Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-02
From a STAFF Correspondent. j

B.
CAMDEN, Feb. 2.-The EVENING
STAR today put the legislative coma
mittee that is considering the telephone
lrhpositions in possession Of batch
OF documentaryieyiden - prove that
the telephone monopoly is diserinii-
mating against Newark and Jersey City
business men by the extortion Of e4-
cessive and unfair telephone rates.
The evidence, which was handed TO
Assembyman Henry r. Tatern, chair
man of the Assembly committee on
municipal corporations, amazed the.
South Jersey legislator, who is a pro-
tege of David Baird, the recognized
Republican leader in this section of the
State. Mr. Tatem said that he could
not commit himself as to the action CT
the committee. which consists of four
members besides himself, but he de-
clared:
"It would seem from the sta
tistics the EVENING STAR has pre-
sented that the first-class cities In
northern New Jersey are being dis
eliminated against and being imposed
upon by the New York Telephone CONF
pany.
My committee will, on next Monday
afternoon, at the State House In Tren-
ton, inquire fully into the subject
continued Mr. Tatem, land l will SEQ
to It that the STARS figures are given
the careful consideration they deserve.
/ I I I "
onmend, If facts show the company IL
unfair with it's dealings in Newark and
Jersey City, a thorough probe"
"Will your committee recommend TO
the House the appointment of special
| committee TO investigate the telephone
company" was asked.
THAT may be the course our commits
tee will decide upon replied Mr.. Ta-
tern THE revelations themselves will
have TO decide the course. but there is
one thing yolt may rest assured of. the
! committee win take speedy and proper
action in the premises, l do not care TO
! so further into the subject at this time.
/ Gtner members of the COMMITTEES be-
| sides myself are inquirng into the tele-
phone situation and l believe. the pub
! lies interests will be quickly and prop-
/ erly looked after"
/ While Mr. Tatein would not commit
/ himself he intimated that the subject
! had been discussed at much length by
| the powers at Trenton, and that the
ultimate outcome would be a legisla-
! tive inouisition, such as the EVENING
! S,TAI, has demanded on behalf OF the
public.
/ Illustrations of the necessity for legis
lative action relative to the telephone
monopoIy and lis eXtortion of exorbi-
/ tant rates from the business men or
| Newark are being constantly made
public by the EVENING STAR. Tele-
| phone rates of scores of other cities
| have been published for comparative
/ purposes. but in no instance is the dis
/ criruination by the trust so fiagrantly
Shown as in the case of Chicago. The
/ following article shows, not only the
! existence of the telephone monopoly IN
| Chicago, but the further astonishing
| fact that the rate for what the bust
ness man so desires, "an unlimited
I service" can truthfully be stated to
be only one-half that which prevails
| in Newark.
Documentary evidence OF these evils
are in the possession of the EVENING
STAR. and they are at the disposal OF
the committee on municipal corpora
tions of the Assembly TO which the
resolution OF Colone' Walter y Edge.
/ leader of the majority, was referred az
| yesterdays session The resolution
! provides that the committee shall take
| official notice OF the EVENING STAR
charges and give proper consideration
TO the subject. recommending suitable
action thereon. Colonel Edge says that