The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-18
DAY AND NIGHT
RATE I He SAME
Corporation Commission sustains
Bell Conpany's Plea for
Uniform Charges.
CONGESTION CUTS PROFITS
Service Improved BY Distributing
Business, Says Courts
Order.
CONGESTION cUTs PROFITS

After having the matter under adj
visement for several weeks, the State
Corporation Commission yesterday
handed down an opinion granting the
application OF the Southern Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany to restore its night rates, and
to make them the same as rates
charged for day service. The COM
pany put the reduced night rate into
operation voluntarily as an experiment.,
and found later that 1t was incxped-
lent, for instead of distributing the
business equitably through the day and
night, as it was designed to do, 1t re-
suited in congestion in the early
portion of the evening, which caused
great confusion and delay.
The commission in its opinion sus-
tains the company on every point
TO Make Charges Uniform.
The paper Is in full as follows:
This Is I'm application of the Southern
Bell Telephone nnd Telegraph Company.
OF Virginia. for leave to increase It's
long distance night rates, 40 as to make
the night and dry rates uniform.
In the past the company Inns been
charging less for service between q
o'clnc!> =. VI. ana o'clock 4. VI. thnn
for scrvicc, during the remaining hours
of the dny. The evidence shows thnt of
the territory occupied by this and allied
companies, such reduced rates only pre-
vail In Virginia, North Carolina nnd
South Carolina: that the nctunl casl,
Investment of the company in toll lines
III Virginia amounts to S121, 1.3.1O, ms
OF February 20, 10Os; and TINT the
entire income from this Investment for
the ycnr ending March 81. 1905. was
S100.::O7s. or 16.1 per cent. upon the
cnrttal invested. After making fair
deduction for the necessary expense of
conducting the business, the net earn
ings amount to only 20 per cent. upon
the actual cnsl, invested in the toll
lines.
The net earnings upon the entire In
ycstmcnt of the company In Virginia
for both toll and exchange business for
the year 1907 were d.GG per cent, with
out any deduction whatever for dcprc-
citation during the year.
Not Like Night Telcsrams.
The general Impression prevails that
night rates should he less thnn day
rntcx becnvlAc night messaEes nrc sent
by telegraph companies mt reduced
rates. There is no sound reason for
making this compa rison. because while
the telegram is left with the company
to be sent and delivered MT the con-
when the wires are not otherwise Occu-
pied. the night telephone conversation
cannot thus be delayed to suit the con-
vcnicnce of the telephone company, but
the connection must be nude promptly
and the service required must be equal
ly ms prompt MS the day service. SO
that the cxpcnse of the night busIncss
to the telegraph company Is less Than
the expense of the day business, and IL
the sender desires prompt delivery Of a
telegram kemt by night, tic phys the
day rate. On the other hnnd. the SER
vice rendered by the telephone COM
pnny Mt night must he equally ms
prompt us the service in the day, while
the expense is greater. because 1t is
more difficult to find the desired party
and get him to the phone mt night than
II Is in the day, when people are gem
orally found Mt their places Of bust
ness.
Upon II fair consideration of the
whole question, we are of the opinion
that Justice to the telephone company
requlrcls the granting of the prayer OF
the petition, and, therefore, 1t Will be
so ordered.