Chicago must curb the Bell monopoly to cut phone rates
A 1911 Chicago examination warns the Bell Telephone Company dominates the market with misleading subscriber counts while the Automatic Chicago Tunnel Company grows fast. It argues for renewed competition, lower rates, and a city bureau of complaints amid calls for a measured service overhaul.
Telephone Trust earnings rise from 1900 to 1910
Net earnings climbed from 4 270 609 dollars in 1900 to 23 006 289 dollars in 1910. Yet the Trust seeks to squeeze more money from Chicago residents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Telephone Trust
Chicago
San Francisco bribery probe names Pacific Telegraph link
The report alleges the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company bribed San Francisco Supervisors to block competing franchises including Home Telephone Company. Total bribes exceeded $50,000. company directors claim ignorance of funds sourcing. Signed by William Kent and six other San Francisco mayoral appointees. Oct 12, 1908 note adds Mayor Harrison’s order for a new report.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco
Oliver Grand Jury
Board of Supervisors
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company
Home Telephone Company
William Kent
Chicago
Chicago Telephone Rates Target City Residents
A Chicago article accuses the Chicago Telephone Company of charging city customers higher rates than in suburbs and claims profits in the city fell due to nickelphone usage while suburban earnings rose. It urges aldermen to block rate hikes and questions ties between utility firms and city officials amid calls for pay in advance phones and expanded public safety concerns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago Telephone Company
Chicago Daily News
Chicago
Bernard E. Sunny
Telephone Trust
Bell Telephone Company
Local Telephone Company
Western Electrical Company
Bell Telephone
Telephone Company
Bell Monopoly
Seyferlich
Telephone
Telephone Trust Seen as Major Menace to Public Welfare
The passage attacks the Telephone Trust as a grinding monopoly that stifles competition and makes people serfs to its beck and call. It condemns the high eight percent dividend on twenty nine million stock and asserts public anger will rise until the trust and its abettors are punished for charging high telephone rates.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Telephone Trust
Telephone Company
United States
Telephone Charges, Graft, and Local Politics Spotlighted
A Chicago editorial mixture urges lower telephone rates and public utility reform while accusing officials of graft in gas shut offs and tampering with aldermen. It endorses candidates Lynden Byane, Joseph LaBay, Walter Schmidt, Arthur Fulton, James Dailey, Stephen Malato, and others as honest public servants. The piece links the McCormick faction to utility schemes and previews a strong election outlook across Cook County.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Denver
Colo
Cook County
Walter E. Schmidt
Also Mentioned on This Page
Adams and Yearburn Sts. Payne
Chicago Tunnel Company
Bell Company
New Automatic Company
Council
Nece
Phone Gang
American Telephone Trust
Titorial, de
Information Bureau
Inquirer
Harrison
Fred W. Brock
Board of Review
Progressive Alliance
Burtzen
Seyfetlich
Rinaker
Rnc
Fred W. Block
Illinois
Charles W. Vail
Superior Court
Robert E. Wilson
Dunne
John E. Maloney
Fred W. Blocks
Getteg
Miles J. Devine
Robert B. Burke
Peter Crot
Thomas J. Powers
James H. Farrell
George F. Mulligan
J. D.mcgregor
Anthony Krygowski
Fred van Arsdale
John G. Hoeger
Michael J. Hanley
John H. Dullard
Raleigh W. Taylor
Ald
John Haderlein
Robert J.roulston
Richard 8. Folsom
Albert Schonbeck
Frank H. Novak
Charles C. Breyer
James McAndrews
John T. Keating
Simon O'Donnell
Frank \. Solon
Edward H. Morgan
James >. Bowers
Charles Wesley
N. G. Conybear
Daniel J. McMahon
John A. Mahoney
Thomas Drury
Patrick J. Wall
Nicholas Lorch
Frank Ploner
Edward J. Roark
Stephen C. Dooley
Walter V. Magnus
John L. McNamara
James R. Pyne
William Moffat
Frank J. Ryan
John A. King
Stanley H. Glomski
F. E. Reichardt
H. E. L. Doggett
Molesworth King
Luke P. Colleran
Congressional Committee
Bartholomew Scanlan
H. Haddock
Henry Krug
Louis Seelig
J. J. McLaughlin
Jas. F. Ryan
EB. J. Courtney
Peter Jilligan
Louis L. Lettiere
Sami. Ohlsen
Ernest Langtry
John ¥. Carroll
Austin Waldron
John Joyce
W. H. Armstrong
John W. Wursenburg
David O'Shea
Fred M. Sturgeon
J. H
2Nd Congressional District
Henry ©. Schlacks
Edward J. Smith
Stephen Hunt
Henry Osborn
Chas. B. Hill
Albert Schaffner
John McCann
John I. Driscoll
Henry K. Hayes
John J. Curran
Thomas L. Byrne
Dr. J. B. Weintraub
John F. Nolan
F. B. Robinson
John D. Green
Frank Arnold
Robi. J. Cranston
Thos
F. Rowan
John Kavanagh
4Th
John B. Brengas
James Ryan
B. H., Heide
Walter Shea
John H Burns
Val
Schmitt Schmitt
Wm. T. Wallace
Jas
M. Furlong
J. M. Fitsgerald
M. C. Buckley
John V. Schmitt Schmitt
BE. Furlong
Evere Jennings
Marius Olsen
Martin J. Sweeney
James Hynes
John C. Baker
Martin Garski
P. J. Coffey
Frank Zerrisek
Harry Schlick
Jedlicka
Isaac Cohn
Max Kutchal
Joseph Mendel
A Nacker
Matthew Smith
BK. J. McCarty
John Feinen
Peter Hoffman
James J. Hallman
John Waska
Wm. J. Peshek
James F. Denny
Tom Fitsgerald
Nicholas Stokes
William Altemeier
James H. Ryan
Geo. McKenzie
Joseph Wirth
John J. Brady
Jacob Ports
James W. Casey
John J. O'Donnell
Ralph C. White
Frank L. White
Hyman Liderman
Frank T. Scanlus
Clarence Dullard
W. F. Cumminge
Dani, Dowling
John W. Christie
Francis P. Burnett
William George Pooles
L. R. Buckley
Geo. C. Waterman
J. C. Dooley
Richard P. Hi
Geo. L. Franck
Fred T. Schwarts
Herman Peters
Gilbert
W. F. Kelley
Wm. H. White
John P. Quirk
Patrick O'Rourke
Michael Yarusso
J. A. Fensterle
Victor W. Hanko
Louis W. Greco
Gary J. Maulelle
H. F. Martin
Philip Papas
Jos, Walsh
Albert A. Bock
Henry Hogan
Martin F. E. Norton
X. H. Kadow
Matthew E. Clark
Nick Sarno
Morris M. Kankowits
Frank Navigato
Timothy Finn
Michael Martin
Anthony Tortoriello
William A. Navigato
Joseph de Stefano
Alphonse L. Cummings
August Weinskce
John Schwartz
James J. Monnan
9Th
G. A. Canisius
Thomas E. Golden
Andrew A. Collins
C. E. Hayne
J. P. Fitzgerald
Fred Schulz
W. H. Bauff
Geo. J. Byrnes
John 8. Schni
Norman P. Brodie
Daniel F. Rice
Michael P. Lowen
John B. Bercher
Carl W. Westerlind
Daniel L. Cruice
Chas. Oakley
Oscar Anderson
Geo. A. Maneatus
D. R. Murphy
George Wilson
Arthur L. Meyer
Nick Protopas
William Payne
Jacob Emerich
Ray R. Coombs
John Muldoon
John M. Mullen
10Th
Wm. J. Carroll
William H. Rose
Albert J. W. Appell
Serafino Consorti
George Bloedorn
Max Goldenrath
Joseph H. Fitch
Fred Lorenzen
McCormick
Barizon
Ardent Progressive Alliance
Telephone Auheange
Progressive County
Harry Olson
McCormicks
Bartzen
Fred Block
Board of Underwriters
Harry L. Shaver
Lynden Bvane
Joseph
la Bay
Arthur W. Fulton
Congress
Hugh J. Kearns
James M. Dailey
Stephen A. Malato
Spencer Ward
Municipal Court