South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-18
FINAL PROPOSAL
OF COMMITTEE is
BEATEN Sc TO 36
BONDS APPEARS
BEFORE COUNCIL
Explanation Fails to be Under
stood by 0ffiCiaIS-MuSt
See Plant.

That the telephone service in
South Bend will be greatly improved
within a short time was the predic-
ton Of the common council made
last night during a session Of the
committee of the whole, at which
time it was decided that the council
should make tour of inspection Of
the local telephone exchange. Z. T.
Bonds, manager of the local tele-
phone office. was called before the
committee to answer any questions
that might be asked relative to
service. The pro and con Of why
the councilmen's telephones did not
give satisfactory service was thor
oughly thrashed out and Mr. Bonds
made a futile attempt to explain the
mechanical reasons as TO the why Of
the telephone trouble.
Unable TO have his explanations
understood, Mr.. Bonds invited the
committee to inspect the local Of
fee, at which time a motion was
made and seconded that the council
meet at the telephone Office Monday
night at Z o'clock for a tour of in
spection.
Public Must Suffer.
According TO Mr.. Bonds statement
"as long as the present labor condi-
ton exists. the public must suffer"
Figures given by the local manager
showed that 90 percent of the girls
working as operators have been in
the company's employ only three
months. The reason given for this
is that 80 percent Of the girls object
TO night work. as well as Saturday
afternoons and holidays.
Chairman NJ. c. Vennet of the
committee remained silent during
the parger part of Mr.. Bonds talk,
until he CVennet) struck the idea
OF having all the phones Of the city
converted to the automatic system.
Vennet was soon squelched Of this
idea when Mr.. Bonds informed him
that the automatic factory had
orders five years in advance and that
other factories were in no position
to accept orders. AS an example of
the time required % change a sys-
TEN over, Mr.. Bonds stated that in
the city Of New York it would re-
ouire 20 years 10 make the change.
From this comparison the council
men could obtain some idea as 10
the time required to make the
change in South Bend
Smith Out of Town.
: r. r. Smith Of the street railway
company was also requested TO ap-
pear before the committee but ac-
cording to a letter received By the
city clerk Mr.. Smith will not be in
the city until after Nov. p.
The resolution providing for the
transfer Of $4,000 from the general
fund to the engineering fund receiv-
ed a favorable report This money
l is to be used by the board Of public
works 10 pay he salaries Of addi-
tional inspectors.
Following the report Of the com
mittee, The News-Times representa-
I tive was discovered, and the usual
/ courteous procedure Of asking the
reporter to leave the room was car
ried out \ closed session was held
at which time the two platoon sys-
tenn for the fire department was dis
cussed. Judging from the smoke
which belched forth from the city
/ c1orlyre CfH.o rrr,arot1c pfr-a rq wore
/ consumed during the discussion
7 After considerable time was spent
/ the committee decided 20 hold the
proposal over for two weeks fO-
( further investigation