City Council Splits Over Telephone Franchise

Some surprises were sprung in the council meeting last night when the Independent telephone franchise came up for consideration. As soon as Clerk Roys finished reading the ordinance, Councilman Conrad made another effort to get an indefinite postponement. His motion to postpone was lost by a vote of 9 to 7. Those who voted to hang up the franchise were Conrad, Giblett, Hawley, Metcalf, Lamborn, Usher and Wright. When Caller voted against the postponement of the matter, a look of surprise appeared on the faces of some of the councilmen. At the committee meeting Monday night, he voted in favor of the ordinance and it was the general feeling that he would stay the proposition because of the fact that his constituents in South Tacoma were anxious for the new service. Whitman, who strongly opposed the franchise Monday night, voted against the postponement. When the motion was lost, Councilman Conrad moved that the rules be suspended and the ordinance placed in order of its third reading. President Roys ruled that the motion was out of order and the franchise went to the judiciary committee. This committee is composed of Hartwig, chairman; Bellingham, Richards, Usher and Giblett, a majority of one in favor of the franchise.