Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1914 — SOLUTION LIES IN CITY OWNERSHIP [ARTICLE]

SOLUTION LIES IN CITY OWNERSHIP

Rousing Meeting Court House Proposes That City Take Over Telephone Plant

Municipal ownership of the city telephone plant, with a system of mutual telephone lines for the surrounding country was proposed in a resolution introduced and unanimously passed by the big public meeting at the court house Satur- - day night The plan met such general approval by all present and. wherever discussed about the streets that there seems every probability that this Will be the solution to the telephone business in this city and adjacent territory. Saturday night’s meeting was called to order by J. D. Allman, who was made the chairman. Dr. W. L. Myer was made secretary. Geo. H. Healey stated the purpose of the call and Judge Hanley and Attorneys Dunlap and discussed the proposition confronting the users of telephones. Mr. Halleck stated that he favored the maintenance of a rate that would make it possible to keep telephones in all the homes possible, even at the expense of service ji that was necessary, rather than the improvement of the service and the raising of the rates to a price that would force many to discontinue their use.

Judge Hanley introduced a resolution as follows: Whereas, the Jasper County Telephone 00. has asked for a 50 per cent increase in rates and we are not in a position at this time as subscribers of this telephone company to judge of the situation in Rensselaer but are familiar wth the service rendered in Rensselaer, be it resolved, First, that committees be appointed to secure information as to the physical valuation of the plant of the Jasper County Telephone 00. in Rensselaer; Second, to inquire whether or not it is properly managed; Third, to inquire into the cost of maintenance and operation; Fourth, to ascertain the amount of money necessary to put the plant into first-class condition. Fifth, to ascertain means and take steps for the City of Rensselaer to take over the plant as a municipal plant; 'Sixth, that George H. Healey be. made a committee to secure the funds necess&ry to secure compliance with tills resolution; Seventh, to secure an estimate on the cost of operating similar plants; Ninth, that a committee be appointed from the country to investigate the plan of organizing a mutual company to cooperate with the proposed mutual plant; Tenth, that these committees be ready to make report Thursday night of this week. At the request of The Republican a visit had been made to Brook by Warren W. Sage, who Is a stockholder in the Brook mutual company, and he brought to the meeting at the courthouse a concise statement of the experience with the Brook company, in the spring of 1906, eight years ago, 98 farmers and businessmen of Brook and .vicinity organized a mutual company and bought the old company out Each of the 98 stockholders put up $36 and received their telephone rental free for 21 months. At the expiration of that time they again put up $36, which paid advance rentals for 36 months. On this they were allowed 6 per cent interest for the second year and 12 per cent for the third year. This was all the money ever invested, and the actual capital of the company therefore was only $1,470. The stockholders had borrowed money and improved and extended their plant and now have 460 telephones in operation and is free from debt It also owns a good business lot in Brook and has capital exceeding $2,000 on hand. This is not all. The company has also bought up some of the shares from persons who were moving away and stands ready to pay' SIOO for any share that is for sale. Thus the number of present stockholders is not as many as the original 98, and the company is earning more each year above all maintenance and operating expenses than it invested less than eight years ago and ai share of stock that actually cost only sls can be sold at any time for SIOO. Mr. Sage made this explanation while the resolution was being discussed and he was roundly cheered when he took hie seat. ~*jpyy — Chairman Allman appointed two committees in carrying out the provisions of the resolution. The city committee is Geo. H. Healey, A. Halleck and J. A. Dunlap. The country committee is W..W. Sage, B. D. Comer, W. D. Brfngle and J. L. Adams. There was a ringing of half dollars in response to the request lor contributions of that amount to

help the work of gathering the information and presenting it to the council next Friday., The money is deposited at a Rensselaer, hank under the name of the Citizen’s Committee and the amount expended will be reported and the balance prorated. Every subscriber who Is opposed to the increase should put up a half dollar, so that the, expense may be equitably borne. The law providing for the regulation of utilities by commission also provided for* the condemnation of plants and their purchase by municipalities and this plan looks practical for Rensselaer, while with the mutual company earing for the surrounding country a fair adjustment of the telephone question should be made by the public service commission Once and for all.