St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-10-14
The Telephone Controversy.

The Telephone Controversy.
A General RemOnStrance TO the Proposed
Advance in RateS.-A Conference be-
tween the RemOnStrantS and the Com
panY Probable.
Within the week representatives of the
Passumpsic Telephone Company have
been securing new contracts from their
St. Iohnsbury subscribers based upon a
new schedule OF rates For private lines
aud the two-party service there has been
a substantial reduction, and to promote
the convenience OF subscribers OF both
residence and business classes the rate
for extension sets has been cut in halves.
But on all six-party lines, which includes
the bulk OF the residence subscribers, the
price has been advanced SO a year.
Many OF the subscribers have signed
these contracts, but some have declined
to do SO, preterring TO give up their IN
struments.
On Friday the situation took new
turn when it was decided TO hold meet
ing to protest against the proposed ad-
vance IN rates About 30 of our citizens
met at the ST. Iohnsbury House, repre-
senting twice as many phones and the
meeting organized by choosing DR.. T. X.
Stiles chairman and W. b. Eastman sec
retary All present objected to the pro-
posed advance in rates and a committee
consisting Of A. B. Noyes, A. K. Aiken,
W. b. Eastman, F. 6. Landry and A. II.
Gleason we're appointed toclrculate petI-
tions around town protesting against
the proposed change These gentlemen,
with assistance from others, have circu-
lated Il petitions around town the past
three DAYS and the CALEDoNIAN learns
the petitions have been very generally
signed.
The citizens interested in the protests
are invited to attend another meeting at
the St. Iohnsbury House Friday night
when it is hoped arrangements can be
made for conference with the telephone
managers.
The CALEDoNAN learns that it is
wholly unlikely that the purpose of
putting the new rates into effect will be
relinqulshed The company, it is stated,
has entered upon an effort to improve
ia, s..~,,;ca a 4 ;,,c;dontoIi,, tn ,bta f,-
itself some small return upon an invest
ment that thus far has never paid a
dollar of dividends or adequately pro-
vided for depreciation. Improvement of
the service is contemplated by the sub
stitution Of six for ten party lines.
To encourage the adoption OF the best
classes of service, the company has made
large reductions in one and two party
rates and has cut the rate for extension
sets in halves. Throughout New Eng
land efforts to improve telephone service
along these lines have met with the most
cordial cooperation on the part of the
public, and have been greatly appre-
ciated when put into effect. Even when
re-adjusted as proposed the rates in this
community will be substantially lower
than the standard rates in other New
England communities of the same size
and character Within the last seven
years the number of local subscribers has
increased from about 262 to 1856. More
than quadruple the service value has
been given, while the compensation to
the company has not only not been
increased but has not been, and still will
not be, equal to that paid in other places
of New England of similar size and
character. A difference amounting to
substantially as much as is now asked
to enable the company to place this
community on a service basis equal with
them, will still remain when the new
rate is put into effect here. The plan
and rates established, it is stated, have
been under consideration for several
months Prominent resident business
men acting as directors, have given their
assistance. The plans have been modi-
fed and fitted to suit the needs Of the
various communities which the company
serves and are believed to embody the
best thought and arrangement prac-
ticable. Representatives of the COM
pany, it is stated, will gladly meet any
body or committee of business men,
explain its plans, exhibit its figures,
afford opportunity for examination and
investigation in the fullest, frankest
manner possible.