The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-14
)ERllEN PLAN FIGHT ON
HONE COMPANY'S SCHEME
ITO INSTALL METER SYSTEM

III the telephone company has over
sold It's product, that Is no reason
why il should be given an opportu-
nifty 10 boost rates when asked to
better the service.
Aid. Heating. who was member
OF the council committee on pubic
utilities when the telephone probe
was begun. also expressed the fear
mended as the remedy in the rail-
road commissinn's report, means me-
ter service ,or Detroit.
The commission made a very mild
report. To my way of thinking. and II
il is up TO the telephone company 10
make a showing before the same body
To secure permission 10 install me-
ter service, then | say the Lord help
the poor telephone subscribers in De
troit." said Aid. Heating.
Il have not studied the situation.
but | am sure that the telephone COM
pany Is being over-paid for the kind
OF service that Is being given" said
Aid Littlefeld. II do not favor the
meter system for the telephone COM
pany any more than | favor granting
the d. L. X. permission to make a
seven-for-a-quarter line out Of 65
miles OF Pingree line tracks TO allow
them to connect with the new depot
Il think that the council can pass
an ordinance giving the aldermen
power TO regulate the service ana
rates. AS chairman OF the ordinance
committee. l will say that the proper
kind OF a telephone ordnance Will
have my hearty support"
The aldermen have not forgotten
that the railroad commission stepped
In and took charge OF the telephone
probe without giving any notice 10
the members of the committee that
had the investigation under way.
Corporation Counsel lawson doubts
the power of the common council TO
enforce an ordinance regulating tele-
phone service and rates at the pres
ent time. ,aA.i
There Is a provision in the prop0s-
ed new charter which would delegate
this authority to the city," said the
corporation counsel III the new
charter is adopted have no doubt
OF the city's power to regulate the
service and rates by ordnance"
Mayor Marx stated ON his return
from a trip 70 Madison. Wis, Thurs
day morning. that he was opposed TO
the installation OF a meter system In
Detroit
II understand that San Francisco
threw ont the meter system after
finding II very unsatisfactory said
the mayor
"The local telephone service m0st
be improved. but il Is not necessary
TO allow the company to force the me-
ter system on the city-te get re-
suits. Under the new charter the city
will have full power TO regulate the
telephone service. as welks ~ the
rates
Charter Commissioner Ahern, who
assisted in preparing tho data for the
proposed Hally telephone ordinance,
makes the statement that as part or
a state telephone system. Detroit has
TO pay for the cheap rates enjoyed In
the farming communities. where the
state company is competing with To-
cal telephone companies Commits
sioner Ahern introduced the charter
amendment which gives 10 the city
the legislative authority necessary TO
regulate the telephone service In De-
troit, and he declares that the city
will he able 10 act Independently or
the state railroad board In bringing
the company to time.
II favor telephone ordinance"
said Aid. Barnett. who started the aGt
tation In the council. resulting IN
the Investigation by the state raft
Way COMMISSION.
AS uemller OF the common conn
ell. ! will not stand for me instaIia-
ton OF meter system by the teIe-
phone company. think the city can
prevent the comrany from doing so
because nobody in Detroit bug the tel
ephone company officials seem to
want meter system. do not be-
lieve in holding up the city simply
because, some people use the teIe-