Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-16

Bethell'S Statements at
Hearing Prove Need
for Inquiry.
FRANK H. SOMMER URGES
CAUSE OF THE PEOPLE
In Mastery Speech Shows How
Trust Practises Ext0rtiOn
in Jersey.

The EVENING STARS fight for the
people against the telephone monopoly
began in real earnest at Trenton yes
terday. The joint hearing which was
held in the Senate chamber was eager
ly attended, the principal speakers be-
ing State Railroad Commissioner
Frank II. Sommer, representing the
STAR, and Union N. Bethell vice.
president of the New Yorl8 Telephone
Company. The joint inquiry will be
continued Thursday, February "a, at
1880 p. m.s There is every indication
that thorough legislative investiga-
\ ton will result, and that the telephone
evils will be corrected by the law
makers at this session.
Former Sheriff Sommer first argued
well and long for a Legislative inves-
tigation and urged the committee to
so recommend in its findings. He de-
clared that the telephone trust Is un-
fair, oppressive, and dishonest in its
charges; that it is in the power of the
Legislature to regulate these charges
and thus put a stop to its rate dis
eliminating methods, and in closing he
insisted that It is the Legislatures 8
duty to remedy the evil. His presenta-
tion of the STARS figures showing
the low rates in other cities, as COM
pared with Newark and Jersey City,
backed up by his scores of citations
to show that the trust was violating
the law, was a mastery effort and was
attentively listened to by everybody.
Following. Mr.. Sonner came Mr..
Bethel, who eulogized his corporate
interests and declared -that-the- tele-
phone service given to Newark and
North Jersey was the best in the
world.
Mr.. Bethel is president of the Della
ware and Atlantic Telephone Company.
the subsidiary of the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company that
operates in South Jersey. and served
as president of the New York & New
Jersey Telephone Company. which re-
Gently lost its identity in the New York
Telephone Company. He appeared at
the hearing supported by corps of
legal and clerical assistants and many
papers and books.
statements COntradictOry.
His statements We're contradictory in
resumed a week from tomorrow after
noon in the Senate chamber, he will
find that he has not placed anything
in evidence that in any particular re-
flutes or successfully denies the charges
of The Star that the company is pos
sessed of too much corporate power, and
that it abuses that power by charging
excessive rates for service that is far
from what it should be.
At one point in his statement Mr..
Bethel said that the rates for tele-
phone service were steadily decreasing.
: At another point he made an irrecon-
cilable admission when he said that
there were some contracts at the "old
price" of $3.50 per year for unlimited
service in force in Newark, and told of
the making of contract within a few
days for limited service at $22S per
year. The revision of telephone tariffs
according to Mr.. Bethelfs figures, ap-
pears to have been upward.
Yesterdays sitting of the House mu-
nicipal corporations committee and the
Senate judiciary committee marked
the formal entry upon the investigation
of telephone conditions in this State,
which has been asked for by the
EVENING STAR. Mr.. Sommer, dur
ing his argument, held his hearers
throughout, and time after time Mr..
Bethel and his associates showed their
annoyance at the evident feeling in
favor of the peoples case Mr.. BethelI's
irritability when he started to reply
was manifest.
When the rate card of the New York
Telephone Company was presented in
the mass OF documentary evidence
filed by Mr.. Sommer, Mr.. Bethel
rushed forward and subjected it to a
close scrutiny. He admitted that it
was the genuine article.
When the committee members had
gathered in the Senate Chamber, with
Chairman Ernest r.. Ackerman, of the
Senate Judiciary Committee. presiding
and Chairman Henry r. Tatem, of the
House municipal corporations commit
tee acting as vce-chairman, Senator
Edmund w. Wakelee. of Bergen, who
\ had a copy of The Star in his posses
SIGN just before entering. demanded to
know if anybody was prepared to pro-
test against his sitting upon the COM
mittee. He said:
"A certain newspaper in Newark,
which is greatly interested in this case,
has seen fit TO make attacks upon me
recently. i am not looking for any
sympathy, but / do want to establish
my status before the opening of this
hearing and settle the question of the
Justice and propriety of my sitting
asN member of this committee If
anyone in this chamber feels disposed
to question that right or the propriety
of my action. | challenge them to ,ex-
rraes fllair obioefions now -
II do not challenge the gentleman IS
right to Sit said Mr.. Sommer.
.Propriety is better than right said
Mr.. Wakelee.
Mr.. Sommer said he felt that Senator
walelee would give him and his case