The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04
Telephone imposition.

there is pointed reference to grievance that is try
ing the patience of other communities of the Stat
and inviting drastic legislative action for the relic
of the public from the mpositions of a MONOPOLY.
Public service corporations frequently call dowr
upon themselves the wrath of their patrons and the
Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company is fol
lowing the course that others have travelled and have
inevitably encountered discontinue at the end
The Weser paper says:
The question before the business men and
renters of Bell telephones is whether they propose
TO SIT down and be held up by that corporation with
out murmur
representative of the company met with the
Commercial Club last Friday evening, and after a
brief discussion Of the question, told them in plain
English if they didn't like their prices and service
they could order their phones taken out
lie admitted the rates in Payette about one
half less than those charged to Weiser people When
asked why they could afford to rent their phones
cheaper there than here, stated that was their bust
ness and refused to discuss it. He very curt in
his remarks.
The Commercial Club has gone as far in the mat
ter it is possible for them to do, and it now up
to the business and citizens to say whether they
will be held up in this manner.
The alternative presented by the telephone COM
pany to its patrons in Weiser-if you don't like our
prices and our service, you discontinue your
phones-is not necessarily one that must be obeyed
for any longer period of time than the interval be-
tween now and the convening of the next Legisa-
ture Nor the telephone company persist in
the imposition of discriminatory charges beyond that
PERIOD if the representatives of the people do their
duty.
The telephone service is a public service and is
subject to all the constitutional regulations that the
legislative body may establish, the as the tele
graph service and the transportation service.
In many of the States of the Middle West the
telephone monopoly has been tanned and transformed
into condition of complete docility through the
wise enactments of legislatures elected to serve the
public, rather than the corporations In those States
the service nsolent it is in the
mountain States. Monopoly does not learn through
any process of human reasoning 1t waits for rigor-
authority to along and compel it to do
right
Weser is not alone in experiencing the exasper-
ating discourtesy that exhibits itself in the central
establishments of the telephone system, where per-
sons in authority and subordinate employees assume
hostility to patrons that is unbusiness1ke and
called for. 1t could not be safely employed
the servants of the service brought into close
tact with those whom they serve Nor is the preva-
lent ncivity confined employees that have inter
course with the public.
1t is found in the high places when one goes to
headquarters with grievances that have exhausted
patience. The representative of the corporation
who delivered utmatum to the Commercial Club
IF Weser has successful imtators in other divisions
If the service, for bad prevail so extensive
y as to be cause for more than local complaint
The Weser business mems organization was en-
irely within its privileges in seeking equitable
adjustment of rates. 1t had right to know why
he people of that city taxed higher than those
# another community for like conveniences If
here was reason and it had been courteousy stated
he of Weser would have as courteously ac-
he e1rn1nta BIT thor rot