The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-12-03
MIR. MILLER,s STATEMENT.

MIR. MILLER'S STATEMENT.
Awaiting ourselves OF the courtesy Of
THE ADVERTISER to correct certain
statements in a recent issue, we would
state as a preface that we are conf
dent that no intentional injury to u
Company was intended, but believe
that many of the allegations are based
upon incorrect information. Primarily,
we are accused of being an oppressive
monopoly-exacting and oyerbearing.
Instead Of being a grinding, grasp
ing monopoly, as this article would in
dictate, we have no monopoly at all,
there being hundreds of independent
and competing exchanges in our terri
tory and in many places WI have been
importuned for the past three years to
build competing exchanges where
there was q home telephone company
but, with two exceptions, we nave In
variably declined to enter the field
with q local exchange where there was
one already in existence, and these
two exceptions were after such press
sure had been brought to bear upon us
by the business communities and city
officials that we could not consistently
refuse the same and still claim to be
willing to cover the field. Just to the
contrary of the article, it is our desire
to cover the field with strictly first
class lines, moderate rates, first-class
local exchanges, reasonable rates, good
service, and to deserve aud receive
the public.
1t is further stated that ten
years ago our charges for residence
telephones in Greenville and Columbia
was from $4S.OO to $50 90. This is
wholly incorrect. AS a matter of fact,
we have not, since the beginning of our
business, charged as much as $4,000 per
annum for residences telephones in Ell
Their Greenville or Columbia. Fol-
many years III highest rate for resi-
places was $50. 90 per annum for TN
limited special line service and at pres
ent time that is our highest rate on
residence phones in those cities. The
highest rate we charge in Columbia
for a business phone is $500 per an
mum and for that we furnish common
battery, central energy, supervisory
system service, metallic circuits aud
long distance instruments. This rate
is charged in Columbia, with vigorous
@~~o,ttsoo ,rh;1o tla N .afa Is Nr1x,
charged in Columbus, Georgia, land a
number.of other cities about the same
size of Columbia,) where there Is no
opposition. furthermore, In G%reenville
S. O., where o $500 rate had existed,
with the elimination OF opposition,
there are between 200 and 300 of the
old subscribers who have signed an
agreement for q rate of $3.50 and also
agreed not to patronize any other than
the Bell Go. for a period Of 5 years. In
S~partanburg the same thing is true.
Since opposition has been acquired we
will reduce the rate from $500 to $3.50.
The same applies to Union where with
opposition our rate was $4.0O, but since
opposition was eliminated, the rate is
reduced to SO. so and the subscribers
are perfectly contented.
Further statements made in your pa
per as to what we weuldd do il we should
buy out the Laurens Exchange, or any
other Exchange, do not credit us with
any superior business judgment. We
can't afford to charge exorbitant rates,
even If we were so disposed. 1t would
be a short-sighted policy to do so, as
that would only invite competition and
again bring about a situation of riv-
airy, etc. 1t is the policy Of the Com
pany to inaugurate such rates as will
prevent further opposition.
Finally attention invited to the men
who control and operate the Southern
Bell Telegraph and Telephone Co.
They are in no wise strangers, the lead
ing men of the corporation all being
Southern men. Mr.. W.T.. Gentry, the
head of the concern and Its General
: Manager Is a native of Virginia, who
has devoted twenty years to this bust
ness. He stands high in business cir
Giles and has the unbroken record of do
ing Iexactly what he says he will do.
the same is true of the Assistant Cen
eral Manager, Mr.. j. w. Crews, who is
also u native of Virginia. Superin-
tendent Chapley is q native of Pensa-
cola, Fla, Superintendent Sims of Ala
bama and Superintendent Hobson OF
Savannah, are ell Southern men, and
these are the men who stand at the
head of this Company and control all
OF it's policies. They are therefore In
a sense your home people and fill the
demand that is so often made for home
competition.
Again, 1t will be said that a Corpora
ton has no soul. In q sense this is
true, but those who compose 1t are to
be trusted as much as men in any other
line OF business. IThey are a compet-
emit part OF our social system, and en-
titled to as much, but no more conf
dence than others.
1t therefore resolves itselfinto q mat
ter of what the experience OF their
past record will present In the fulfill
ment and fidelity TO same. In this mat
ter and upon tiie sort OF an investiga
tion, the Sonthern Bell Telephone