Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-12

worded. 1t simply announced that the
x~-epmmittee to which 1t had been re-
M ferred was in a receptive mood and in
tk svited the presentation of proof against
telephone trust. The EVENING
STAR had gathered proof from various
@--ether cities, and forthwith turned a
mass of documentary evidence over to
the committee chairman.
Existence of n telephone monopoly
in New Jersey and its accompanying
rate extortion methods was established
to the satisfaction of Mr.. Tatem. Con-
ferring with others, 1t was suggested
that an inquiry be started at once.
Leaders in the Assembly conferred with
H. leaders in the Senate and 1t was final
gsgly agreed thai Il joint legislative COM
.t9mittee investigate, The hearing was
accordingly set for next Monday after
noon. The Senate chamber was Sc
lected as the place and 1t is expected
that enough proof will be submitted to
warrant a thorough investigation OF
the telephone trust similar to that
which is now going on in New York
s state.
Evidence showing the following rea-
sons for a legislative probe of the tel
ephone trust has been gathered by the
EVENING STAR and will be placed
at the disposal of the joint committee
& at the hearing:
First-Because the Buffalo rate is $Si.
s144 less than Newark.
Second-Because the Rochester rate
is SIS, $3.50 less than Newark
Third-Because the Syracuse rate is
$50, $16S less than Newark.
Fourth-Because the Reading rate Is
$50, $16S less than Newark.
Fifth-Because the Cincinnati rate is
800. $128 less thar Newark.
SiXth-Because the Pittsburg rate is
$125, $103 less than Newark.
Seventh-Because the st. Joseph rate
is $6U. $16S less than Newark.
Eighth-Because the Providence rate
is $50, S14S less than Newark
Ninth-Because the Minneapolis rate
is $50, s13S less than Newark.
Tenth-Because the Louisville rate
is 500, $13S less than Newark.
observation-disclosures the Chicago rate
lis two cents per message, as against
four cents in Newark.
Twelfth-Because the Milwaukee rate
is $96. $l32 less than Newark.
service In Milwaukee.
Excepting the Milwaukee history, the
EVENING STAR has from time to
lAHhS pubilSileu tuG uSldiiS VI the ttle-
phone service and full rate schedules
.s4in all of the above cities, comparing
each with the rates as they prevail in
Newark. The New York Telephone
Company innicts the same rate sched-
ule upon the business men of Newark
as 1t does In New York. The telephone
company itself admits that the New
.lork and Newark rates are the highest
Eli existing anywhere in the United States
and try. to justify it by the volume of
yS~eonlmercial business. New York is OBJ
u. Jccting To the imposition and so is
AeVsrk. Tho people in New York as
WET as IN New Jersey have appealed to
Il I IN Legislature for relief. The tele-
phone rates charged in foreign coun-
tries are SO rldiculously low, as COM
~ pared to the rates in the United States,
that it would be regarded a folly TO
make comparisons.
Milwaukee. with a population in eX-
cess Of that OF Newark. enjoys q tele-
phone rate considerably less than half
of that which is charged in this city.
~ The trust does business in milwaukee
under the name of the Wisconsin Tele-
"a phone Company. A fiat business rate
n for an unlimited service is given to the
merchants of Milwaukee at the rate of
$50 q year. There Is no such thing as
an unlimited service for the business
men OF Newark. If Newark merchants
contract to use ! 800 calls q year, it costs
500. IL $500 calls are used in the year
n. the cost is $165, n il 5, 700 calls, which
is 81 fraction less thar sixteen calls a
day are used, the Newarker is obliged
TO pay S22S, and four cents each for adj
ditional local messages.
Phones In Use.
There are in the neighborhood OF
$4,000 telephones in use in Milwaukee
and the service there is very satlsfac-
Is tory. The residence rates there are
-also much lower than in Newark. Here
the unlimited rate is $50 a year as
4, against $4S in Milwaukee, with a dis
count of so cents a month in Milwaukee
providing bills are paid before the 18th
after the beginning of each quarter.
The Wisconsin Telephone Company has
recently inaugurated a complaint bu-
reau, to which all trouble reported by
the subscribers is speedily reported.
Representatives from the Board of
Trade of Newark will attend the joint
hearing on Monday to protest against
the extortionate rates. Members of
the city Legislative committee and many
other Newarkers will be present. There
is also expected a delegation of busi-
4. ress men from Jersey City and other
X. places throughout the State.
According to a dispatch received to-
day from Harrisburg. Pa, the State
Railroad Commission. in a decision just
announced, in the complaint of the
Consolidated Telephone Companies of
Pennsylvania. against the exclusive
contract between the Bell Telephone
Company and the Slate Belt Telephone
Company. of Slatington, Pa. rules that
exclusive contracts are illegal. and
strongly recommends that there be an
Interchange of local business.
The decision. which is the first to be
~given by the commission in a telephone
case. will have far-reaching effect. The
Belt and the Consolidated former
ly had an agreement, but later a con-
tract was made etween the former