The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-05
10 CONTROL TELEPHONES.
"A Bill TO That ETect VIII be In
trodnced In the senate.

80
troduced In the Senate.
For some time the Joint committee
from the house and the senate has
been atwork on Senator by ydrick'a
bill to put telephone companies under
the supervision Of the railroad COM
missioners who now have Jurisdiction
over the railway systems, express COM
panies and telegraph lines operating
in South Carolina.
Wednesday the senate committee
on railroads and internal improve
ments, Of which Senator Hydrick is
chairman, reported favorably on the
bill submitting an amendment largely
increasing its powers.
1t is provided in the proposed act
that the commission shall have the
same powers as over the corporations
already Indicated, and shall require
reasonable corrections to be made and
maintained between such lines, sta
tions and exchanges, and to fix and
regulate reasonable rates, tolls or
compensation therefor; and to require
reasonable connections to be made and
maintained between such lines, sta
tions or exchanges, and the lines or
stations or private individuals, firms
or corporations desiring such connec-
tions," etc.
Section two stipulates that until
otherwise fixed and regulated by said
commission the rates, tolls or charges
per month (and proportionately for
fractional parts Of a month) for tele-
phones service (Which shall include
all charges for the furnishing, putting
in and maintaining Of telephones and
necessary parts and equipments at
stations, and wire connecting the
same with the central Office of all ex-
change and the furnishing of telephone
service to each subscriber, his family,
guests, agents, servants, and repre-
sentatives) shall not exceed those fixed
in the following schedule:
Where an exchange has less Lhan
25O bona iide subscribers, $3.50 for
each residence telephone and 81 for
each business telephone.
Exchange Of $50 and less than 400
subscribers, l.66 for residence phone
and 1925 business phone.
4O0-800 subscribers. S1.75 resi-
dences phone, $50 business phone.
8OO-l 200 subscribers, 81 residence
phone; S3 business phone.
E00 subscribers or over, S2 resi-
dence 'phone; 50. SO business phone.
For each phone on party lines in
Incorporated cities and towns, two
thirds of the foregoing rates will be
charged, and for each phone on rural
party lines, the same, provided sub
scribers build and maintain the line
to the limits of the city Or town where
the exchange is located
For each phone where there is
only one on rural line, the regular
rates of the exchange will be charged
if the subscriber builds the line to the
town limits.n
The conversation rates are also
given, long distance for 80 miles be-
ing l5 cents for three minutes, for
100 miles 80 cents, to any other point
in the State, 40 cents, and 5 cents per
minute over three. Night conversa-
tion (between 6 p. M, and a. n.y.
cost two-thirds of these rates. Mes
senger service within one mile will
cost 10 cents additional, over one mile,
"a reasonable charge"
Violations by telephone companies
or corporations or owners of the pro-
visions of act, or of the orders of the
commission, will be punished by
fine of $50 per diem to be recovered by
suit. The sum recovered, however,
must, after the expenses of the suit
are paid, be turned over to the State,
as the attorney general and solicitors
will conduct prosecutions in such
cases.
The commission may, if it deems
advisable, cancel franchises granted
to telephone companies. The same
obligations as to the salary and ex-
penses of the railroad commission as
are now carried by the express COM
panies, railways and telegraph COM
panies will be placed upon the tele-
phone companies.