Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1914 — WILL FIGHT INCREASE TO THE LAST DITCH [ARTICLE]

WILL FIGHT INCREASE TO THE LAST DITCH

Telephone Subscribers Take Steps to' Present Their Side of the Case to Commission. During Wednesday and today the notices sent out by the Public Service Commission to subscribers of the local telephone company continued to Arrive. Every subscriber is notified that the Jasper County Telephone Co. has asked for the privilege of increasing its rates and that a hearing will be had in Rensselaer on Friday, Feb. 27th. ‘The public is greatly aroused at the proposal and there is practically a unanimous clamor to take steps to oppose the increase and it will take effective shape by means of organization and the •employment of counsel not only to oppose the increase but to make demand that steps be taken at once to give Rensselaer and surrounding counter a telephone plant that is not a “junk pile,” but a modern and serviceable utility. The Republican had scarcely reached its first subscribers Wednesday afternoon when telephone calls commending our position began to come in. Others called at The Republican office and stated their willingness to take an active part in behalf of the public’s welfare. * Representative men have virtually said that they will fight the proposed increase'-with great vigor and will see that the member or members of the Public Service Commission who come here for the hearings will find that tlrr Tse»pir are a unit in two things: Fighting the increased rate and Demanding improved service. Rensselaer has passed the “junk pile” stage. The public is for the purpose of giving the people a square deal. Subscribers are notified, just as defendants 1 ' in any case are notified, so that they can defend themselves against this effort to increase rates. Individually subscribers •would be unable to preserit their case in a comprehensive manner. But with a spokesman who has made an investigation we can convince the Public Service Commission that the request of the Jasper' County Telephone Co. is not just and that immediate steps should be taken to see that Rensselaer -is put on the telephone map. The plan suggested by several business men is that one or two attorneys be employed and that a committee of subscribers be also appointed to appear for the entire list of subscribers, procuring their authority in the shape of a proxy. An estimate will be made on the cost of installing a hew and thoroughly adequate plant and the Fublie Servkfc Commission will be asked to allow a rate that will grant a reasonable earning on that investment and not based upon the cost of a new plant and the claimed investment of the present “junk pile.”

A paper will be circulated among subscribers asking each to put up 50 cents to defray the expense of hiring attorneys and doing such other things as are deemed necessary and advisable in fighting the proposed increase and securing improved service. j A professional man called at The Republican office this Thursday morning and stated that during the month of January two expensive things occurred to him because of poor service. A confinement up north in which he had been engaged came to the critical stage in the night. The husband tried to reach the Rensselaer central from several different telephones but could not get through. A telegram was finally sent via Fair Oaks and reached the physician in the morning. The doctor hastened to the home, only to find that the baby had been born dead. His services coulld probably have saved its life.

Soon, after that time a case of the same kind occurred in the night southeast of town. A call was made to the Remington exchange and was promptly answered, but Remington could not get Rensselaer, although a continued effort was made covering a long time. A neighbor was finally asked to come to Rensselaer a distance of ten miles, to secure the doctor. These are only instances and possibly extreme ones, Ibut they are samples of the deplorable service with which Rensselaer and surrounding country has put up for many years. '' If steps are not taken at this time to block this proposed increase and to demand the service to which we are entitled we will find we have been roughly handled and that it will he difficult to ever secure respectable service at a fair rental * • It will probably cost each of us

SO cents on each telephone to make this fight. Is your fifty cents ready? ' The Republican will be glad to hear from subscribers. Equally glad to have those who are satisfied and willing for the Increase to explain their reason. Unity gives

strength and the force of numbers will appeal to the Commission. Let us hear from you without delay and then the steps to hire counsel will be taken. Use our Classified Column. Meet your friends at County Fair.