Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-02-24
Authorized Statement From
The Head OfThe Christian
Todd Telephone Co.
AVERSE TO LITIGATION
He Declares that Rates Now
Proposed Have Practically
Bankrupted two Co.'S.

Vice President j. M. 3. Hoxsey. of
the Christian-Todd Telephone Co.,
has given out the following inter-
view concerning the action of the
fiscal court Friday in ordering the
sale Of county franchise.
Our representatives have attend
ed several meetings Of, the commit
tee which formulated this franchise,
and on this occasion have been in
almost constant consultation with
them for the last four days. We re-
greet very earnestly that the COM
mtttee did not see fit to accept The
proposition whichlwe made to them.
"As a matter of fact, while the
committee met Us in a most ami
cable spirit, and were considerable |
enough to withdraw some provisions
in their original draft, which would |
have worked great hardship upon
US, which fact we duly appreciate,
nevertheless. the final franchise as
passed Friday imposes upon the
Company purchasing same. a num-
Der of very burdeRsome restrictions
and obligations. 1t would lower
the rates of great majority of the
country telephones, and the rates
prescribed for country telephones,
with the exception of a ten per cent
mileage change beyond the FIVE mile
limit. which we believe we can show
is entirely inadequate. are the
lowest rates in force by any COM
pany during the days when there
were several opposition companies
in the field.
THE committee appears to US, to
have lost sight of the feet that these
rates formerly in force carried with
them the privilege of service with |
less than one-haf of the subscrib- |
ers in Christian county; whereas
the Christisn-Todd Telephone com
pany is giving connection to all sub
scribers who can be reached by
telephone in Christian county.
These rates, as | am informed.
practically bRnkrupted two of the
telephone coapanies formerly giv-l
ing service in Christian county. and I
there lie no reason that l know of
to believe that we can give over
twice as much service for the same
rate as they did, without meeting
the same fate.
I'VE were very anxious to avoid
litigation in this matter and to that
end offered TO the commGttee COM
promise without prejudice to our
legal rights. which compromise, had
they accepted it, would have insur-
ed service to the people Of Christian
county for at least three years, for 9
some $40, 00O to $ls. 900 a year less
than the rates which we believe we J
can shsw to be fair and just. While c
this is heavy price to pay. we were G
willing TO pay il for the sake of s
avoiding litigation with our patrons. '
We distinctly preferred. il allowed 6
TO do 30. to live in peace and amity v
n Christian county, rather than to h
lir our differences in the courts. C
The most difficult feature of the
committees action for US to under v
tand is that refusing us the neees- c.
airy time to place before them in d
ormation which seems to US neces- o
airy in order that a fair conclusion CT
night be arrived at. inasmuch as "
he committee declined to accept Il
ur statements. based on our gen. Il
raj knowledge and experience of N
he business. 1t was impossible for al
Is to foresee that the committee
would not accept these statements, N
nd impossible for US to foresee just 50
What direction their request for p'
would take, and | am III
atisfied that had they granted this tr
eQuest there would have been no 'sI