Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-01-07
WARTIME Phone
RATES TILL AUG. :.
Are Granted By City Council
Mayor Wants ALI Complaints
of Poor Service

1
argument, participated in by
number of prominent citizens of
Richmond, as we'll as councilmen
and officials, the council by a vote
of four to two Tuesday night, de-
cided to allow the Cumberland
Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany to continue war time phone
rates until August next. At
that time, the financial status of
the company's business here is to
be submitted to the council, and
an estimate made as to a reason
able and fair rate for service III
the city, provided that the council
has reason to believe that there
has been good service rendered.
Many of those speaking at the
meeting said they had no chico
ton to paying a highe:- rate if the
company furnishes satisfactory
service something which it seems
to be agreed on nearly all sides, it
to be agree on nearly all sides, it
is not dong now.
Councilmen who voted for the
ordinance which continues the
war time rates were MesSr5. Mer-
shon, Terrill, Altman and y Neil.
Those who voted against ii were
Messrs. Golden and Powell.
Action of the couEcil was, taken
in response to a lette- making
this proposal from D. F. Turnbul.
which was publishe. in these col
umns several days ago. Frequent
discussion of telephone rates be-
fore the council, has brought the
constant insistence on the part Of
the company that it is not ablc
under the pre-war rate TO make a
reasonable and fair interest on its
investment in Richmond. Sew
eral of the speakers at the meet
ing Tuesday night, questioned the
correctness of the valuation o;
$4,000 placed upon the COM
pany's capitalization here l.
was brought out that the plant
here is assessed for taxation at
only about $4,000.
A proposal to name an arbitra
tor after August 1st, if the council
and company are unable to agree
upon fair and reasonable rate at
that time, was stricken out from
the ordinance adopted, it being
argued that the council could not
delegate its authority. Several
members of the council felt also
that they were elected to act for
the people and should not seek to
pass on the responsibility to some
other.
Among those who spoke on the
matter before the council were
Messrs. Waller Bennett, w. B
Smith, G. Murray Smith and 9th
ers. Attorney J. J. Greenleai
represented the company. Judge
Murray Smith contended that the
Fiscal Court of Madison county
has a binding contract with the
company for service to the peo-
pie of Madison county, and that
the people of Richmond were
governed by this contract as well
as the people OF any other part
of Madison county. He argued
that the council has no power tc
make a contract that will seek
supercede, or override the prior
contract which the Fiscal Coul
has made for the whole county
1t was intimated that Judge
Smith may test out this question
Councilman Terrill pointed ou
that efficiency of service to th'
people will be the governing base
of the proposal before the coun
Gil; that It the company does no
give improved service it can no
hope for councilmanic agreemen
to permit the war rates to stand
In line with this Mayor Evan
states that he is desirous of hav
ing complaints against the tele
phone service reported to his of
. fee by telephone between th'
no. of 10 and each day. Hi
Z solpbgrapher will make note 0
complaints. The mayor says tina
he. is determined that the peopl
shall have a better service if the,
are to continue the war tim
rates.
Some question was raised as t
whether the company can collec
war time rates for the service
rendered during December. n
lawyer contended that it coul'
for the governments war tim
restrictions expired December
and the council has no power t
pass retroactive measures.