Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-07
STAR PIL|NG UP
PROOF AGAINST
n. !. PHONE CO.
Shows Charges in Newark Are
Twice as High as Pre-
vail in Chicago.
FEW IN THIS CITY
ALLOWED FLAT SERVICE
Mysterious Agencies Practically
Annihilate Newark Telephone
Co., the New York's Rival.

The Newark STARS morning and
evening editions are engaged In the ac-
cumulation Of proof In support of their
charges that the New York Telephone
Company is guilty of the two counts as
set forth in these newspapers indlct-
ment. to wit:
First-Tbat the New York Telephone
Company shows discrimination I'm Its
rates.
Secondhand the company's raten In
New Jersey are unre, sonnble, unjust
and excessive.
This proof will be submitted to tia
Public Utilities Commission at its ses-
sion In Jersey City tomorrow or at such
subsequent date as the hearing may DO
set for. y Il
rhe extortionate and Discriminate u
telephone charges were fully exnosed&
by the STAR during the last session
Of the Legislature, and the new State
Commission, with its statutory power.
will investigate the subject with a view
of bringing about reasonable rata
schedule. The rates exacted here are
in excess of those IN any other section
of the United States The Newark
rate is nearly twice that charged in
Chicago. where the population is fully
six times as great. The same can be
said of Buffalo, Providence, Rochester.
Syracuse, Pittsburg, Detroit, Milwau-
kee and many other cities
The unreasonable, unjust and unfair
rates for service charged in Newark
aad other New Jersey territory and the
discrimination that was shown when
the Legislature considered the
charges, may under the new law
be analysed and recommendation
made for reduction in rates and a
square deal for every subscriber. I'm
fortunately. the Legislature majority
party refused to give the commission
authority to make rates or regulate
them.
The hearing will be conducted under
the law of New Jersey. enacted in 1910.
giving the State Commission jurisdic-
tion over all public utilities fsection 81
defined TO include telephone companies.
Section 8 OF the same statute sets
forth:
s. Said commission shall have gem
eral supervision over all public utili-
ties as herein defined, and shall have
power, after hearing upon notice. by
order IN writing:
"(a) To require every public utility
as herein defined to comply with the
laws of this State relating thereto, and
to perform the public duties imposea
upon it thereby.
'ibj To require every public utility
as herein defined 10 furnish safe and
adequate service.
"(d) To direct any public utility as
herein defined. found to be granting
rebates. or other unjust. unfair and
unreasonable Determinations to ilnme-
diately cease therefrom.
Said commission shall also have
power to investigate to hear
and examine complaints concerning
rates charged by any such public util-
ity, and to make such recommended
tion as it may see fit concerning
rates"
President Union N Bethel of the
New York Telephone Company testi-
fed before a committee of the House
of Assembly and the Senate OF this
State during the late session of the
Legislature that every share Of stock
of the New York Telephone Company
was owned by the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company
The testimony adduced at the Senate
and Assembly hearings viii be avail
able for the commission. and the
STARS proof will be positive
The STAR maintains that the New
York Telephone Company Is guilty OF
discrimination in that very few per-
sons are allowed TO have unlimited
telephone service in Newark. while the
great majority of business men are
forced to pay a message rate no mat
ter what amount of business they
transact. The rates for other cities in
dicate that the fat, or unlimited-serv-
ice rate is profitable. and. therefore.
reasonable, and that the message rate
charged in Newark is unreasonable and
extoritionate.
Mr. Bethel is also president Of the
Delaware and Atlantic Telephone Com
pany. another part of what is known
as the Bell System. He admitted be-
fore the legislative committee that the
rates in North Jersey are higher
than in South Jersey, although tha
companies are both under one manage
ment and no greater expense in opera
tion is reported for South Jerseys sys
tenn.
The STARS information that the
Newark Telephone Company, q local
corporation representing an actual tn-
vestment of about $500. 900. has been
practically annihilated by mysterious
agencies that are no other than
(Contfnued ON Fourth PaEe.)