Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-12-05
TELEPHONE SITUATION.
Members Of Ithara Board Of Trade
and Citizens Of ST. Louis
NET WITH ALMA B. OF I.
La st Monday Afternoon to Discuss Telephone
Situation Sentiment For One system
Manifest

The telephone subscribers of Ora
tiot county are in earnest in trying
70 reduce the cost of telephone ser
vice in the county, as recently estab-
lished by the two companies now
doing business. They especially OBJ
iect 10 the elimination of free ser
vice between Alma. ST. Louis and
Ithaca, a privilege which has been
given for the past ten years, but
which on the 10Th and 25th of last
month was discontinued on the
grounds of abuse of the service as
well as unfair discrimination III rates,
Last Monday afternoon representa-
tives of the Ithaca Board OF Trade,
the Alma Board of Trade and bust
ness men of St. Louis met at the
CITY Hall in this city TO devise means
if possible 10 secure for the future
one telephone system only in the
county and free exchange service be
tween the three cities of the county.
President c. +. Brown of the Alma
Board OF Trade called the meeting
to order and called upon F. j. Mccall
OF Ithaca as chairman of the county
seat delegation to explain the scnti-
ment as existing at Ithaca Mr..
McColl briefly stated the situation
and then presented petition signed
by the users Of 100 telephones in the
city of Ithaca which read as follows:
"To our Neighboring Towns and Ru-
raj Districts:
Eve the business men OF Ithaca,
desire to inform our neighbors of
our dissatisfaction of the existing
ruling OF the two telephone COM
panies. in not allowing free county
telephone service, and desire the
cooperation of the users OF tele-
phones TO overcome this ruling and
if possible, 10 secure d one telephone
system for Gratiot county with free
service.
HENRY MCCORMACK.
president Ithaca Board OF Trade,
LYNN s. MILLER,
Secretary ithaca Board OF Trade, -
Following Mr. McCalls remarks
a general discussion was entered in
Hamlin of St. Louis; F. L. Convis
Henry Mccormack OF Ithaca and re
personalities Of Alma Board OF Trade
different means OF procuring the de-
sired results were canvasSed until
committee consisting of {. J.. Della
van, Alma, Henry Mccormack Ith-
AGA and w. Yost OF St. Louis were
appointed to draft a resolution.
Following is the committees re
port:
Resolved, that the double tele
phone service in Gratiot county is a
burden and~hardship upon all tele-
phone users in said county and cS-
pecially a hardship since the social
ed free service between the various
cities and villages has been abel
lished and a toll rate OF ten cents per
call is charged; and,
Whereas, such double service is
unnecessary and the toll charge TO
regular subscribers extortionate and
excessive,
Resolved That. ........ OF ..........
is hereby appointed to represent.
and its telephone users toward the
furtherment of better service by
means OF eliminating one or both Of
the companies now doing business
in Gratiot county and we the under
signed do hereby agree to abide by
the decision OF the county commit
tee in whatever action it takes.
During the afternoon Mr. w A..
Bahlkc explained the working Of the
Giles law, and made clear the fact
that discriminating rates are a thing
OF the past now that the telephone
companics are subject TO the rulings
and decision of the State Railroad
Con mission, The patrons OF the
two companies are thoroughly in
earnest in trying to secure if posi-
bic one telephone system for the
county and more advantageous ar
Management for communication be
tween the telephone patrons Of the
county, than the toll rate now in ef-
'ect
J.
Living up to their agreement to
hang together for better telephone