News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-07-23

hsHeu Wy THIS contract have been In
eject between the companies since
1905 out the New England company
did not care to enter into formal con-
tract ui'i it had thoroughly demon
strated the desirability- of the ar
rangemHnt thus created.
Yours very truly,
M. b. Jones, Counsel.
"Mes5rs, Cook and Graham in their
report deal largely with the New Eng
land company and apparently wish to
convey The idea that the New England
company had been given an opportun-
lty TO De heard upon the subject mat
ter OF their report. In fact they asked
the pubic service commission to make
certain orders on the basis of the spe-
Gal commissions hearing. The
facts about this alleged hearing are
as follows:
AS the special commission had
investigated the affairs of the Pas
sumps1c Telephone company at great
length, Wopounding a list of over
eighty ntewogations which were an
sWered by General Manager Brown of
that company in writing, Mr.. Brown
suggested that the officers should have
opportunity to confer with the special
commission as to information OBJ
tanned by it from other sources before
1t was made the basis of a report.
"On July | Mr.. Brown was verbally
Informed that Messrs. Graham and
Cook Were to be in st. Adams on July
and would hear officers of the COM
pany II they desired to be present on
the day named Messrs. F. w.
Story, president, and c.. A. Brown,
general manager, of the Passumpsic
company and myself appeared before
Messrs Graham and Cook. 1t re-
spouse to their suggestion spoke gen.
orally concerning the affairs of the
Passumpsic company and then for
several hours they piled me with
questions not only about that company
tut especially about the New England
company and it's affairs. To each and
all of these questions | gave a full and
frank answer so far as my knowledge,
without any opportunity for prepara-
ton, permitted. | am not, however.
omn1scent even as to the telephone
business of Vermont and in some in
stances had to admit my inability to
answer. Sometimes the other gen.
tlemen could supply my lack and when
none of us could answer the special
commissioners were told that we
would furnish the information later if
desired.
"A stenographer was present at this
meeting, who stated after its close
that her notes were not verbatim but
she thought they covered the sense of
the statements made. Because of this
| subsequently asked Mr.. Graham to
let me have transcript of those notes
and offered to pay all expenses. To
my surprise | received from Mr..
Cook, on &uly IL, the following let
ter:
July 10, 1913.
IN. B Jones, General Counsel, N.
E. 7, & T. Co., Boston, Mass.
Brother Jones:
"'Bwher Graham communicated to
me your desire for a copy of the
from the reporter at St.
Adams
81 do not see how we have any au-
thority to furnish the same.
"A communication to the governor
would give you what you wish, if he
desires it furnished.
Sincerely yours,
"'E. A. Cook
"This is the proceeding which |
Messrs. Graham and Cook dignity |
with the name of hearing and with
reference to which they complain that
we did not produce books and ac-
officers whose presence had |
lot been requested.
1.-The New England Telephone and |
Telegraph company recognizes that
Is a public service corporation it is i,
subject to regulation by the state. To /
such regulation it has never offered
objection.
THE people of Vermont have estab-
ished a public service commission
lothed with power to receive COM
olaints and to rectify by order any in
quities or injustice that may exist.
AN orderly course of procedure for
scertaining the facts is provided by
aw and full and fair opportunity is
iven all parties in interest to present
II the facts and to be heard upon the
onclusions to be deduced from the
acts.
1.-THE New England Telephone and
telegraph company has promptly COM
lied with every suggestion, recon-
lendation, requirement and order
lade by this tribunal since it was
established by the state of Vermont.
stands ready at all times to render
, this or to any other properly con-
Eituted governmental authority a
.rict accounting as to its rates, its
sryice. its relations with the pub
;4b ire an7n1nvoc and With o4bon