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

State Railroad Commissioner Frank
? II. Sommer, acting as counsel for tine
EVENING STAR, interrogated Mr.,
Bethel and brought to light the enor-
nous earnings of the telephone trust
and the strength of the monopoly, and
forced him to practically admit that
the trust had wrecked the Newark
Telephone Company and stified compe-
ttion by usurping independent com
panies. The telephone magnate's an
swers, evasve as some of them we're,
are evidence as plain as holy writ TO
snow the necessity of an Investigation
and the lawmakers, friendly as some OF
them are to the. corporation4s involved,
VIII not dare do otherwise than recon-
mend action.
Failure so to do would mean their
political destruction. The people of
Newark might be satisfied with a re-
duetion in their telephone rates, but
the crusade has become Statewide, and
relief is demanded in every section. For
five hours the Senators and Assembly,
men listened to the most earnest APP
peals conceivable for investigation. and
to arguments against the probe by
trust representatives.
Judge Wilbur A. Heisley, of the Cir
cut Court. In a mastery speech da-
nounced the telephone trust as an
octopus that was as unreasonable as
the highwaymen who held gun to head
and demanded the travellers valuables.
Senator William c. Gebhardt, of Hunt
erdon, declared as introducer of the
Senate resolution that the telephone
system represented by the New York
Company was the greatest robber of
the age, without exception"
The history of the wrecking of the
Newark Telephone Company and of the
demise of numerous Independent COM
panies throughout the State, of stock
transactions so intricate and amazing
as to make ones head swim. was
brought out. Sensation followed sensa-
ton. Nerves began to get frayed. and
there were sharp clashes between the
men appearing before the committee.
Chairman Ernest r. Ackerman, of
the Committee on Judiciary of the
Senate: Chairman Henry r. Tatem. of
the House Committee ON Municipal
Corporations; Senators James f. Field
er and Edmund w. Wakelee. and AS
semblymen j. William Huegel. Monroe
v. Poole and John J. Matthews all
asked numerous questions during the
mentary evidence against the phone
trust was piled up.
Among the Newarkers who appeared
before the committees in their joint
session in the Senate chamber were Ed
ward Zusi, Siegfried Leschziner, Charles
Winckelhoffer. l.. L. Staehle, Harry b.
Fowler, August Berkenheimer. B. 8.
Lauderbach and John +. Feind. Sew
eral of them are minority stockholders
in the Newark Telephone Company
which has been wrecked by the Bel
system after the usual manner of
crushing competition for the purpose
of permitting no comparison of service
and of keeping rates high.
The close of the hearing saw the
weakening of the trusts defense and
gave great promise of results If the
legislative probe should be ordered and
a committee empowered to subpoena
witnesses, send for papers and records
and require sworn testimony. The
flimsy statements of the representa-
tive OF the telephone trust were riddled
by Mr.. Sommer. Backed by John L.
Swayze and other eminent lawyers and
clerical assistants, Mr.. Bethel talked
himself hoarse in defense of his COM
pany. His answers to the final Ques-
tons which were reduced to writing
and placed before him Mr.. Sommer
agreed We're the best evidence possible
in establishing a prima facie case for
an investigation.
Mr.. Bethel admitted that both the
New York Telephone Company and the
Delaware and Atlantic, which operate
in North and South Jersey. respec-
lively. are parts Of the Bell system.
"The New York Company operates
in all of New York State" he explained
in reply to Sommer's questions. "and
in Northern New Jersey, under a IL
cense granted by the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company. the
parent corporation. The Delaware and
Atlantic operates under a contract and
license OF the parent company, too.
fCcAtfnued ON Fourth rage.J il