Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-26
INFLUENCE NOW
RESORT OF TRUST
TO BALk INQUIRY
Telephone Monopoly Fears Eff
feet of Jersey Hearing in
Other States.
QUESTION SQUARELY UP TO
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Will the Members on Whom
Obligation Rests Violate
Duty to People

Powerful influence. is being used by
the billion-dollar telephone trust to
block the EVENING STARS telephone
investigation that has stirred up the
whole State of New Jersey. The mo-
nopoly figures that to lose the Jersey
hgnt would establish precedent and
oe an incentive for other States to act.
Telephone officials and lawyers are
therefore exerting their every effort and
srafing no money to defeat the peoples
iieht. The preliminary battle has been
won by the EVENING STAR. A prima
faeie case has been established. Inad-
Vertently, or otherwise, Union N.
Bethell, who yesterday was elevated
from the yice-presidency to the presl-
dency of the gigantic trust, has pleaded
guilty, and there is nothing left for the
Joint legislative committee to do on
Monday, except to recommend that a
thorough investigation be made with
a view of epacting laws to correct the
telephone evils and especially to lower
the rates
That the rates are excessive nobody
Will gainsay. That the New York Tele-
phone Company and all the other trust
companies are discriminating in the
matter of rates was established beyond
a peradventure of doubt, and that
monopoly exists was clearly proved. A
harmless. reasonable telephone monop-
oily is welcomed by the people, but not
a greedy, over bearing rate-discrimin-
atlng one.
Legislators at Trenton are awaiting
the verdict OF the investigating COM
mittee before they introduce bills rela-
tive thereto. The Legislature has fixed
maximum rate-charge for the rail
roads, and in the light of recent expo
sures the necessity for fixing a tele-
phone maximum rate has clearly been
shown. IT now remains to be seen
whether the legislators are controlled
by the telephone corporation.
VIII They Acts
1t is up to you, Ernest r. Alderman,
Senator from Union county, chairman
Of the joint committee, to protect the
interests Of the people and do your
sworn duty regardless of the fact that
the Republican organization saw fit
Lo select you as majority leader in the
Senate. Which way will you vote?
1t is up to you, Edward w. Wakelee, |
Senator from Bergen county, to throw
aside your telephone affiliations and |
your corporation yoke and vote as the !
rt-l1 ali
It goes against the grain. Will you do
It?
1t is up to you, James &. Fielder,
Senator from Hudson county, to re-
that as leader of the minority |
n the upper House that the telephone |
abuses flagrantly exist in Jersey City |
md Bayonne, and that your people look |
% you for legislative relief. Are your
going to give 1t?
1t is up to you. Henry r. Tatem, As
from Camden, chairman of |
he House committee on municipal cor
oorations. to protect the peoples in |
crest in South Jersey. Remember |
hat you yourself are a victim of the
telephone trust Surely you will vote
n the affirmative.
Tt is up to you, j. William Huegel, |
from Essex county, to
zee to it that the merchants of Newark
md the Oranges get the relief they are
seeking. Victory for the people means
ictory for you, too. Your friends here
lave already checked your vote in the
Are you going to disap-
,oint them?
1t is up to you. John j. Matthews,
from Hunterdon, to con-
inue as you have always done. to
champion the peoples cause Your
enator introduced the Senate resolu-
ion calling for the inquiry. Will you
Iphold him?
Tt is up to you, Monroe V. Poole, as
from Monmouth county, to
emember that Judge Wilbur A. Heis-
ey, who so viciously attacked the tele-
'hone trust, is one of yoursconstituents
nd pleaded for your vote. Will you
i've it to him?
1t is up to you, Oscar r. Smith, as
from Morris county, to vote
or the investigation because, if for no
ersonal reason of your own, it is the
opular wish of the people viii you
o 1t?
The joint committee consists of seven
1embers five Of whom are Republicans
nd two are Democrats.
what Trust Earns. /,
The STAR has obtained the financial !
tatement of the Cumberland Telephone
nd Telegraph Company, a subsidiary
{ the American Telephone and Tele- !
raph Company. showing that in the
erritory which has headquarters at
Nashville. Tenn, the net earnings OF I
ne company last year were $2,156, ,s47 81.
nd that more than $1,000,000 was added I
J the surplus and reserve of the COM /
any. The statement Is a boastflh one, !
OF being offered by representative +
leading poverty and virtue before ,
,gislative committee. 1t says at one
oint:
"It was thoroughly demonstrated all
trough the panic of 1907 that telephone {
roperties (Bell Hcensed) when properly ,
suffer less during times of de-
fCoutiuued an gproud Baee