Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-11-12
DEMANDS FORESHAD0W IT
PROBE WOULD SHOW PEOPLE
ARE DEPRIVED or SERVICE
vs. Az sNli-tsSolQilA6 6f1la4stAa
RR E Low, UNIFORM Rates
Attention Is Invited TO Apparent Mon-
opoiy of All Wire Business
Absorption Is R&Iid.

WASHINGTON. ID. G.. Nov II. -
Although nvestgation of existing
telegraph and telephone rates is be-
lieVed To- be foresnadowed by de-
mands, which have been filed with
the Interstate commerce commission
in the form of petitions directing at
tenton OF the commission to the ap-
parent purpose OF American Tee-
phone & Telegraph Company to mon
opolize all facilities for wire COM
muncation The movement 10 COM
pei action on the part of the COM
mission, which was given jurisdiction
over the telog, aph and telephone Ines
under the last act mandatory TO the
interstate commerce law, is a concert
ed one
The petitions, identical In form,
profess TO set forth the desires o. in
dividuals in several western states.
Must Look Into Rates
While no action has been taken
thus far. the commission, 1t is said.
fully realizes that II is only matter
of short time before the question
OF rates be reviewed.
When the commission issued Its
order assuming jurisdiction over COM
panies engaged In interstate business
as common carriers OF messages by
wire, It was noted that the order did
not undertake to fix or adjust the
rates to be enacted. Referring to the
rate and certain other sections OF the
law, the order recitcd that the COM
mission. at that time, withheld ex-
preston of its view with respect to
the amenability to these carriers"
Vitaliy Concerns Welfare.
In the petitions II is urged that
quick, reliable and economical COM
municatlon Is so essential to the COM
and social interests of various
states, that telegraphic and telephone
charges are more vitality concerned
to the welfare and prosperity OF all
classes than Ia the service and rates
OF the express companies"
Rates Held Exorbitant.
Continuing. the petitioner said:
we believe your investigation OF
telegraph conditions would disclose
for long time have been. deliberate-
ly deprived of the advantages, bene-
fits and economies 81 low, uniform
rates by systomatized violations Of
the law designed for their protection
and betterment. The exorbtant rates
for unimproved service have been
either by actual combin-
alton or by 'gentlemen's' agreement;
and that strenuous efforts have been
employed to prevent tie Introduction
OF cheap tolls, whether by competl-
ton or executive measures, seems OBJ
yIous TO your petitioners"
"Attcmp.>" at Monopoly.
your intention is invited to the
apparent purpose Of the American
Telephone & Telegraph Company to
nonopol ~ all facilities for wire COM
10 the destruction OF COM
petition, and the possibility Of low
for the use of the wire ser
vice. The rapidlty with which the
formerly independent companies ara
being absorbed, and the efforts TO in
ducc those still left to enter into
for the maintenance for
sx0rbitant rates seems to admit Of no
other Interpretation than that of
for the restraint OF
trade directed against independent
md commercial companies.
IL telegraphlc service at the rate
If one cent per word. for any distance
s possibility of the modern tel
.graphic art. the public is entitled
20 that sort OF service"