The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-16
An investigation Needed.

An investigation Needed.
The Manufacturers Association has
appointed committee TO investigate
the present service OF the local teie-
phone company. II II a matter Of COM
mon knowledge that the service rem
dered II extremely unsatisfactory. and.
az there seems TO have been no at
tempt on the part OF the management
to improve II, II is not surprising that
one OF our commercial bodies has
felt compelled 10 make the matter one
for investigation with view 10 the
relief that IL so urgently needed.
For some time past there have been
repeated complaints from patrons of
che telephone company These COM
plants come from every quarter.
Those using telephones In both bust
ness houses ana private residences
have found the service to be uniformly
bad. with meAhants the conditions
have become almost intoleratic, and for
business mer generally the service Is
far inferior 10 that which In demanded
and for which the company In now re-
ceiving splendid rentals. At times II
IL almost impossible 10 attend 70 i'm
portant business matters through the
use of the telephone, Connections are
not made, patrons are ignored when
making Inquiries. and the delays have
come to be as certain and regular as
they are inexcusahls and exasperating
II win do no harm for the commit
tee from the Manufacturers Associa-
ton TO look into the matter and asoer-
tain what reasons there are for the
wretehed accommodation the public Ia
receiving from concern which has
received valuable franchises from the
city and which IL In duty bound to fur
nish a reasonably good service to the
citizens who patronise Il, II fair ex-
euscs can be offered by the telephone
company for its present service. which
often is worse than none, there are
hundreds OF Infatuated subscribers who
would like to learn what those excuses
are. Complaints by the score have been
sent 'over the telephone 20 the com
panys headquarters, but they rarely
receive satisfactory consideration sub
scriberss continue 10 walt one, 1--WE. ten
minutes for operators TO answer.
and arc stlll ignorant as To- the cause
OF this chronic dilatoriness. II II stil;
the practice 90 shut on patrons abrupt
" before their wants are made known.
which necesslta,es msddening delays
before inattentlyc subordlnates are
able, or rather condcscondinw enough.
60 make the required connections nay
after day people are turned away with
the Information tina, the line wanted is
'husy." and day after day It Is dis.
closed that the line was not busy A
utsle enlightenment as 20 some of theae
notorious deuDuucncies will be heartily
welcomed by a long suffering public.
IT may no, be within thu province II
fhls investigating committee So proSs
Zoo deeply into company affairs that
ARE In sorne rssrscts private. but De.
cent respect fer sooa paying patrons
ought 20 lead tho company officials q
make q fair statement for the benent
Of che pahlla The committee can prob.
ably ascertain whethsr 81 not the pres
cot management rs alive or has gone
b. sleep; whether 10 !s alert and up q
date OF 10 inert and behind the times
u caa protanly Do sseertalnsa whether
shs Somp~ny 10 pursuing a nIsyardiy.
ehssss. parma over-eeoGomlcal policy
or whether Il 10 sroad-saagsd ana LID
eaA In heepsns with tho patronage q
y recriviuys whe,hsr tss sn,gioyss ar,
solai In ucinees 10 the drmSnda OF arr
cssrworheA andsgp@id arsi genera1,
Incompetent Tho committee can prob
ably report whether the poor servic'
b que TO unsupported Increase oc pat
Senass 70 pxesads tcs which has bee,
sAuaaa an60ssrzArlsl lu,poss.n,u,y