Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-01-16
PHONE SUBSCRIBERS NET
AT ITHACA MONDAY
CONTINUED from page One.

were placed We certainly can do
something. We can eliminate one
phone company and reduce the rates
and get just as good service as we do
now, but we must stick together, Let
the majority rule and everybody work
with the majority.
Mr.. Stone, from the northeast part
of the county. said the telephone COM
pany there had twelve subscribers and
they had all pulled out their phones
gested new company.
Mr. f. l.. Convis said this reminded
him of some trouble that two Illinois
men were having last spring over the
purchase of some farm property.
They wanted TO go to law about it,
but he advised them to each give a
little and take little and get to-
gether and settle their differences
without the expense Of lawsuit. A
short time afterwards he met one OF
the fellows and asked him how they
were getting along. and he said, ooh,
fine; I've been giving and he's been
taking, and now he's got to go or get
kicked ont" So evidently we've got
10 do something ON this telephone
deal or get kicked out. ! think we
ought to offer the telephone com
pancs fair thing for | believe "a
business men they will do right ii
they have to. Try them anyway.
Then see il the r. r. Commission will
force them. Then, if not, organize a
new company.
Mr. Chisholm of Breckenridge said,
I'VE took ont. our phones. If the rest
of you had done the same thing there
would be no trouble or question now,
and both telephone companies would
be running after us with propositions.
Mr. Benson of Lafayette. said: We
have both phones. but | have to pay
ten cents ON one line to get man a
mile away. We all cut loose from the
Bell line because we own our own
phones. but those on the Union
wouldn't cut loose. They found their
contract would forfeit the whole pole
line which we had bought and paid
for to the Union company if we pulled
out This line cost us 100000 and we
didn't propose to make them a present
OF it, 50 we didn't dare do anything.
We believe there's only one thing to
do and that i, a. DR.. Campbell says,
originate new company
Another delegate told OF contract
that stipulated that the subscriber
would not seek to make any agree
ment with any other corporation ~
private company for telephone ser
vice while this contract was in force,
Still another said their contract
read that they were To get the same
service that Wheeler had and Attor-
ney Tuttlc had told them that their
contract would hold. Someone re-
spouded that Wheeler was now get
ting il in the neck and you probably
will soon. Another said that surely
would be case of give and take,
and you would give and futile would
take
Archie Mccall then gained the floor
ana Ndlu very uCHDCl dltll, bul az
ton today will not change any con-
tracts. We should first select COM
mittee to get the opinion of one OF
the best municipal lawyers Then go
TO Lansing with a definite proposition
to the X. X. Commission. To put 4
proposition to either telephone com
pany is waste OF time for you would
get no answer from either OF them.
Get the best you can then take what
you get
DR. Campbell said he agreed in the
main with what Mr. Mccall said but
he could see no reason for the eX-
penSe Of lawyer. We know that VIC
can organize and operate a company
as cheaply as these companies can,
and move that we send delegation
OF three to Lansing at once to inter
view the K. K. Commission The mo-
ton was vigorously seconded by sew
cral and carried unanimously. Frank
l.. ConviS of Ithaca. DR.. Campbell OF
ST Louis. and Lloyd Webster OF
Breckenridge were chosen rs the
committee and the meeting adjournc '.