Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1912 — Have No Authority Whatever to Raise Rates. [ARTICLE]

Have No Authority Whatever to Raise Rates.

The Democrat is in receipt of the following letter, which was mailed at the postoffice in Rensselaer Monday: Will you look up the franchise of the J. C. Tel. Co., and see whether it has right to raise rates from $1 and $2 to $1.50 and $2.50 as now proposed. SUBSCRIBER.” In compliance with this request we find that the original franchise granted the Jasper County Telephone Co., in 1895, (Ordinance No. 41) for a period of eight jjears, and extended March 13, 1899, for ten years from expiration of the then existing franchise, making 18 years in all, and which franchise expires in August 1913, provides as follows: Sec. 4. That said Jasper County Telephone Company shall not increase the present price charged for the use of their telephones during the continuance of this franchise, to—wit: Twelve ($12.00) per year for private use and Twenty-four ($24.00) Per year for commercial use.” It will therefore be seen that there is no authority whatever for the increased charges made for the so-called automatic ’phones, some of which have been in operation here for a year or more.