Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-18

III HE prospect q n competing tele-
phone company I'm Chicago has
induced the Bell company to come
down peg or two and acknowl.
- edge that 60 Is not infallible or
invincible. For several years patrons Of
the company have been in a state OF re-
bellion against extortlonate tolls. Every
suburban town gathered into Greater Chi.
cago provided an extra toll for the COM
pany. notwithstanding the wipng out Of
boundary lines. These separate connecting
tolls aggravated the situation. a legm
battle in the courts followed, resulting in
the defeat Of the company. The courts
held that all charges in excess OF $50 per
year for unlimited service were unlawful
and that the company had no right to sub
divide the city and charge an extra fec
for connections. Since that time the COM
pany has been I'm a receptive mood. It is
willing, nay, anxious. to listen 20 reason
and do the right thing" Its franchise is
running out and an extension is eagerly
sought. Councilmen Of Chicago never find
the line busy" when they seek Informal
ton. Between the new and the old lively
contest prevails, with the outcome unceT-
tain.
The Bell company proposes reduction
OF rates in return for twenty-ycar eX-
tension OF it's franchise. The new rates.
which affect 10000 telephones. measured
service, are as follows:
The ten-party line residence service is
abolished and without any advance in rates
viii be changed from ten-party 10 four
party, the guaranteed rate of cents per
day remaining the same.
The ten-party business telephone at a
guaranteed rate of 10 cents per day will be
changed to two-party lines at a guaranteed
rate Of 10 cents per day with one message
or guaranteed rate Of Is cents per day
with three messages.
The four-party residence telephones with
guarantee Of 10 cents per day will be re-
duced TO cents per day.
The two-party guaranteed rate Of % cents
per day is reduced to 10 cents per day.
new two-party rate of 10 cents per day
with one message is established.
The single line nickel guarantee of 80
cents per day is reduced to 20 cents per day
The guaranteed rate of 20 cents per day
with two calls for single lines is reduced to
Is cents per day. October ! there were
69,506 telephones operated on the prepay
ment on nickel-in-the-slot plan, all OF which
are affected by these reductions.
The present message rate of s. per month
for fifty calls and graded rates for excess
calls ranging from cents to 8 cents is re-
duced to s. per month and 100 calls, the
next 200 calls within the month being at g
cents and all further messages within the
month at cents each. This new message
rate affects not only all direct and two
party line message rate telephones now in
use, but $500 telephones having unlimited
service at the rate of S125 per annum Rec
ord of the present traffic from these tele-
phones i is said, indicate that when pay
ment is made at the proposed message rate
more than 5000 of them will have q sub
stantial reduction.
The 292 extension telephones now oper-
ated in connection with these business lines
will be reduced from SIS to s. per year all
extensions In connection with measured
service telephones being placed at S. pei
year.
The rate on trunk lines i'm private eX.
changes are reduced from 1856 to $4 pei
year, and the cost Of message and pri.
vate exchanges, now 3 cents per call, is
reduced to cents per call after the first
800 messages sent in each month.
Two rates providing for unlimited mes
sages will continue for private residences
The present rate OF 500 per annum foi
single lines is reduced to S72
The two-party residence rate Of SIS is re
duced to $50 per annum. and the four-party
unlimited service for residences is abol
ished. This class is advanced without
changing the price to the two-party service
class at s. per month.
The rate for extension telephones in resi-
dences having unlimited service is reduced
from SIS to S12.