Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1909 — AS TO INCREASED ’PHONE RATE. [ARTICLE]

AS TO INCREASED ’PHONE RATE.

The Democrat does not believe the temper of the people will admit to an increase in telephone rates that will justify the local telephone company in raising the , present charge. While the recent storm did much damage to the lines, this may never occur again, at least not for many years, and to ask the patrons to stand this loss is unjust. If a man's ho*. * lies down and dies or his house, barn or hay stack is struck bjr lightning and burned, he can not shoulder the loss onto anyone else, but must bear the burden himself. The argument that is being used, that the stock has not paid any dividends until the past two or three years is, we think, of little force. There is not a great amount of actual money invested in these lines, we understand, and the system has been built up, extended and Improved until it has become a valuable property—not by Issuing more stock or assessing its members, but from the profits made out of the business. The company is now asking the city council to grant a new franchise which will enable them to raise the phone rents in Rensselaer 50 cents per month over the present rates of |1 and |2, respectively, promising to put in a metallic sys-

tern with automatic call if this is done. The automatic call gives you "central” on removal of the receiver from the hook, and saves the necessity of ringing, which is practically the only advantage over the present system, and we do not believe will convince many patrons is worth >6 per year more for each phone. It would seem to The Democrat that if the present company does not think it can go ahead and repair its lines and give good service for the rates provided in the franchise it now holds, that before granting it a new franchise it should surrender the one it now holds, or give notice that it will do so at a certain date,- and then notice be given by the City Council that propositions will be received from anyone or any company for the establishment of a complete new system here. Then, if no better offer is made, let the council use its judgment about granting anew franchise at increased rates to the present company. Those who do not care to pay the increased rates can then drop out, but it does not seem to us that this request for increased rates should be granted until an effort has been made to service from some one else at the present rates.