The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-17
LANE TOOPPOSE
 PHONE INCREASE Commissioner Issues State
 ment on Subject WILL FIGHT ANY RAISE Says the City Will Be Represented By Attorney When the State Rail-
 road Commission Takes
 Up the Subject
WILL FIGHT ANY RAISE

Although it was generally under stood that the requested phone rate increase of the Southern Bell com pany would be decided at the regu- lar committee meeting next Tuesday Commissioner A. O. Lane anticipated that meeting yesterday and an. nounced that he would vote "No" wher the proposition came up. As he is g member of the committee of two, tc report to the commission of two his negative vote is sufficient to kill the proposed rate increase. 1t matters not which side President Exum, the other commissioner decides to vote.
 In a formal statement issued yes terday morning Commissioner Lane said he had not intended to make any statement in reference to the decision scheduled for next Tuesday, but re- considering the proposition he had de- cided to announce his position. When shown the announcement of his asso- ciate commissioner, President Exum, made only this comment: "The com mittee is to report next Tuesday, and then only will I announce my posi- tion"
 Commissioner Lane goes one step further in his statement. saying that the rates here by the Southern Bell company before the railroad commis- sioners. He said that the city would be represented by an attorney and by witnesses who would testify against the proposed rate increase.
 The statement of Commissioner Lane follows:
 "I had not intended making any statement as to how I intended to vote on the requested raise in rates of the Southern Bell Telephone com pany until at a meeting of the com mission, but in view of some things that have been said I want to make my views plain on the matter
 q will vote against the requested increase of the rates and I will re- sist. in behalf of the city, the effort before the state railroad commission to secure an increase.
 "The city did not, IS reported, en ter into any request to the effect that the state railroad commission take action on the matter. The com mission was informed yesterday aft ernoon that the railroad commission would be asked to take action or the subject and with this nforma- tion the commission did request that as the hearing was to be held that il be held in Birmingham I would like to have the hearing held in Birming' ham because the question affects Bir- mingham and l want 1t held here be- cause the people who will be affected will have chance to appear befor' the commission and bear testimony as to their ideas of the increase.
 I intend to resist every effort that will be made to secure the increase audsI will have the city represented at the hearing in an effort to fore stall any increase in rates. | suggest that any subscribers who oppose tho proposed increase in rates to write tc me at the city hall not later thar Wednesday of next week. When the commission takes action on the sub- ject next Tuesday l will vote agains' the proposed increases.
 "The commission has authority, al right, but it hasn't exclusive authority If the state railroad commission should grant the request of the telephone people the city could carry the matte to the courts, if it so desired"