Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-13
ENJOINS PHONE
COMP ANY WITH
SERVICE ORDERS
Ben Company Cannot Collect Until
II Improves, GaIesburg
Court Decides.

Gaiesburg, ILL.,. Aug. ia tenn
porary injunction restraining the
Gslesburg Union Telephone COM
rsny from making any charge for
service until such service shall be
adequate and efficient as provided
by the laws Of Illinois," has been
signed by Judge Harry NJ Wag-
Eoner of the circuit court and sthe
writ issued by Circuit Clerk West
erberg was served on President G..
B. Churchill Of the telephone COM
pany
The injunction was issued fol-
lowing a showing made in a bill
filed by Charles S. Harris, in which
he set up that the service rendered
by the company was not adequate,
efficient, just or reasonable, that
the company was charging rates in
excess of their published schedules
and without authority of the public
utilities commission.
His own experience was made
test case and he set UP that in view
of the alleged inadequate and in
efficient service and because of the
alleged Illegal rates he had refused
to pay the charges demanded, al
though protesting his willingness
10 pay just and reasonable charges
for proper service and offering to
do so. He further set up that be
cause OF his refusal TO pay the al
legged Illegal charges he had been
served with written notice that his
phones at both office and residence
would be removed and service dis
continued He asked an order re-
straining the company from remov
ing his phone as threatened. from
demanding the alleged illegal rate
from him, and finally from making
any charge for service until the
service complied with the provi
sions of the state law.
Result Of Meeting.
The injunction bill sets MP that
FOR a meeting held a week ago in
the office of Mr. Harris. when ne
proposed to a large number of sub
scribers that steps be taken to Sc
cure relief from alleged unwarrant-
ed charges and for securing bet
ter service. At that time a petit
ton was signed addressed to the
pablo utilities commission, asking
for an investigation of the service.
The Injunction bill sets up that
for six months last past the tele-
phone company has failed to rem
der adequate, efficient, just and rea-
sonable service to your orator, and
TO. other subscribers and is there
fore not entitled to make any
charge for service. Your orator
has paid the usual and customary
charges and is willing to pay the
lawful charges for adequate and
efficient service whenever it shall
he rendered and hereby offers 10
pay all rates and charges which /,
the defendant is by law entitled to I
receive"
The bill further states that "the ]
defendant without any authority I
from the state public utilities COM
mission demanded larger amount /
for services for July and August /
and has served written notice that (;
the phone at both Office and home |
will be removed by August IL un-
less he complies with such charges. /
All of which actings doings and
pretenses are contrary TO equity
anu BOOQ COBSCIo1C6 anu Will great
" iniure orator in his business and
deprive him of his rights as a sub
scriber to a public utility"
Demand Is Made
Continuing, the bill asks that
''fhs defendant may be required to
render to your orator and to sub /
scribers. adequate, efficient. just
and reasonable service and re-
strained from demanding or re-
ceiYing any more or greater charge |
than it is entitled TO demand or re-
ceiye under its published SEIZED /
sles and under the order and con !