finished before winter weather
sets in. Mr. Ridgeley left the city
Saturday night and a statement from
him regarding the proposed annull-
ment Of the franchise coui0 no. De ot-
tanned.
For the information Of citizens II
terested the Log Cabin Democrat has
made a verbatim abstract OF the pro
ceedings Of the council on September
10, 1898, at which time the telephone
franchise was granted, together with
a copy of the ordinance. the fran
chise is for a period Of 80 years and
unless annulled will therefore no-d
for Is years, or until September l3,
1928. The abstract follows:
Sept 18th, 1898.
"a regular meeting 81 the common
council of the incorporated town OF
Conway was held in the council cham
Der on September 18th, 1898. Mem
bers present, Mayor W W Martin,
Aldermen J. A. Pence, E. z. Slade
and w. B. Wilson, Recorder ". y.
Wilkins. Absent, Aldermen Leo
Schwarz and W. NJ. HerrelI. :.
can ordinance was entered grant
ing franchise to G. c. Millar and q
H. Burr for erecting and operating
telephone exchange in the town Of
Conway and read the first time The
rules were suspended and ordinance
read second time by the following
vote: Ayes, w. w. Martin, W. &.
Wilson, j. A. Pence, E. E. Shade,
w. j. Wilkins. Noes, none. Absent,
w. M. Harrell and Leo Schwarz.
Thereupon, the rules were suspended
and ordinance read third time by the
following vote: Ayes, W. B. Wilson,
j. A Pence, E. E. Slade, W. W.
Martin, w. j Wilkins. Noes, none.
Absent, w. M. Harrell and Leo
Schwarz Thereupon, the said ordi-
nance was put upon its final passage
and passed by the following vote:
Ayes, j. A. Pence, W. W. Martin,
E. E. Slade, w. B. Wilson, W. j,
Wilkins. Noes, none. Absent, w. NJ.
Harrell and Leo SchwarZ.
"The said ordinance is as follows,
to-wit:
IAN Ordinance Granting Franchise
for Erecting Telephone Exchange
in the Town of Conway,
''Be it Ordained by the Common
Council of the Incorporated Town
of Conway, Arkansas:
"Section l. That G. G.. Millar and
G. H. Burr, their heirs, executors,
administrators and assigns, are here
by granted the privilege of construct
ing and operating telephone eX-
change within the limits of the incor
porated town of Conway, Faulkner
county, Arkansas, for a period of
thirty 800 years.
Section 2 That the right to erect
poles, wires and fixtures on the
streets, alleys and public property,
and to excavate the public ways of
the town as may be necessary in the
construction and maintenance of said
telephone exchange, be and hereby is
granted to the said G. C. Millar and
G. H. Burr, their heirs, executors,
administrators and assigns, provided
that the said parties shall not by
their construction and maintenance of
their plant obstruct or impair the
condition of streets, alleys or other
public ways of said incorporated
town of Conway, or interfere with the
free use of same by the public, and
proyided that all nOleS wires and fix
lures shall be erected in such manner
and in such places as may be satisfac-
tory to the Improvement committee of
said town, and provided further that
that if any street, alley or pavement
shall be dug up for the setting of
poles or other purposes the same shall
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