Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-25

cannot see why Orange should have
unlimited service for the same price
we pay for 800 calls. / cannot see why
Newark cannot have the service in area
that Boston has.
"At a hearing of this kind the cor
poration is represented by counsel, but
the people have to look to their repre-
sentatives to represent them, and it is
not, In my opinion, the necessary work
of the people, but of their representa-
tives, to establish facts when charges
are made against one of our large corI
porations.
Il believe an investigation would find
in the telephone company the business
brains to meet the fair desires of their
subscribers. who want fully as much
as other cities OF like conditions re-
ceive. They would also find the brains
h a would give us all this. and by
business methods that would not re-
due their dividends"
Late in the sitting. when Mr.. Som
mer was questioning Mr.. Bethel, the
STARS counsel asked: "Why is East
Orange excluded from the Newark rate
zone?'
East Orange isn't in Newark yet. is
it?" was the sharp answer.
mo. Neither IS I~rvington or East
Newark. or other places that are now
included in Newark's ate zone, places
W. never telephone to-"
Mr.. Bethel said that If the Oranges
We're included in Newark the rates
would probably have to be raised
Asked how it was Hoboken and Bay
onne were included in Jersey City, he
Snil there rx,ara mt or ,,,ayx, ',ho,.1-
in that territory.
Asked to state exactly what the
earnings of the New York Telephone
Company We're. he said that it paid
per cent. 2 year dividends. He had 6
little before admitted that the New
York Company pays AZ per cent Of it.
gross receipts to the American Tele.
phone and Telegraph Company. the
holder of all of its stock. so that the
parent corporation, the trust. that is
receives annually a sum thai must az,
gregate 20 per cent, Of the capitalize.
ton.
Reasonable rates?
Mr.. Sommer said that he was willing
to eliminate everything else that ha
been said in behalf of an investigation
except the comparison of rates and Mr.
Bethel1's statements, and rest his cas-,
on them and the decision of the United
States Supreme Court in the Gas Com
pany's case. He urged that prims
facie case had been made and that in
vestigation should not be denied.
What could the attorney-genera
learn in a formal investigation that w,
can't get at?" asked Senator Wakelee.
THE encouragement or a committe.
/ clothed with proper authority" said MI
Sommer, could take the books of TIL,
company. their rate books, the capital
cation, the. financial statements. I
would be possible to get the minute
books and show whether statement
made here as to relations between tn
New York Company and the Newarl
Telephone Company are sound. o
whether there is some bookkeeping tina
should be taken into consideration. w
would get the facts. So far. we hav
only been on the surface"
Does he question any statements
rave nader" demanded Mr.. Bethel O
the committee; "'if he doesn't. there i
no need of going further. An investi
CATION disturbs business and harasse
u.s."
do l question any statements mad
by the representative of the telephon
company?' said Mr.. Sommer. at
not my function to say whether / d
or not. but l will say that l do ques
ton his statements. Specifically: Yoi
Mr.. Bethel. tell this committee yer
calmly that the relations between til
New York Telephone Company and til
American Telephone and Telegram