Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 134, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1909 — EVERY COUNCILMAN VOTES AGAINST THE NEW FRANCHISE [ARTICLE]

EVERY COUNCILMAN VOTES AGAINST THE NEW FRANCHISE

Former Friends of the Home Telephone Franchise Desert It When Increase of Rates is Proposed.

COEN RESIGNS FROM BOARD Council Elects Delos Thompson as His Successor, and Old Council Passes Into History After Busy Session. The last session of the city council with the present members in their seats was held Monday night and was quite a busy session, with several important measures up for consideration and with a large crowd on hand because of the fact that the Home Telephone Co. franchise ordinance was up for final disposition. The fact that so many were on hand may be construed not so much against the granting of a new franchise to another company as against any measure that might lead to an increase of rates, and when every member of the council, including Councilman Gerber, voted against the franchise, they were merely voicing the wishes of practically every citizen of Rensselaer. Robert Yeoman, president of the Home Telephone Co., F. E. Babcock, secretary; and Directors Marion Adams, Frank Welsh and Grant Davission, of the company, were on hand, while Delos Thompson and several other members of the Jasper County Telephone Co. were also present. A large number of citizens and telephone users had assembled and among them were many whose names appeared on the list of remonstrators against a franchise that provided an increase of telephone rates when the matter was up last spring. . After a motion was made placing the ordinance on its passage Councilman Irwin started the ball rolling by saying that he believed since the former ordinance had been defeated be believed it would be the proper thing to also defeat this, although he had favored its passage with a flat $1 and $2 rate with the “common battery” system. He expressed himself as of the opinion that the Home Telephone Co. did not expect to build and did not have enough capital subscribed and paid in to erect \he first mile of its line.

Councilman Meyers followed with a few remarks in which he stated that he favored the ordinance as originally proposed but was opposed to an ordinance that provided an increase of rates. Mr. Meyers also reported some investigation of the charges in some other cities and concluded his remarks with an argument against a rate higher than $1 knd $2 per month, saying that it was the disposition of corporations to charge the highest authorized rate. It was suggested that citizens be invited to express themselves and Robert Yeoman, president of the company that sought the franchise, was called upon and made a very nice statement of the intention of his company, denying that there was any intention on the part of his company to sell, but not saying that they had no intention of buying out the present company. He spoke rather vaguely of some experience he had had with a small party line, which had formerly had connection through the Mt. Ayr exchange with the Rensselaer system, and which had been disconnected from the Mt. Ayr exchange and consequently from the Rensselaer exchange. Mr. Yeoman charged bad faith on the part of the Mt. Ayr people. He refused to state when Inquiry was made, what annual rental he. paid for the service when connected. Mr. Yeoman assumed quite a persecuted air when he spoke of the possibility of adverse action by the council.

Attorney Halleck, who has had considerable experience in the telephone business, made a very good talk, during which he discussed the installation cost, said he favored telephone competition provided the public would receive any benefit from it, but that he did not favor Increased rates. He did not consider the service not being given by the local company very bad, and thought a number who complained of it tyid little knowledge of what service ought to be with reason e xpect edr' k Dr. A R. Kresler spoke against the council taking any action that would impose two systems on the people, and favored letting things stand as

they are until near the time when the franchise under which the jpresent company operates expires. Then let the competition be started and the company offering the best terms be franchised. Everything led up to a general demand that the franchise as revised should be defeated and on the roil call each member voted “No,” Councilman Gerber adding, rt under the circumstances,” which was attributed to mean the increased rate provision. Of course, both companies firmly deny that there was a “frame-up”, and since the agitation in the Republican there was appended in writing at the end of the franchise and in another “after thought”, section, a clause that was aimed to prevent the sale of the franchise to another company, but which could not possibly prevent the company from btiying a competing company, and thus accomplishing the same results. The Republican is satisfied that had it not put the people wise to the situation and thus caused an adverse movement that was so evident to 1 all, the franchise might have been slipped through with such minor changes as would have made it possible for the present company to have operated under it, and the Republican feels well, satisfied if it has been instrumental in making this impossible.

C. W. C,oen, a member of the school board, who recently moved to South Bend, thought that Monday would be a good time to tender his resignation, but he had expected that action would not be taken on it until after the new board was installed. The council, however, could see no other way than to accept the resignation and then elect a successor. Four names were placed before the council, viz: Delos Thompson, J. A. McFarland, G. A. Williams and Dr. A. R. Kresler. After several ballots Delos Thompson was elected, although he had stated that he did not want the office. It has later been learned that Mr. Thompson will be ineligible to serve, owing to the fact that the bank of which he is the cashier is a depository for the school funds, and that a ruling of the superme court is to the effect that a member of the school board can not be an officer in a depository for school funds. This will be good news to Mr. Thompson and will make the matter open for the new board to elect another school trustee at their first meeting. In this connection the Republican wishes to say that it has given considerable thought and investigation to the matter of having a woman on the school board, and finds the public considerably divided, but many of the men who have children in the school and who give some thought to school work favor the selection of a woman. Two names have been suggested that would meet almost unanimous approval among women. They are, Mrs. G. A. Williams and Mrs. S. S. Shedd. Either would meet up to the full requirements of the position and would give the schools ttieir very best efforts. If the women want to get a member on the school board from among their number and will urge the candidacy of either of the women mentioned, it is not improbable that they can succeed.

A deed was prepared and signed by part of the stockholders In the Jasper County Draining Association, for the transfer of the river bed over to the city. A bit of history along this line will not be amiss. Prior to 1883, the Front street mill was run by water power secured by means of a dam erected near the 8. P. Thompson residence, and a race that was constructed along the east side of the river. The dam was responsible for the overflowing of much of the country up stream and the water in the race would become stagnant, breed mosquitos and disease and was an eye-sore to residents of that part of town. Some 78 people, under the leadership of 8. P. Thompson, formed themselves into the Jasper County praining Association, raised 13,000 and bought up the river bed property, tore out the dam, Ailed up the race and the miller who had previously held title to the river bed, began to operate the mill by steam. The stockholders sold off part of the property as far back as the channel and in that way secured in return for their investment about 75 cents on the dollar. Until about ten yfcars ago the association had occasional meeting but none have been held of late years and not inly three of the five - f V- . . <

directors are dead but also a large number of stockholders. The deed to the city was executed by 8. P. Thompson and Granville Moody, as directors, and by several other stockholders. The Indiana Northwestern Traction Co. filed its acceptance of the franchise recently granted them by the council, permitting the use of certain streets for the interurban railway. The mayor was authorized to execute a cemetery deed to Robert J. Yeoman for a lot paid for several years before.