The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1907-10-08
CUMBERLAND CASES
Commission Has Complaints
Under Consideration.


jackson at 10 O'Clock Thursday
morning as scheduled, to consider
the various complaints against
the Cumberland Telephone and
Telegraph Company. Mr. Leland
Hume, secretary of the company
was present and the matter Of
free county service was discuss
ed all the morning by Mr. Hume
and the members of the commits
sion. At lunch time no conclu-
sion had been arrived at by the
commission as to what the Cum
berland proposed to do in regard
to the order passed by the com
mission prohibiting them from
abolishing free county service.
Mr.. Hume explained to the mem
bers of the commission why he
thought that it was right that the
Cumberland should be allowed
to abolish this night rate as it
cost the company just as much to
take care Of this night business
as it did the day business and
that many people held back until
night in order to get the benefit
of the half rate.
As to the free county service" "
Mr.. Hume quoted figures from
the books Of the company to show
that they are actually losing
about 100 per cent. I'm those |
counties in which the service is
put in effect, including, Bolivar, |
Coahoma, Harrison, Kinds and |
others. !
They have in the state of Miss
issippi. in actual use something
like 6, III phones and of this num-
Der oyer 400 of them are in the
so-cailed free county class, from
which they derive no revenue,
and yet they cost as much to
maintain and operate as any 9TH
ers, He quoted figures relating |
to one concern alone in Kinds
county, an oil mill company, from
which the company derived a rev.
enue of S21 the last month; yet
it cost more than twice that
much to render the service, as
hire of pole route is to be figured !
in the account. This statement
of Mr.. Hume was heard with s
attention and interest by those s
to whom addressed, who were {
also impressed with its evident t
sincerity and plansibility. 4
For fully two hours Mr.. Hume /
addressed himself to the mem
bers of the commission, during 6
which time he went through S
every phase and detail of the /
management and attendant ex- {
pense of such an enterprise as t
the Cumberland Telephone and /
Telegraph Company. t
Mr., Hume declares that the
Cumberland Telephone Company
would be more than glad to have
a committee or commission of
disinterested experienced ac- a
eountants visit their headquar- S
ters at Nashville and examined
their books and records. Gould r
such a commission contrive to 4
find out that the company's own
figures are at fault and that in
stead of their ha ing sunk mon -
ey for the past several years
they had in fact made money, :
and that their crediting brokers !
were at fault, they would be .
most gratified. Certainly such y
an investigation would acquit Z
them of extortion or any ulterior : :
or unfair practices on the public :
whom they serve. :
After listening to the remarks =
II Mr.. Hume, the commission
,ook the whole matter under ad- :
1isement pending the next :
with the understanding =
hat there would be no further :,
Interference or changes in the -
rec county services pending :, :,
inal action of the commission. =
The Attarpay raparaIc af