Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1914 — “GO AHEAD; WERE ALL WILLING TO HELP.” [ARTICLE]

“GO AHEAD; WERE ALL WILLING TO HELP.”

That Is the Tone of Telephon Messages and Personal Assurances From All Sources.

When the Public Service Commission conducts a hearing in Rensselaer on Feb. 27th they will find that a solid array of telephone subscribers on hand to fight the raise in rates and protesting against the wretched service that the people of Rensselaer and vicinity have indulged. There will appear before the commission one or two attorneys prepared to present in a forceful manner the case of the people; and they wil 1 ask that the Coinmission refuse the request of the telephone company to raise the rates and demand that the “junk pile” system be disposed of and a modern- equipment be installed, and if the Jasper County Telephone Go. is not willing to do this that another company be granted the right. The Republican has been besieged with assurances by telephone and in person that its fight for a square deal will have the support of all. Subscribers have come in to this office singly and in clusters and all have said “My fifty cents is ready and I am anxious to do my part to avoid this proposed increase.”

We have gone along for years with the statement that Uhe service is as good here as it is at other places, but some*of us have been out of town and have had opportunities to investigate and we have never found such continually wretched service as we have had in Rensselaer. The company spokesmen (have sometimes acknowledged that the service was poor and blamed it to the old equipment or the switchboard otr the central girls. The public has indulged this condition for a long time and now in the face of it to have a proposition to raise the rates is more than will ‘be submitted to without the hardest kind of a fight and the kind of a fight that will secure justice for the public. Another professional man called at The Republican office to tell of cases that he had lost because of inability to reach Rensselaer at a time when there was no reason why the lines were not in working order. He said that cases had gone to Francesville and Medaryville because the service was better in those directions.

Another professional man called to say that he was ready to take a hand in the demand for better service. He said “I would like have some way of getting diseon neoted from a grocery store in this place. For six months I have been annoyed with this false connection and I can take down my receiver at any time and hear the women from all over town ordering their groceries. I reported this for the first three months 'but have quietly submitted, since that time.” A farmer called to say that his half dollar was ready, and told of several incidents that seemed inexcusable.

‘’My hat is in the ring," said another who called up The Republican, “This is one sort of Armageddon business that I have been longing for and we’ll battle for the Lord and better telephone service.” A number are sending in their notices tp the commission and writing on them. “I will protest a raise in the rates.” Others are saying: “The service is so bad that we want the rates lowered intsead of raised.” Some have said: “When the rates are raised they can raise my' telo-

phone clear out of the bouse.” A paper will be circulated and probably one or two places named as places where money can be left to carry on this fight in the most practical manner. In the meantime The Republican will be glad to learn from every subscriber how he feels about this matter. If there are any who want to have the rates raised we want to know it. If there are any who are satisfied to struggle along with the service now returned we want to (hear from them. So far, is is unanimous to protest the raise in rates.