The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-03-03
USERS WILL Bh
ASKED 10 EMPRESS VIEWS =
ON THE sUfy.trT.
DISQUALIFICATION.
Proposal g. To Merge The system
with Increase ~ 80 Cents in
Rentals ON business Phones.
Many Are signing.

receiving serious consideration at
1.-THE hands Of the telephone users to-
idav. For some weeks a committee
Ifrcln the Chamber of Commerce has
been considering the plans undor
which a merger may be had. but it
Twas impossible to finance the deal
under the plan outlined in the re-
lport of the committee made to the
lChamber Of Commerce. SO counter
proposition was made that was cor
lsidered in a meeting held yesterday
land again this morning. through
(which Il is now believed that a mer-
tger may be effected. This counter
proposition calls for only fifty
Ieent increase in rentals of business
Telephones, making the maximum
rental $3.50 per month and the resi-.
idence telephones to remain at the
same price. In return for this con-
ieession on the part of the users of
business telephones the management
lof the Independent company agrees
Ito maintain the present rural con
Injection arrangements and TO improve
same when opportunity presents X
self
BY this il is meant that addition
al rural exchanges may have the adj
vantage or the exceedingly low rates
made Tire exchanges already connect
| ed. thus giving Waxahachie Cham
Der Of Commerce an opportunity to
work for an increase of our sural
telephone service.
There are many things for the
committee to consider in recommend
ling merger oil the two telephone
systems. First and foremost a merg
ed system would eliminate the bota
Ter of dual system, which must
necessarily be kind Of nuisance N
Iany town as Well as an added eN-
inense. Waxahachie is today paying
Iout, according TO revised figures,
something like S239 each month
more than the telephone users would
lpay under merged system with the
lrental of business phones fixed at
Is3.5o per month. This for the life
Iof the telephone franchises will b.
Ian item worth considering. Second
There is need OF both systems being
ioyerhauled and improved and it IS
doubtful If this needed work will
be done with tight on for existence.
With a merged system the surviving
company would plan permanent inn
lproyemeuts and work to the better
lment of telephone conditions. There
lis another reason. and an important
lone. which influences the commit
tee in taking active steps regarding
la merger. and that is il the fight iov
business should become matter Of
1.-THE survival of the fittest, and the
smaller company fall in the figl (,
the people would then be at the
mercy of the company. for the com
mittee understands that the fran
lehise authorizing the southwestern
company to do business in WaSa-
hachie does not provide for maxi
mum charge
Further the franchise of the In
dependent company provides that the
lefty shall have the use OF adequate
Telephone service without charge
lwhile the Southwestern eNaets he
lrcgular rate Tor the ten Southwest
fern telephones used by city officials
THAT company preferring TO pay tho
Ecity a franchise tax of $3.50 year
Irather than give the free telephone
lseryice. The telephone rentals no~s
paid by the city to the Southwest
lern amounts to s2s a month, whieh
lis $26 in excess of the franchise tay,
hence it would mean saving Of So
ANNUALLY to the city
1t is true that some patrons favor
the dual system because they believe
lit means better service, but the conf
mittee submits that it is reasonable
TO suppose that a merged system
would after a few weeks, be in DO
sition to give better service because
the surviving company would begin
20 make peimanent improvements
which are needed in WaNahachie.
The committee at is meeting %
day decided TO put the matter Of
merging the telephone systems
sauarely up TO the telephone users
and have prepared petition 10 be
Il presented 10 the city council. This
Metition will be circulated among shs
/ users of business telephones AMI
each and every telephone user viii
Be urged 70 sign K stating whether
or not he is opposed TO the propos-
] ed mCrger. In this manner the sent