Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-26

washington, out that the ofncerS OF the
municipality as well have felt the effects
of poor service. In the case in point the
telephone service, It seems. was responsible
for Sergt. Burkhart's being obliged to en-
dure the unpleasantness of a trial by the
police board.
Often Delayed.
The conditions encountered by the police
department with reference to the telephone
service is best explained by a series of
questions asked by Lieut.. Swndeils and the
answers made by Sergt. Burkhart, during
the hearing of the latters case. The fol-
lowing are quoted from the testimony in
the case:
Q. Mr.. Burkhart did you have any inten-
ton of violating general order $50? A. Not
at all.
Q. Do you or do you not find 1t daily
occurrence that when you call up the bu-
reau to report matters that you are put
off? Tell you they are busy? A. A dozen
times during the day 1 hold off and wonder
why l cannot get headquarters. In this
case sat right down to the telephone, but
could not get them. -
G. This trouble in getting the bureau
to report matters is not confined to any
one day? A. No, sir; not to any one day
@. Often includes Sunday? A Sunday as
much SO as any other day almost; 1t is an
every day occurrence
In ths examina tionoof Sergt. J. A. Will
liams of the third precinct, who was act
ing lieutenant at the time Sergt Burk-
hart failed to report the accident, the fol-
lowing questions and answers passed, be-
tween Lieut.. SwiHdells and Sergt. Will
Hams: =! 4.
O. BY Lieut. eswindeIls. Sergeant, have
you ever had any experience with the head
quarters exchange in getting messages
through? A. Yes SIR
q. Ever meet with delay when you at
tempted to make a report? A. Yes. sir; so
much so, that l threatened to report one
man.
q Has If avar boI,, ny>,,,r axno-;o,o, +1.o+
you wanted to -get-a message through and
have been greatly delayed. A. Yes sir;
greatly delayed l hive' experienced great
difficulty In getting messages over the line
orator that the line is busy"
Sergt. Bufkhart in his testimony before
the trial board stated that he made an at
tempt to report the accident in question.
but the line was busy when he called for
headquarters. He stated that he went on
with his other duties and placed the report
On the slate. and overlooked sending It in
promptly because of being obliged to give
his attention to some other matters
r Maj. Sylvester, in an Endorsement on the
papers, concurs in the finding of the trial
board. that there was no Intentional neglect
in this case and in the recommendation
that the charges against Sergt Burkhart
be dismissed. He also calls attention to the
delays incident to the telephone service.
- Commissioners West and Macfarland have
approved the recommendations.
OI w uaIS
A citizen writes to The Star in discussion
of Mr.. CrenshaW's statement of the tele-
phone .company's position, as follows:
1T is gratifying to read in The Star of
Friday the reassuring, kindly words of Mr..
Crenshaw, secretary Of the local telephone
company, regarding the existing troubles
on the lines and the complaints of the sub
Scribers. as voiced by the articles in your
paper. But it would seem to the man at
the other end of the line, the subscriber
that Mr., CrenShaw fails to explain away
one of the most conspicuous annoyances in
cident to the service today. 1t Is a we'll
known fact that soft answer turneth
away wrath. This great fundamental
truth Is constantly in evidence in our social
and business relations. We can stand a
great deal of unpleasantness if it is gently
administered. But the telephone company
it would seem, has failed to absorb this
fact into>its system. Clearly, 1T is hourly
made aware of the indigna ton of the pa
irons Complaints must reach the chief
operator scores of times daily, and If the
company has any sort of system these COM
plants are reflected upon the official rec
ords and meet the eye of the secretary of
the corporation, and presumably eventually
that of it's president.
Now what Mr.. Crenshaw fails to ex-
plain is why the company, knowing the
abominable conditions resulting from con-
gestion' and other causes. which he fails
fully to define, knowing that the subscrib-
eTS are DeinS nOurly annoyed and 1nCOn-
venienced, do not take precautions to rem
der the public burden lighter by requiring
of all the operators at central and the ex-
changes uniformly courteous, considerable
treatment of the phone users. If that were
done, II the hello girls were held to a
rule of conciliatory kindness instead of
being permitted to indulge In exasperating
fippancies and curt refusals. the local
phone users would be very decidedly molli-
fed There would, in fact, be no such gem
kirk 40 The Star fS 60
describing in It's, columns.
II believe echo the thought in the hearts
of nine of ten Subscribers when say that
for discourtesys the average Washington
telephone operator is entitled to the palm
Let me briefly ifecite the facts of an Incl
dent, which, occurring on Christmas day,
may be attributed to variety of causes,
but which remains nevertheless typical of
common experience. was trying, in rather
a hurry-eise Jneedo not have used the
phonetic make CONNECTIONS from public
telephone station to q business establish
ment that knew waseopen had to wait
by the way, was of the old-style slot pat
tern with crank signal sounder Then,
when had given the ring three times /
heard: Hello. helloga I gave the number
culiar rising infection, that is characteristic
of our young women Of central, repeated
the number. hfnore7h distinctly Again
Hello, hello! What number gave it a
tnlTu Time, very pidiniy. MS time what l
got was: Give me your number OF Ill
shut you off," gave II a fourth time and
asked: do you hear me now?' Eyes.
/ heard you the first Time" came swapping
back Then there was the snap of con-
nection and the remark: Drop In your
nickel" Thus ended conversation which
left me so amazed that nearly forgot my
message.
Turning away from the phone. I was
addressed by man who had been standing
near. SO you were up against it, too he