Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1914 — Still Bellowing, But Don’t Know What It Is Bellowing About. [ARTICLE]

Still Bellowing, But Don’t Know What It Is Bellowing About.

The Republican is greatly incensed because of The Democrat having published the figures presented at the hearing here last Friday to a member of the public service commission by the Jasper County Telephone Co. It no doubt thinks The Democrat should have-denounced the figures as false and the witnesses as perjurors.

Inasmuch as Miss Gertrude Hopkins, book-keeper for the telephone company, testified under oath that she had prepared the statement from the books of the company, and that the figures w'ere correct. The Democrat does not believe that it is its duty or privilege to say that the same was false or that Miss Hopkins perjured herself when she testified that it was correct. In fact, we do not believe there is anyone in Jasper county who is acquainted with Miss Hopkins who will question her honesty and veracity. One might THINK that the company ought to have made a big pile of money during the past five years, yet personal opinion doesn’t count for much when opposed by figures that are testified to as being true, and The Democrat cannot, even to please its ’steemed contemporary, denounce these figures as false and the party who made them and testified that they were correct, as a falsifier.

When the mutual company was investigating the practibility of the different systems, and ,eost of installing a telephone system in Rensselaer a few years ago, the consensus of opinion—in fact all were agreed on the proposition—of the manufacturers of telephone equipment—and representatives of three

different manufacturers, visited Rensselaer and looked over the ground—was that the common battery or central energy system could not be installed and maintained here at the rates then in force. This was the highest authority the officers of the mutual company could secure, and as its opponents had caused to be required by the city council in the franchise asked for, that such system must be put in, it was necessary to ask for a higher rate after a certain number of phones were in use here —$1.25 and $2.25 aftep they reached 500, and $1.50 and $2.50 after reaching 800. In view of this, The Democrat cannot, in honesty to itself and common justice to the present company, urge that it put in such a system at less rates than the 'highest authorities say it can be maintained for. It does believe, however, that it carefully managed and looked after, the present magneto system could be put in first class condition, maintained and render good service for the rates now in effect, and has always contended that the local toll rates were too high. But If a central energy system is to be demanded, it does not believe, in view of investigation made a few years ago, that it can be maintained on $1 and $2 per month rentals.

Please bear in'mind that Brook, Goodland and all other towns in this vicinity— except Monticello, which lias the central energy system -all have the magneto systems.