Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-10-22
WILL HEREAFTER SELL INsTRU-
MENTS AND SUPPLIES TO IN
DEPENDENT COMPANIES AND
MAKE TRAFFIC AGREEMENTS
WITH THEM.
NOT BASED ON MONOPOLY
Company Is Amply Prepared to Provo
to Patrons That 1t Seeks No Undue
Advantage, but Enters Open Field in
Free Competition.

An important change in the policy
for 30 years of the Bell Telephone
company has been made known. When
questioned today regarding the report
that the Western Electric company,
the company that manufacture the APP
paratus used by the Bell companies,
would hereafter sell telephones and
supplies to all buyers, President
Theodore N. Vail of the American
I 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; it's full ca
pacity being required to supply the
demands Of the Bell companies alone.
This obstacle to doing a general bust
ness has been overcome by the recent
completion of very large additions to
the Chicago factory of the Western
Electric company, and hence 1t Is now
in a position to take care of outside
orders.
In reply to a question as to the prob
able effect of this action on the reve-
nue. of the American Telephone and
Telegraph company, Mr.. Vail stated
that no considerable direct increase
was anticipated, but that a great indi-
rect advantage was looked for from
improved relations between the public
and all 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 mo-
nopoly of telephone instruments, while
the fact is that the instrument is but
small part of the plant required In
giving telephone service.
1t is felt that this action may cause
it to be more clearly understood by the
public that the Bell companies only
claim for patronage is based on theil
ability to furnish the best service at
strument monopoly.
Mr. Vail explained that at the pres
ent time many inefficient telephone in
struments are in use on local and pri-
vate lines, and that the Bell companies
desire to see these replaced by STAN
dard instruments in order that it may
make traffic connections with the
greatest possible number of properly
equipped lines, assuring proper serv-
ice and transmission. For example:
| kTSI.a -
farmer lines which will furnish val
liable feeders for the toll lines of tn,
larger system when properly equipped
and maintained. This situation cal
now be provided for through the sal
outright of Bell instruments and appa
ratus
in answer to the question as t.
whether it is intended that the West
ern Electric company should becom
. an aggressive competitor of the indie
pendent manufacturers who, up to thi
date have had a monopoly of the sell
ing trade, the only reply was that tn
Bell interests were fully prepared
either from the manufacturing or op
. Grating side of the business, to NEE
all the needs of the public, and tina
they wish to demonstrate that the
claim or ask no advantage other tina
| their ability to meet those needs un
| der square competitive conditions {
| quality and price-there would be n
| inferior goods under old monopoly
| trade war, but any manufacturer
| who have been getting high prices fc
| inferior goods under old monopoly
| the selling trade would naturally sui
| fer a loss of business.