The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-01-23
MORE "hEllO" TALK
Mr.. Crothers Takes Exception to
Article in Register
Editor of Register.

In your issue of last week
Telephone System, Manager Reb
man Creates Uproar in Tele-
phone Convention" Not being able
to see any good politics in this and
knowing OF no reason for any person
al feeling between yourself and Mr..
Iietlow. | am unable to understand
why YOU should publish such an ar
ticle, unless it be that YOU have been
misinformed as to the facts. If this
be so YOU will no dobt be glad to be
set right.
Mr.. Zietlow is the man who has
done more than anyone else to bring
the use of the telephone within the
reach of the masses and is the presi-
dent of the Dakota Central Telephone
Co, corporation, all the stock OF
which is owned by people who are
now, or who were at the time the
stock was purchased, residents of
South Dakota. The Dakota Central
Co. has connecting contract with the
Bell Telephone Co. which enables 1t
to give the city of Brookings long
distance connection with all parts
OF the country Mr.. Iietlow has been
member of the South Dakota hide
pendent Telephone association ever
since its organization, and with the
I ANn nT n
members, including the president and
secretary of the association have con-
meeting contracts either with the Bell
Co. or with the Dakota Central Co.
If the rule of membership you apply
to Mr. Xietlow was put in force 1t
would put the association out of bust
ness
Huron had no representative in the
convention, neither did any man from
Huron or from any other place call
Mr.. ZietloW down, neither did any
one on the floor of the convention
say one word in support Of Mr.. Reb-
mans statements although several
spoke against them. Mr.. Iietlow, and
not Mr.. Rebman asked for a com
mittee to investigate but the presi-
dent after asking Mr.. Rebman several
questions ruled a committee was UNI
necessary as by Mr.. Rebman's own
statements he had shown the profits
he had claimed for Brookings were
| impossible.
We are not informed as to the
amount Of Mr.. Zietlows income but
will venture this guess that no man in
South Dakota has worked harder for
what he has than he. and many of
the citizens of South Dakota have not
worked near as hard but have made
more money.
In regard to rates charged, the Da-
kota Central Co. invites a comparison
of its rates with the rates generally
| charged by the Independents or any
other telephone companies. lnvesti-
gate and give us the figures. A word
more in this connection. On basis Of
the rate now charged in and out OF
Brookings, - l-G OF the toll received
goes to the local exchanges as com
mission }rookings City thus getting
her share. and the balance goes to
the toll company. The Brookings
City council composed of a lot of level
headed business men, decided at its
last meeting that their share of the
tolls was not too high
AS the City of Brookings has re-
fused 70 pay taxes to the state on
its telephone plant, it is very unkind
to throw stones at those that are pay
ing more than their share.
remarks i'm the convention not to make
Mr. Zietlow was very careful in his
even ignored what you call the well
deserved slap" Mr.. Rebman gave the
monopoly, he only wished to prevent
misleading statements from going out
with the apparent sanction of the asso
citation.
You assume that the city is making
II per cent on it's telephone invest
ment and then figure out from that
Mr. Rebmans statement was conserva
tive Why assume anything when the
facts are so near at hand and are
accessible to all in the published re
ports of your city auditor? Give us
the facts Mr.. Editor, "a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush" when
it comes to profits.
p. r. Crothers.
The statement Of facts in the above
article relating to the action of the
Telephone Convention Jan. s and 9
'0S at Mitchell, S. D.. are correct.