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Vrkfo MNnW Tnncrlair againt the franchise
▼ UlC Ilw 1 UCoUay for the NOME TELEPHONE CO.
FOR THESE REASONS:
1. Your present company, THE ALASKA TELEPHONE &
TELEGRAPH CO., has served you efficiently and well for
53 years since 1904. It is still doing so, and will continue to
do so. It has rebuilt its plant time and again after fires,
floods and storms, because it has a real concern for Nome
and its people.
2. The A. T. & T. Co. is composed of stockholders who have
but two interests: (a) The best possible telephone service,
at the least possible cost, consistent with good business, for
the people of Nome, (b) And to provide a reasonable return
on their investment. (Note: Item (b) is the aim of any going
concern for business and is needed to perform).
3. The A. T. & T. Co. will gladly furnish the people of Nome
with a new dial telephone system, if the people want it and
are willing to pay for the additional cost. And if the City
Council will approve the higher rates. Dial service does
cost more.
4. The A. T. & T. Co. does not have a franchise from the City
of Nome. Rather, it has operated under the right of Eminent
Domain and faith and trust in the people of Nome for fair
dealing. AND DON’T BE MISLED! The granting of a fran
chise to anyone does obligate you NOW and particularly for
the FUTURE. Otherwise there would be no need for a fran
chise. A franchise gives an exclusive right to an individual
or corporation, for certain privileges, without recourse on
the part of the city, unless specifically safeguarded by strin
gent Clauses.
5. At present, telephone rates in Nome are set by the City
Council. The A. T. & T. Co. does not have anyone -repre
senting it on the City Council. At present, the newly j
proposed company has two of its directors serving as mem
bers of the six-man City Council.
6. All labor presently employed by the A. T. & T. Co. are local
people, with the exception of the newly-hired technician,
who also plans to make Nome a permanent residence for
himself and his family.
GET OUT AND VOTE! If you don’t vote at all it is the same as voting against yourself! j
But Remember — VOTE NO! Need a free ride to the polls? — Call Main 105
CONSIDER THESE POINTS AS YOU COME TO YOUR CONCLUSION
TO VOTE NO:
• Dial service for Nome cannot be provided by anyone at the present rates.
For example: an instrument for manual telephone service costs so much. It
lakes the same instrument plus a dial for dial telephone service. The addition
of the dial alone increases the cost of the instrument almost 20%. Add to this
all the central office dial equipment needed and any grade school child can
see that one plus one does not equal one.
• Nome will need an operator on duty 24 hours a day. as at present. Who
else will help the physically handicapped and the illiterate to make calls? Who
will help the children and the sick in emergencies to make needed calls? Who
will give out the new numbers and the many, many number changes that
Nome has? A directory for Nome is obsolete as soon as it is published! Who
will monitor police and fire calls to make sure the calls are cared for? Who
will handle toll and long distance calls? Who will handle repair calls? And
ad infinitum.
• Do you know for sure what the rates of the new company will be? In
their ad in Monday's paper they state in Question 2 that they intend to operate
without any increase in rates. In Question 5 they state that the rates will be
set by the Nome City Council. Which one will hold true? Has the new company
filed any tariff of rales? Has there been a public hearing held by the City
Coun cil to determine if there is a need for two telephone companies in Nome?
Is the City going to hand out a franchise to anyone without a charge? Especially
if they had no plans or rates on file as to the intentions of the new company?
Are you going to vote for such a blind procedure?
• Who will determine where another set of poles is to be placed? The two
companies won't use each other's. Do you want two poles on your property
when one will do? Do you want two wires into your house or place of business
when one will do? Do you want two telephones in your home, your place of
business? DO YOU WANT TWO TELEPHONE BILLS? The same rates? They
will be more than double as you will have to have service from both companies
if you want to be able to talk to the same people you do now and to get busi
ness from all of your customers. Think again and VOTE NO!
• Yes, if you vote yes, there will be two telephone companies in Nome.
A yes vote won't automatically put the A. T. & T. Co. out of business. It
has given faithful service for 53 years. Yes, there have been times when the
service hasn't been all that we would have liked it to be. But then the reason
for it has generally been beyond our control. But steps have always been taken
to remedy the fault and you are now receiving the best possible service under
the present rates. But please remember, that having two telephone companies
in service is bound to lead to expensive legal litigation. Not only for the com
panies but for the City as well. That means you and me. Money spent to
fight legal battles can't be spent for service too!
• If Nome truly wants dial service (apparently most of the Nome people
don't), your present A. T. & T. Co. can provide it more QUICKLY and
CHEAPER, than anyone else. You will notice that most of the phones now in
use need only a dial added to them to provide dial service. Provision has al
ready been made in the instrument for the dial. And of course, plus the
necessary central office equipment. Contrary to some opinion your present
company has had an eye to the future in casei Nome should ever want
dial service.
AND NOW THINK ON THESE THINGS: Your present company is
actively engaged in improving the telephone service of Nome as fast as it
can under its present restrictive rates. Improved instruments are being put
into service. Facilities are being provided for more single party service. Cable
is being installed to take the place of the older open wire networks. If it is
an inconvenience for you to wait a few moments for an operator to answer
who is busy taking calls during peak periods or is monitoring police or fire
calls, the company will be glad to place another operator on duty. Providing
the rates are adjusted to give that type of service. Remember also when you
use the operator she becomes your private secretary. She saves you time
and money in many ways on your call. She calls you back if the line is
busy. She locates your party for you at some other 'phone, etc., etc. Dial
service has its advantages and it also has its disadvantages, but if it is what
Nome wants your present company is in the best position to provide it for
you. SO, VOTE NO! Next Tuesday.
NOW HERE IS THE CRUX OF THE WHOLE THING:
Just suppose that the franchise should be passed next
Tuesday. What would you get? You will note from the sample
ballots that have been passed around that you are asked to
vote your choice on the following: “Shall the City of Nome
grant to the Nome Telephone Co., a franchise for a period of
twenty (20) years to maintain and operate a telephone system
in the City of Nome, Alaska.” READ THAT AGAIN! Do you
see anything about a dial system there? No! Do you see any
permission to use the streets and alleys there? No! In fact,
do you see anything other than a franchise to “maintain and
operate a telephone system?” No permission for installing
equipment, or regulation at all. Whose equipment will they
maintain and operate if they can’t put any in? In fact, what
* * * * * *
is the reason for a special election if it won’t accomplish its
purpose?
To be legal and binding and to have any consideration at
all, the proposed franchise in its entirety should be put before
the people. It should have been printed in the notice of the
call of the election. This is brought to your attention for two
reasons. (1) to show that even a yes vote won’t accomplish
its intended.goal. (2) In order that those responsible may
cancel the special election and present it at some future date
when all of the necessary legal requirements have been met.
NO ONE WINS IN A LAWSUIT!
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ALASKA TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH COMPANY
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