The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-08-11
PETITION FOR HEARING
ON TELEPHONE RATES
Committees From Barre and Montpelier
Ask Public Service Commission
to Hear Their Complaints.

The two committees representing the
Montpelier and Barre boards 81 trade
having the matter Of telephone rates
under consideration, have forwarded to
Public Service Commission petition
asking for a hearing on telephone rates
The ESSENTIAL points in the petition arei
That the telephone rates, az establish.
ed July lst, 1909, Of the Vermont Tele.
phone and Telegraph company are ex.
cessiye, illegal and unwaranted
That It Is unjust and unlawful for
said corporation TO increase It's rates for
the purpose Of increasing its revenues to
pay for contemplated improvements
That Il Is unjust and unlawful TO
charge patrons for improved service, be-
fore said service can be furnished.
That the contracts, or alleged con.
tracts, existing between the New Eng.
land Telephone company and Vermont
Telephone and Telegraph company arc
illegal and contrary to public policy.
That by virtue Of contracts ar, alleg.
ed contracts, the New England Tele-
phone company unlawfully absorhs the
earnings Of the Vermont Telephone and
Telegraph company
That there should be free service be.
tween Montpelier and the City of Barre
70 the patrons Of said company.
That a fun and complete Investigation
of the relations existing between the
Vermont Telephone and Telegraph com
pany and the New England Telephone
company viii disclose that said latter
company unlawfnlly and uniustly ab.
Serbs the earnings Of the former com.
pany.
That By a complete and careful ex-
animation of the receipts and disburse-
ments Of the Vermont Telephone and
company IL win be demon.
strated that the net income 81 said COM
pany is more than ample to make any
and all contemplated improvements
without increasing the rates existing
prior to July ] i, 1902
That the rates and tolls charged hv
said company hsould be established ana
fixed BY the Public Service Commission
after q full Investigation OF the facts
SET forth III the foregoing petition.
That the notice 10 IT, subscribers Of
w increase in rates WAS Illegal and in.
sufficient az many subscribers was un-
Ter yearly contracts.
That the patrons Of said company
should have better service and modern |
The funds 70 make extraordinary Inn /
lrovemArts should be furnished by the I
parent company, provided It Is found I
hat said company has absorbed the 4
profits Of the Vermont Telephone and /
Telegraph company.
That the rates prior 70 July /, 1900, !
were excessive and unlawful; and that /
he present rates are unlawful, exces
i've and unwarranted.
That II the said Vermont Telephone 4
nd telegraph company existed II such
manner as to Be able "a purchase its
upplies, handle and contra Its funds.
make contracts and fix the salaries Of
"a officers then it would be able to
make such financial showing AZ would
that its rates and charges
ne excessive and unwarfaHted.
That the capital stock Of said Yer
mont Telephone and Telegraph com
,any IS large, fictitious and represents
10 real value or cash paid into the treas
iry Of said company.
That said Vermont Telephone and
company, said New England
Telephone company and said American
Telephone and Telegraph company
houId exhibit to your Honorable Board
II contracts existing between said com
any and the accountings and settle
nents made with each other, under said
during the past ten years.
We therefore pray your Honorable
board to investigate the subjects and
iatters set forth in the foregoing petit
ion and fix the rates, tolls, and charges
{ the Vermont Telephone and Tele-
raph company on an equitable and Just
asis, taking into consideration tho in
erests Of its patrons, the convenience
{ the public and the rights of said com
any.