South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-18
SAYS MERGER Of
PHONE SYSTEMS
WILL BE SAVING
Home Phone Representatives
Tell Council of $4,000
Saving = Realty Man
Defends 0uthOuSeS.

saving Of more than $4,000
year 10 citizens of south Bend viii
be the result of the merger Of the
rvo telephone companies. according
20 the statement made Dy Sanford
D.. Harris. representing the South
Bend Home Telephone co. before
the council committee If the whole
last night
The occasion for the statement
was the request on the part Of the
company asking the council 90 re-
zeal an ordinance passed in 1901,
which prohibited the company from
selling its plant 90 any other COM
uauy. Unless the council gives its
consent the merger Of the Home
system with the Central Union sys-
tenn viii be impossible.
So formal action was taken on the
ordinance. because the council was
meeting as a committee. and the or
dinance could not Doe considered
autil after il had been up for first
and second readings mt a regular
meeting Of the council The prOpO-
sitiOn was FULLY discussed. however,
and because the officials OF the two
telephone companies want the ordi-
nance passed before the first OF No
-ember. II 10 is 20 be passed at ALL
committee session will follow the
next regular meeting. which occurs
next Monday, and following the
committee meeting another council
meeting viii be held.
Air Plans Next Monday.
Those interested i'm the proposed
merger are asked To bee present next
Monday night. in order To- give
their views OH the subject. Repre-
sentatives OF the companies involved
cill be present 90 answer any cues
tiOus which may arise.
Besides Mr. Harris, i. r. Daicey
manager of the company. and Albert
-. Wilson. attorney for the com
pany were present. All made brief
talks In which they explained the
reasons for wanting the consOlida-
ton, which reasons have been dis
cussed in the newspapers, and urg-
ing prompt action in the matter.
II the merger is completed. CON
uections will be So arranged that il
win be possible for n subscriber on
one system % talk TO q subscriber
on the other system within a few
weeks, IT is believed. although the
actual connection Of the two plants
viii take approximately two years.
Present conditions give sub
scriber in the Home system 1900
connections and a Bell subscriber
ZOO connections. by the merger.
allowing for Implications. each tele-
phone i'm the county may be con
uected with nearly $4,000 other
phones. thus giving much wider
>ervice The rate VIII be the same.
owing 10 the fact that the public
.ervicc commission of the state con
trolls public utility rates
Opposes Outhou~e Ordinance.
The clubhouse ordinance. which
was held over from the previous
meeting. 10 allow further discussion,
was reported favorably. although j..
81. caldwell a local real estate man.
poke against &c. telling Of the hard
saip the proposed measure would
v-ork upon the poor man iu South
Geud The expense tho laws would
,ause was brought out 1v AIr. Cald-
wen.
Councilman H. D. Iaug made
short talk. in which he outlined his
reasons for favoriug the ordinance.
and concluded with. ID expect 10
retire ass councilman permanently
within few months. and ] want to
leave behind me. ass "a mark. the
tact chat ] voted for this ordinance.
Tor ali it win do for the health Of
the city. This was appIauuded by
d number of women who were pres
emf
The cornell requested am opinion
from the latter. but they said they
came only % listen. and not 10 make
speeches. 4 vote was taken. with
the result that a favorable report
viii BE given
a resolution came MP FOR discus
sion IN regard 20 rents and meals
for election day boards Not more
than SO viii De paid as rent for 81
polling place. and election board of
fcials viii have Co eat meals which
cost not 90 exceed IS cents each
This resolution. Ike the telephone
ordinance. viii not be formally pre-
scented until next Monday night. but
because it must he passed az that
time. il was discussed boy the com
uittee. 10 viii be handled under
suspension OF the rules next Monday
night, according 60 various council
men.
The meeting was a long one. last
ing nearly two hours