Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-10-28


which We have nOfight Of sBper-
vision Or control - that our en-
tire service would De confused
and we would not be able % give
cur patrons efficient service.
This i practically all that re-
contract mems, and il - BY rs-1-
son OF these contracts that viszIi-
y and stability has been given
the local exchanges In communal
ties which would nos otherwise
have them. The local exchanges
can offer 20 subscriber. all that
the Cumberland Company could
offer Il the exchange vas act9-
ally part Of it, systsla which i
practically -.
The -uit which i about O. b.
brought 70 anGul thee contracts
does not arse frOsu any COM
plant n the part CT the people.
The communities WHOM are nOE
getting telephone ser,i-e. and
will BE- deprived Of {, -ho1li tins
suit proceed. have Not h@eu con-
suited. The farmers throughout
the state and the rural communi-
ties watch arr getting telephone
service by reason % these con-
tracts nave nos been rrEsultei
and are nOs complaining Ia
fast tAV pe12l- d. aot Ua,Isr-
stand tie far reaching clase-
qleuce which will fCli - to- can
collation. II the existing c0ntrac.s
The Cumberland Company has
net undertaken 20 violate any IAv
OF the STATE IF Mississippi anc
dos not think that the antl-tru :
law l. IN anyway violated By
these contracts What Is dorF
uDiier these contracts IL uecc SO
~ 10 the development 80 tiie tste-
/ phone business extensively AID
efficiently. ana they ara u asie n
the interss, " the p-oIIe whc
want service
The telephone business na-
been declared by che courts ol
this state ana elsewhere ., ne IL
~ very nature necessarily mono
pole in OrieT that the people ear
De served efficiently ami como
uiealIy- But the purpose oil
these contracts Is not 10 create a
monopoly. but simply u enabI,
the Cumberland to maintain q
uniform standard Of equipment
and thereby give lite patron:
efficient service.
Certainly the people are no,
behind this suit. In fact. Cd tae
contrary, We understaa nj there Is
1 great demand on the part Of the
people for similar contracts.
Ii must 9e remembered that the
s-lepnons business has been de-
clared % the courts OF this State
and elsewhere to De. in its very
nature very mOnOpOhstie. Th-
sno-t-ust laws of e State were
primarily intended for the p-Otee-
ton Of the people against certain
classes Of abuse which might
arse. from that class Of eOmbIna
tons and monOpoIies which other
wise unreslrained might Opp-ess
the people. A telephone cOnipa-
ny can never Oppress the people
so long as IL i under the iuris-
diction and supervision Of the
Railroad Commission which rssti
iates and fixes its rates and
charges, and otherw.s. controls
Its management and operation.
IL = now settled by experience
that competition IN tn telephone
business Is bur4ensure 70 the
people. Il means. as a rale. two
telephones where one telephone
would serve the purpose.
Il has become the fashion Of
late however, IN facs. We nav
say II : more than a fashion.
there mas begun wild hunt. on
the part OF the attorneys for anti
trust suits with large contingent
fees. bu, there must DC sons rea-
ION IN the application If the lax.
and the indiscrininats bringing
OF experimental suits, involvin.
enormous Penalties for supposed
violations u the law should b.
discOunte1ced.
The question arises. how are
The people OF Oxford and LaFay-
cite County to be benefited bv
the cancellation OF the contract
between tie Cumberland ard the
Home Company.