The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-23
ASKS ID INCREASE.
 TELEPHONE RATES Col. Gentry Appears Before
 Commission PRESENTS REASONS
System Here One of the Best in the Country and Bell Company Has Lost $2O0, 1000 in the Past
 Ten Years


 company had not only failed to earn any return on the aggregate investment here, but had actually. lost s200,000 in that time trying to keep pace with the magical growth of Birmingham, was the princi- pal ground upon which Col. w. T. Gen try requested an increase of the Bell phone rates at the hands of the commis- sioners yesterday.
 The appearance of Col. Gentry before at 10 o'clock with J. T. Stokely, local attorney, D. F. Turnbul, manager of the Birmingham office and Evelyn Har- ris. special agent of the company, Col. Gentry appeared before President Exum and Commissioner A. o. Lane Colonel Gentry said that he had in mind the asking of an increase in Birmingham some time, but had put the matter off until con- ditions became more settled and the city was in a tranquil condition. He said that 1t was his opinion that a com pany losing heavily every year through investments in this city where 1t Is doing business as a public utility corporation rfas entitled to reasonable considera- ton at the hands of the citizens.
 Keeping Pace With City
 "our properties here have been ex- banded without any let-up in keeping pace with the wonderful growth of the city," said Col. Gentry. Tn order tc render efficient service we have been forced to better all conditions under which we operate.
 ''Our company has spent s1,6oO.000 ap- proximately in creating good efficient service here and this has been done at a loss of s200,0OO in the ten years we have been with you.
 Our company has in mind petition to the railroad commission. which body has delegated authority in such matters. However, we desire the friendly co-op- eration of this body. and ask you for mally to grant the increase we ask.'
 Rates Asked
 The increases proposed, according to an official statement, are as follows:
 "Only six classes of telephone service will be affected by the new rates of the Southern Bell Telephone company. The new rates are as FOLLOWS:
 BUSINESS SERVICE.
 Unlimited special line business serv- ice (an increase of s2 per month), s6 per month.
 Unlimited duplex line business service (an increase of s1 per month), 8 per month.
 Message rate special line business serv- ice (an increase of $1 per month), s4 per month.
 Two-way private branch exchange trunks (an increase of s per month), s9 per month.
 One-way private branch exchange trunks (an increase of s15o per month), s45O per month.
 RESIDENCE SERVICE.
 Unlimited duplex residence service Gan increase of 50 cents per month), $250 per month.
 Tt will be noted that only one class of residence telephone service Is affected by the new schedule of rates. The spe- cial line residence rate, which Is already very low. remains the same. The rate for four party line service also remains the same, so that the small user. to
 
 may have it without increased cost"
 May Examine All Records
 Colonel Gentry assured the commis- sioners after fling his request that the books and records of his company were open to any investigation which the of ficials cared to make in search for A yerifcation of his representation of losses. He. said there was no incli- na ton on the part of his company to be unreasonable about the proposition and he earnestly hoped the commission would view his request in the light of an urgent question and grant con-. sent for the railroad commission to authorize the increases sued for.
 Commissioner Lane, after the state- ment of Colonel Gentry, stated that the company should furnish the city commission with the complete data re- garding the operating expenses, costs, maintenance and all details which would throw any light upon the reasonable ness of the request.
 J. T. Stokely, counsel for the com pany, assured the commissioners that such information as they wished would be furnished as quickly as possible and that every energy would be invoked to render aid to the commission in going into the proposition thoroughly. The assurance was also given by Colonel Gentry that his company had no coalir tion with any other company here and that no understanding existed as to the rates charged or contemplated.
 Local Manager D. F. Turnbull, at the meeting yesterday, detailed 10 sue clint reasons why the increases should be granted. His reasons follow:
 l. Insure us fair return of money invested
 ?. That rates now charged are very low as compared to cities approxi- mately as large as Birmingham B. Proposed rates will not be in ex- cess and in many instances much less than are charged in cities as large as Birmingham.
 A. Owing to the unprecedented devel- opment and growth of Birmingham it has been necessary to extend plant to