The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-10-17
GREAT CHANGE in BELL TELE
PHONE POLICY.

! The most important change in the
policy of the Bell Telephone company
for thirty years has just been an
nounced.
| The report that the Western Elec
. trio company. the concern that manu-
! features the apparatus used by Bel
companies, would hereafter sell tele
! phones and supplies to all buyers. is
confirmed by the president. Theodore
n. Vail, of the American Tel a. Tel
i Co; and President Vail explained that
the idea had been under consideration
for a long time, but that heretofore
one difficulty had been that the West.
ern Electric company needed more
plant. its full energies being required
by the Bell companies alone. This
| obstacle TO doing a general business
has been overcome by the recent com
pletion of very large additions to the
Chicago factory of the Western Elec-
trio company. and hence it is now in
position to take care of outside or
ders. In reply to a question as to the
probable effect of this action on the
revenue of the American Tel & Tel.
Co., Mr.. Vail said that no considerable
direct Increase was anticipated. but
that a great indirect advantage was
looked for from improved relations be-
tween the public and all of the asso-
ciated Bell companies, because there
has been an entirely erroneous idea
more or less prevalent that the
charges of these companies for their
services were based on a monopoly
of telephone instruments. while the
fact is that the instrument is but a
small part of the plant required in
giving telephone service. It is felt
that this action may cause it to be
more clearly understood by the pub
lie that the Bell companies only
claim for patronage is based on their
ability to furnish the best service at
reasonable prices and not on any in
strument monopoly Mr.. Vail ex-
planned that at the present time many
inefficient telephone instruments are
in use on local and private lines, and
that the Bell companies desire to see
these replaced by standard instru-
ments in order that they may make
traffic connection with the greatest
possible number of properly equipped
lines, assuring proper service and
transmission. For example, there are
thousands of so-called Farmer Lines"
which will furnish valuable feeders
for the toll lines of the larger sys-
tenn when properly equipped and
maintained. This situation can now
be provided for through the sale out
right of Bell instruments and appar-
atus.
In answer to the question as to
whether it was intended that the
Western Electric Co. should become
an aggressive competitor of the in
dependent manufacturers, who. up to
this time, have had a monopoly of |
the selling trade, the only reply was
that the Bell interests were fully pre-
pared. either from the manufacturing
or operating side of the business. to
meet all the needs of the public, and
that they wish to demonstrate that !
they claimed or asked no advantages |
other than their ability to meet these
needs under square competitive con
ditions of quality and price. There
would be no trade war, but any man
ufacturers who have been getting
higher prices for inferior goods un.
der the old monopoly of the selling
trade, would naturally suffer the loss
Of business.