The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-21
Central Union Company An
nounces That New System
Of Rates Will Be Effective
August |.
MAY HASTEN THREATENED
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.
Motive Behind Proposition Is
Likely to Bring About a Re-
currence of Phone Contro-
versy, 'Tis Said.

The first fruits of the working
agreement between the Central
Union and Richmond Home Telephone
companies are about to be plucked.
Announcement is being made by
agents OF the Central Union company
that a different rate schedule will be-
come effective August l and a canvass
made of old subscribers to ascertain
how many will retain their phones
at the new rate. Noah Hutton. local
manager OF the Central Union. stated
today the new schedule is not an in
crease OF the one which has been in
effect in this city for some years. To
the majority of the patrons of the
Central Union il will constitute an ad-
vance in the fee paid, however. Many
patrons OF the Central Union have
been using this company's phones un-
der special agreements or contracts,
which range from no financial consid-
Grafton at all. to the published sched-
ule of charges.
Mr.. Hutton said the rate of the
Central Union has been IS for all me-
tallic circuit phones. The rate for
two party lines has been SIS per year.
Mr.. Hutton asserted this class OF
phones has been in use by 800 or 400
subscribers. The Central Union has
also offered the use of Blake ground
ed circuit phone for 81 monthly rental.
Such service was withdrawn July l.,
According to Mr.. Hutton this phone
has lacked the advantage of long dis
tance copper metallic connections.
The company is at the present time
furnishing phones with the long dis
tance connections to contract SUBJ
scribers OF long standing at so cents
per month.
Beginning August l, the rate of the
Central Union for independent resi-
dence phones will be $1.75 per month.
For two party phones the rate will be
$1.25 per month. The business phone
charge will be SO per month. The old
six party lines were abandoned sew
eral years ago and will not receive
any consideration in the new schedule
The old subscribers on these lines
nave been retained up to the present
at the contract rate.
Some time ago, when competition
between the Central Union and Home
companies was not as dead as at pres
ent, the Central Union placed a num-
ber of phones about the city. which
were to provide free service until a
prescribed number OF subscribers was
obtained. Some Of these phones con-
tinue in use.
To Operate Exchange.
1t was stated emphatically by Mr..
Hutton that his company win continue
to operate an exchange for local sub
scribers and not abandon the field to
the Home company, the intention as
has been claimed. The company's
rates for straight residence phones
will be s175, two party line phones
s1.25 and business phones SO. I'VE are
taking this canvass to learn how
many of our subscribers wish to re-
main at this rate" said Mr.. Hutton.
You see We have an agreement with
the Home company as TO the long dis
tance service and by using our phones
subscribers may reach any point in
the United States that offers tele-
phone connections. II will be only a
matter of preference TO them. You see
some persons will say: We can reach
any point by using the Central Union
phone direct from our house. so why
not use IT for local service and secure
this long distance advantage at the
same timer"
Choice TO Patron.
!, With the Central Union adopting a
rate schedule practically the same as
the Home company the choice will be
left to the patron. The Home COM
pany now has a larger list Of local
subscribers and 1t is reasonable to pre-
sumo that with the rates the same.
, the majority of local subscribers, who
do not car SO much for long distance
service, will drop the Central Union
for the Home phone.
The only variance In the rates OF the
two companies will be on independent
, residence phones and in this class the
Central Union will be 25 cents higher
per month. The published monthly
: rates of the Home company at present
are: Business phones SO, business
phones two party line $3.50. residence
phones $1.50; residence, two par
ty lines SIPS. The 25 cent ex.
ira charge by the Central Un-
ion on its independent residence
r phones will tend further TO lead pres
ent patrons of this company to aban-
+ don their phones for the Home COM
/, pany's.
81 There is strong probability the an
> nouncement of the change OF rates BY