The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-10-15
BELL COMPANY
CHANGES POLICY
WESTERN ELECTRIC WILL SELL
TELEPHONES TO ALL
BUYERS.

| BOSTON,. Oct. 15.-An important
change in the policy for 80 years of
the Bell Telephone company, has been
made known. When questioned regard
| ing the report that the Western Elec-
! trio company, the concern that manu-
features the apparatus used by the
Bell companies, would hereafter sell
| telephones and supplies to all buyers,
President Theodore N. Vail of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
company. confirmed the report.
He explained that the idea had been
under consideration for a long time,
but that heretofore one difficulty had
been that the Western Electric COM
pany needed more plant; its full ener-
gy having been required to supply
the demands of the Bell companies
alone. This obstacle to doing a geLer-
al business has been overcome by the
recent completion of very large addi-
| tons to the Chicago factory of the
Western Electric company, and hence
it is now in a position to take care
of outside orders.
In reply to question as to the prob
able effect of this action on the rev.
enue of the American Telephone &
Telegraph Co.. Mr.. Vail stated that no
considerable direct increase was anti
cipated, but that a great indirect adj
vantage was looked for from improved
relations between the public and all
of the associated Bell companies, be-
cause there has been an entirely err
roneous idea more or less prevalent
| that the charges of these companies
| for their services were based on a
while the fact is that the instrument is
but small part of the plant re-
quired in giving telephone service.
! Claim Best Service.
| 1t is felt that this matter may cause
it to be more clearly understood by
the public, that the Bell companies
| only claim for patronage is based on
their ability to furnish the best service
| DIT IGdSOIldUlt piICeS anu llOI Cn duy
instrument monopoly.
| Mr.. Vail explained that at the pres
ent time mahy inefficient telephone in
struments are in use on local and pri-
vate lines, and that the Bell companies
desire to see those replaced by stand
ard instruments in order that it may
| make traffic connections with the
greatest possible number of properly
equipped lines, assuring proper SER
vice and transmission. For example:
There are thousands of so-called far
. mer lines which will furnish valuable
feeders for the toll lines of the larger
systems when properly equipped and
maintained. This situation can now
be provided for through the sale out
right, of Bell instruments ard appara-
| tus.
In answer to the question as to
whether it is intended that the West
ern Electric company should be-
come an aggressive competitor of the
, Independent manufacturers, who up to
this date have had a monopoly of the
selling trade, the OILY reply was that
| the Bell interests were fully prepared,
either from the manufacturing or OPP
Grating side of the business, to meet
all needs of the public and that they
wish to demonstrate that they claim
or ask no advantage other than their
| ability to meet those needs under
| square competitive conditions of
! quality and price-there would be TO
| trade war, but any manufacturers who
have been getting high prices for in
i ferior goods under the old monopoly of
the selling trade would naturally suf-
fer loss of business