The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-07-17

Western Electric Co. have not been pre-
sented to us or furnished in accordance
with our requests. As to our contracts and |
relations with the American Telephone |
and Telegraph Co. | made an extended |
statement at St Adams on July 3 in re- |
sponse to questions of Messrs Graham and |
Cook and as to the Western Electric Com
pany contract, | personally sent a copy of |
this contract to Mr.. Graham on July 8 |
with the following letter
July ., 1913
Hon Warner a. Graham,
Special Counsel Vermont Public Service
Comm. + or Bellows Falls, VT.
Dear s. IeJlHing to your favor Of
une 25th enclose herewith copy of our
contract with the Western Electric Co
You will note that this contract is dated
March 81, 1913. As matter of fact the
relations established by this contract have
been in effect between the companies since
| 1908, but the New England Co. did not
care to enter into a formal contract until
it had thoroughly demonstrated the desir-
aility OF the arrangement thus created
Yours very truly
NJ. b. JONES, Counsel.
..Messrs. Cook and Graham in their re-
port deal largely with the New England
Co and apparently wish to convey the
idea that the New England Co had been
| given an opportunity to be heard upon the
subject matter of their report In fact,
/ they asked the public service commission
to make certain orders on the basis Of the
special commissions hearing
The acts about this alleged hearing are
as follows: As the special commission had
investigated the affairs of the Passlmpsie
Telephone Co. at great length, propound-
ing a list of over 50 interrogations which
We're answered 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 obtained BY
it from other sources before it was made
the basis of a report. On July Mr.
Brown was verbally informed that Messts
Graham and Cook were to be in St Alhans
on July 3 and would hear officers of the
company if they desired to he present on
! he day named Messrs f. w story
president and G. a Brown. general man
ager, of the PasSumpsic Co. and myself
.apeared before NIessr~ Graham and
Cook in response to their suggestion |
poke generally concerning the affairs Of
the Passumpsic Co and then for several
hours they Piled me with questions not
loniy about that company but especially
about the New England Co and its at
Huns. To each aud all Of these questions
] gave full and frank answer 50 far a. my
preparation, permitted l. am not, how
ever, omnjscicnt even as to the telephone
business Of Vermont and iii some instances
ad to admit my inability to answer.
Sometimes the other gentlemen could sup
tIly my lack and when none of as could
nswer the special commissioners were told
hat We would furnish the information
| II, 4 /.
ut at this meeting who stated after its
LOSE 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 lct mc
have a transcript Of these notes and offered
II pay all expense To my surprise ! re-
ccivcd from Mr.. Cook on July II the fol
lowing letter:
July 10 1-13
To NJ r Jones. General Counsel
= T. + and I Co. Boston, Mass
Brother Jones: Brother Graham com
municated to me your desire for copy OF
the transcript from the reporter at 81
Aibans | do not see how we have any
authority to furnish the same \ com
mfinicaton to the Governor would give you
whatyou wished if he desires it furnished
Sincerely yours.
T. a. Cook
This IS the proceeding which Messrs
Graham and Cook dignity with the name
of hearing and with reference to which
Hley complain that we did not produce
books and accounting officers whose pres
ence had not been requested The New
England Telephone and Telegraph Co rec
ognizes that as public service corporation
It IS subject to regulation by the state To
such regulation it has never offered objec
tions
''The people of Vermont have estah
lished a public service commission clothed
with power to receive complaints and tc
1ectify by order any niquities or injustice
that may exist An orderly course Of pro
cedure for ascertaining the facts is provid
; ed by law and full and fair opportunity i;
given all parties in interest to present al
the facts and to be heard upon the con
2 clusions to be reduced from the facts Th,
New England Telephone and Telegraph
!, Co. has promptly complied with every sug
: geston recommendation. requirement
and order made by this tribunal since i
= was established by the State of Vermont
1t stands ready at all times to render t,
= this or to any other properly constituted
! governmental authority a strict accountin,
: as to its rates, its service, its relation
with the public, with its employees, ant
with other companies.
In behalf of the company I wish, how
: yer, to most vigorously protest against rec
y lamentations Of complete telephon
i ate schedule for the entire State mad
after a superficial investigation Of barely
L month, by inexperienced men and wit
: scarcely a pretense of any attempt to its
u tfy their recommendation by facts. TIL
n law of the land provides and | believe tn
q people of Vermont desire that the con-
:. ipany may receive fair return upon it
1 property. The company will prove as 500
- as it is given the opportunity to do so tina
. is not earning fair return on its II
. estment in the State Of Vermont
= Messrs. Cook and Graham apparentl
l. wished to avoid coming to this conclusion
taey asked for the earnings of the CON
: Iany but did not ask for the expenses 0
he amount of property involved