The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-08
CITY APPROVES
TELEPHONE BILL
Council Passes Resolution Approx
ing Bill Now Before Thirty
Sixth General /
Assembly.
GIVES POWER TO CITY
Bill Will Provide for Control of Iowa
Telephone Companies by the
municipalities Of the
State.

A resolution endorsing the bill now
before the Iowa general assembly
which will give municipalities control
of telephone companies was this after
noon adopted by the city council. The
resolution was made following receipt
of letter from the mayor OF OF
tumwa, Pat Leeny, in whose commun-
ity the bill was originated The bill
is fostered by the Ottumwa city coun-,
Gil, the Wapello county oranges, and
the Ottumwa Commercial association.
The following is the communication
addressed to Governor Clarke and
the members Of the general assembly
in which passage Of the bill is REQUEST
ed and which outlines the provisions
OF the bill:
Ottumwa, Iowa, Jan. 1915.
To the Governor and to the Members
Thirty-sixth Assembly:
At a recent meeting OF the city
council of Ottumwa. Ia, resolution
was adopted endorsing municipal con-
troll of telephone companies, as now
provided for by senate file No. 8. Also,
the Wapello county oranges have tax
en- action endorsing such control and
this appeal is made by the undersisn-
ed as committees duly authorized to
speak for the city council of Ottumwa
and for the Wapello county grange.
In asking favorable consideration for
this bill we feel assured that we voice
the wishes of large majority Of the
voters in the county of whatever class
Or calling.
AS the law now is there is in real
ity no power to control or regulate
telephone companies The bill pro-
poses to subject these companies to
the same kind and measure OF control
to which gas companies. water COM
panies, and electric lighting COM
panies are aInenable. That is to reas-
enable rules and regulations No
proper minded man can deny that this
is fair Telephone service enters in
timately into our business and home
life and to say that such service Is
above all control and regulation is to
admit state Of things. unfair and In
tolerable. =
If public utility commission should
Zoe created at any time by the legisla-
ture. the act creating it will in doubt
be SO moulded as, to leave measure
of control with the city while the
larger matters of incorporation, CAPT
talization, even rates and the like, to
the state commission.
But in the meantime and lest We
fail altogether in securing law Of
any sort, let senate file No. be push
&c, through, to serve its good purpose
until more comprehensive treatment
shall be given the subject.
This bill is not conceived In a spirit
OF hostility toward telephone COM
n1a x,in a
of corporation batter. But we submit
that as an act Of simple Justice to the
who must use telephones,
there should be lodged with the
this power of enacting
reasonable rules to govern telephone
service. AS matters now stand the
telephone company is above all con-
troll. If any city council shall attempt
unreasonable and arbitrary action, the
courts are open to protect the op-
pressed telephone company.
May we respectfully urge your hon
orable body to pass this senate file
No. s and thus afford the people a
relief fairly and justly their own.
City Council of the City Of Ottumwa,
Iowa.
BY Pat Leeny. mayor, 81
Committee OT WapellO County
Oranges.
BY w. G. Arnold, chairman.
BY appropriate action of the board
of directors of Ottumwa Commercial
association at their regular meeting
held February 2. 1915, the nndersign-
ed were instructed to signify the en-
dorsement of the above letter by at
taching theil official signatures there
to.
JOHN Fl. MCRRELL. President
]. y. LTR, Secretary.