New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-19
ADVERTISER ENT.

states questioning inc P"iN
tain telephone properties in the nor'h-
west. as we'll as the pending Interstate
Commerce Commission telephone IN
vestigation, have caused many IT.
ouiries. without taking up anything
going 10 the merits Of these proceea-
ings, IL has seemed TO us proper 10
state generally what has been our poi
icy and purpose in the conduct OF our
business.
We have found, or thought that we
had. that our interests were best serVed
when the public interests were best
served; and we believe that such sue
cess as we have had has been because
our business has been conducted on
these lines.
We believe that our company has IN
interest as vital as that OF the pubic
in the proper administration or the
problems OF cleo rical intercommuni-
cation. The success and prosperity OF
our company depend upon solution
Of these problems which shall be SOUND
from both the standpoint Of the COM
pany and the public which it serves.
Following our own best judgment,
supplemented by the best obtainabie
advice, we have endeavored to do what
would best serve the public interest;
wherever possible our plans have been
disclosed to the public in advance, and
what has been done in carrying them
out has been along ordinary business
lines, with the implied, and generally,
with the expressed approval, author
ization or consent Of the municipal and
state authorities directly interested.
our effort has been not only to obey
the law, but 10 avoid everything which
might even have the appearance Of IN
attempt at evasion.
Our business methods and policy, and
practically all OF the details as TO the
transaction of our business, are mat
tiers Of common knowledge and are,
and for many years have been, well
willingly furnish the government any
additional information which is in our
possession or under our control. and
will cordially cooperate with 1t in OBJ
may require. Every possible assist
ance will be given by us 10 the courts
in their effort to determine whether
our policy is or has been inimical 10
the public interest. We desire that
anything wrong be corrected; we Will
voluntarily rectify any wrong that
may be pointed out TO us; and, so far
as 1t may be determined that our poll
icy or any act under IL is against the
public interest. we VIII promptly con-
form 10 such determination.
We believe that II each OF our ex-
changes were made an Independent
unit and II each connecting line were
put under a separate control. the ef-
feet upon sihe telephone service OF the
country would be condition so intol-
cradle that the public would refuse 70
submit to IL and would Immediately
require such physical connection AMI
common control OF these various units
as would amalgamate them into a sim
gle system. Physical connection In tie
case Of telephone or telegraph does
not mean transfer Of messages from
one line TO the other. II means such
a connection as will permit one person
particular line OF communication from
one end Of IL 70 the other. and this can
only be given efficiently by exchange
systems and connecting lines under n
common control; and that is what the
Bell System is.
In this connection. and for general
information We will restate the policy
which controlled the building up OF the
Bell System and our belief as TO what
a telephone system should be. and what
are its relations 10 the public.
We believe in and were the first 20
advocate state or government control
and regulation OF public utilities: that
this control or regulation should be by
permanent quasi-judlcial bodies. acting
after thorough investigation and gov
erned by the equities OF each case: and
that this control or regulation. beyond
requiring the greatest efficiency and
economy, should not interfere with
management or operation. We believe
that these bodies. IL they are to be
permanent, effective and OF public
beneht. should be thoroughly repre-
sentative; the should be Of such
character and should so conduct their
Investigations and deliberations as 10
command such respect from both the
public and the corporations that both
will without question accept their con-
illusions.
We believe that the public would i'll
this way get all the advantages and
avoid all the manifest disadvantages
OF public ownership.
We believe that centers of business
and population exist for the convent
ence OF the public as a whole. and that
no such center can prosper without
sufficient and efficient means OF inter-
course with other centers and tribu-
tary territories; that such means can