The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-12-10
The Public Meeting.

The Public Meeting.
In response to call sent out by some
of the citizens of Mount Holly there was q
large number of people in the court house
on Thursday evening to discuss the action
of the Bell Telephone Company in raising
the rates of phone rentals.
Former Judge Benajah P. Wills was
chosen chairman. He stated the object Of
the meeting and said 1t remained for the
residents of the town to decide whether
they would concede to the demands of the
telephone company and allow that cor.
poration to impose upon the people after
the company had been granted valuable
considerations and had got about all there
was to be given. He said when the Bell
telephone was installed Ia Mount Holly
he was very much interested and aided in
every way he could to have the phones
put In on the best and easiest terms that
could be made. The company then was
ready to promise almost anything and did
make pledges which 1t now seeks to re-
pudiate. There seemed to be one or two
ideas uppermost In the heads of the
representatives of the Bell company, either
to get higher rentals and fill purse al
ready overlooking, or a desire to crush the
Interstate company. Judge Wills called
upon any one interested to speak.
Oscar Evan, the local manager of the
Bell Telephone company. was present,
and was asked to give his views. Mr..
EVAN said he was not public speaker.
and had nothing to present to the meet
ing. He would be glad, however, to talk
with each individual who had anything to
say ON the subject.
Franklin B. Lewis said he did not think
1t was fair to put Mr.. Evan In an en-
barrassing position, as he was simply an
employe of the company. When the pay
as-you-call phones were installed Mr..
Lewis took one on a verbal contract with
John w. Harris, who was then soliciting
orders.
| Mr.. Harris was called upon and he re-
cited the fact that the company five or six
years ago expended about $125. 900 to put
In an improved plant in Mount Holly. In
order to support this enterprise there was
necessity to increase the number of sub
scribers and Mr.. Harris was employed to
secure them, as well as to get rights of
way. He suggested that the company put
In the ay-as-you-call phones to which
there was objection at first but finally
consent was granted. On this consent
Mr. Harris went to work and got many
phones installed. There was not any
written contract but there was an under
standing with the high officials OF the
company that there should not be any
change while the customers were satisfied.
Privilege to put up outlet poles was
secured from property owners with an
agreement that the poles should be re.
moved on 80 days notice. Now the COM
pany Ia contemplating change on what
they term standard basis. "Whose
standard is itS" inquired Mr.. Harris.
''There ought to be protest to the Public
Utilities Commission"
DIR. Harker asked If the act of an agent
was not binding upon the company, to
which Mr.. Lewis replied that it would be
hard to enforce verbal contract.
Mr.. Evan was asked if there was any
other place where a condition to that Ia
Mount Holly exists, and he said be did
not know of any.
The following resolution was then
adopted Resolved, that the Township
Committee of the township of Northamp-
ton be requested to carefully examine all
ordinances under which the Bell Tele-
phone Company has been granted privi-
leges In Mount Holly. and ascertain the
exact condition of the rights of that cor
porstion In this township.
After further discussion of the matter
1t was suggested that vote be taken
among those present to show who would
remove the phones now In their houses II
the new rates were insisted upon. About
35 stood up.
Mr.. Lewis was not one of the number
and he said he hardly thought the vote
was fair test. He did not care to be
considered as advocating the methods of
the company, but he could not get along
without the telephone, and he wanted it
understood that while he did not agree to
take it out he could not find fault with
those who did.
John W. Harris was another who. did not
vote favorsbly. He said he would have
to keep the telephone In his house regard
ness of the price charged, but he was I'M
equivocally opposed to the movement OF
the company.
There are others in this same position
and there is where the telephone company
scores. They know there are some who
would be incommoded by the removal of
the phone, and that class of people they
are pushing. There are others who would
be Inconvenience, but they are willing to
face that problem rather than have extor-
ton put upon them. Probably the tele-
phone company will win In the end, but
1t will not be with the consent or help of
those who are in a position to get along
without the expensive machine. AS one
representative of the company said, "You
may cause us some annoyance for awhile,
but we will get you 10 the end"
The company has sent out general mott.
fication that unless contracts for the new
system are signed by the 10Th I'VE will be
obliged to remove your telephone. y
When the 18th arrives and the consumer
does not come to terms, then the com.
pany, with flourish of trumpets will
probably say, I'VE have taken 1t out,
with the idea that they were the prime
movers There is at least one case where
such will not be the situation. One noti-
tication referred to was answered to the
effect that the local manager had been d.
rected two weeks previously to. remove
the phone by December /. Another no
tice has been sent to the manager to take
the phone out at once, and If he does not
do so some one will be employed to take
1t out. In this case, at least, the com
pany will not have the satisfaction Of say.