The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-12

Mr.. Slade OF the committee at this
point suggested that some OF Mr.. Ty-
/ ler's evidence was immaterial, such as
| tended to rebut immateral evidence
submitted by the petitioners. Mr. Hall
of the committee stated that he as a
member of the committee would hear
evidence in rebuttal of any evidence
presented by the petitioners Chairman
Dewell ruled that Mr.. Tyler's evidence,
even though in rebuttal of immaterial
facts offered by the petitioners and adj
mitted, would be admitted, and Mr..
Tyler proceeded. He said that he agreed
that competition was good thing in
all business, but that it was not advis-
able in some lines Of business. A num-
Der of people who can't afford the old
service are the first subscribers that
new companies always get, while those
who have old telephones already put
in new ones to reach other people than
those on the old line and thus an addi-
tional financial burden is put on old
subscribers and confusion is created.
He stated that Joseph Porter had Sc
cured for him statement from Rich
mond Va, concerning the telephone
NciilpStitiOii All lIdI tlly. NIL. l. ylGI
then read letter which Mr.. Porter had
received from William Black, gentle
man in Richmond. stating that great
confusion arose on telephone calls, the
one called being unable to ascertain on
which line the call came, and stating
that many would return to the old COM
pany if it were possible to do away with
the two phones The letter stated that
since the competition began telephone
rates in Richmond had been cut $40
year, but Mr.. Tyler stated that this
cut was made to drive out the new
company and had entailed a great loss.
He referred, on the other. hand, to the
situation in other cities where notWith-
standing competition the Bell compan-
les had not reduced rates, but had
gained subscribers. If the Bell COM
pany reduces rates it is because that
company Is in a position to temporarily
recoup from it's business in other cities
where there is no competition.
He said that his own company had
not, unfortunately, been making for
tunes out of it's business. The bonds of
the company were issued to meet exist
ing indebtedness and not future debts
He repeated the statements as to the
financial condition of the company
which he made not long since before
the committee on interpretations in
Hartford. The construction account in
five years has been $936,00o, which has
all gone into tangible property, real es-
tate much of it. Underground ducts
and cables have cost $303, 900, switch
boards and station equipments $153,0o0,
and this is constantly subject to a de-
terioration charge. The next switch
board to be put in New Haven viii cost
$50, 600 or $4,000, and these boards last
only about five years. Every switch
board In the state outside of the small
places are rebuilt periodically. The
overhead construction is more perma-
nent than the switchboard construction.
but even that is subject to deteriora-
ton charge of 8 per cent. In Hartford
a difficulty of electrolysis has arisen
which will cost thousands of dollars.
This difficulty does not exist in New
Haven because the soil is different from
that in Hartford. He mentioned these
facts to show that there We're expenses
connected with the business other than
expenses for operators and bookkeep-
ers.
Mr.. Tyler then explained the graded
service system of rates as he explained
1t before the legislative committee. lie
said that there We're towns in the state
where the rates were lower than any
offered by the new company and yet
the cost per call to subscribers was
greater than anywhere else, this be-
cause of the few calls. He said that a
switchboard on which the operator can
not listen was impracticable, as it was
necessary for the operator to get in and
find out whether or not the connection
lad been made. , Mr.. Tyler said that
when boy operators were hired the SER
vice was bad and automatic switch
boards were talked of. but that since
girl operators had been hired this diff
,ulty had been done away with. He
said that the girls were under strict |
and that more girls had |
been discharged for talking more than
vas necessary in giving calls than for |
my other reason,
The committee went into executive |
session at 1880 o'clock and decided to |
adjourn until tonight and to hold an |
adjourned hearing next Thursday night |
f necessary.