The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-01-28
More Telephone Items.


While the recent telephone furry is sup
posed to have blown over and everything
is apparently proceeding all right, such II
really not the case. Telephones are still
being ordered out and poles and wires are
being taken down in many places
The warning given in THE News some
time since to carefully examine all con.
tracts offered for signature and to gel
legal advice If there was any doubt, has
been needed in several instances. The of.
fer of THE NEWS to furnish free legal adj
vice on this subject has been taken ad.
vantage of. The offer is still open. To
show the necessity for closely watching
every move, one or two incidents may be
related. The Bell Company was told to
take from a property on High street a
pole which was a distributing centre for
several residences. Complying with this
order the company went to another party
and asked permission to place pole, Civ
ing reason which was apparently very
innocent and correct. But when investi
cation was made it was discovered that If
this pole was allowed to be put up It
would supply all the properties that were
on the pole taken from High street.
When the gentleman in the woodpile"
was discovered the permission to plant the
innocent pole was withheld.
Another incident of the same character
was disclosed in the case of property on
Mill street. The owner had agreed to
have pole put up to accommodate his
own line, but when the contract was pre-
sented for signature he thought he saw a
joker in it. Looking at 1t closely he be-
came impressed with the idea that more
privileges were being asked for than be
was willing to grant and close questioning
disclosed the fact that If he had signed
the paper presented to him he would have
given the privilege to put up pole which
would convey wires for several houses In
that part of the town. He declined to
sign.
Camden council has passed an ordinance
making 1t compulsory for the Delaware
and Atlantic Telephone Company to per
init the use of its poles for municipal pur-
poses. To this the company objects and
has taken the matter into the courts 1t
mades a difference whose OK is being
gored.
The NEWS still warns the public against
signing any paper without thoroughly
scanning it In every item. In addition to
this there are some other ideas which
present themselves.
The Bell Telephone Company is pub
fishing list os their standard rates, so
called, and putting before the public a
claim that everything is standard Let
that be admitted as true but they charge
for local service; they charge for long dis
lance calls; they charge for extension call
bells and sets, no matter what the condi- |
ton; they charge for overtime In calls and |
even charge for the time that their opera
tors take to correct some of their errors; |
they charge for few extra feet of wire to |
go into farmers house which NAV be |
back from the road and even charge extra |
II for the convenience of the user two or |
three feet of additional cord is required to |
locate the instrument; in fact there is not |
much service rendered that is not charged |
for. Aud yet they have their employees
going to property owners asking for the |
privilege to put up poles, junction boxes,
and run wires for the convenience of their |
1eighbors. What is sauce for the goose
should be sauce for the gander and it is |
therefore suggested that in the line of |
charges for every service rendered by the |
telephone standard list of rates should |
be made by each property owner to the
company for every service rendered as
follows:
For every junction box or pole
containing distributing box 100 per month |
For every pair of wires leading
from said box in excess of two
pairs 25
For every pair of wires passing
over the land or buildings of
the property owner .25
For every pole or stay on the
property owner rs"
For every conduit on property
where distributing pole is not
located 5"
These rates should be enforced and care
Ihould be taken to embody In the lease |
provision that the privilege is revocable
Upon ninety days notice. Under no cir |
should permanent privilege
De given, and parties should not sign privi- |
eges upon any statement from repre- |
the company without sub
hitting it to someone who can advise.
The Bell Telephone Company does not
ender any service, be it ever so little,
without charge, therefore render them no |
Iervice without proper charge When |
hey speak of accommodating your neigh
Dor 1t is only with the view of using your |
without cost to themselves. They |
get theirs, why not get yours?
Ii the company has any wires, poles or
'ther equipment on your property, give
hirty days notice of removal in writing,
hen wait.