Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-02

scribers This is provided for under the
traffic contract existing.
His company receives no compensation
! for transmitting a call through his ex-
/ change from one company's lines to an
other
Chief Counsel NJ. y. Jones drew from
witness that he received commissions on
toll calls through his office.
| He had purchased material for erecting
! new lines but to date had failed to do 80
on account of the proposed reduction of
| rates.
RULING BY THE COMMISSION.
| Chairman Bacon of the commission
| made an important announcement to the
| effect that the representatives of indie
| pendent companies not desiring a hearing
and who will agree with any rate schedule
! adopted by the commission, will be al
lowed to go home to be subpoenaed later
as witnesses by either side if their pres
ence Is desired.
! r. e. Brown. who operates small
! company with 1913 subscribers. provided a
touch of humor when he described his
| service methods.
Questioned as to the continuity of
| his service, Mr.. Brown replied that
| an ordinarily continuous service was
maintained from 700 a. m. until 500
y. m. during the night, on Sundays
and holidays, when he heard the
| bell"
| The Champlain Valley company, rep
resented by Manager Prcble, was next
heard. He told of the depreciation of
his plant and equipment and added that
II his company was forced to reduce
its rates. the company would have to
go out of business.
One hundred and sixty subscribers
were served by his company; three or
four on two-party lines. many on
three to six party lines, and the re-
mander on moro than sX-party lines.
! Mr.. Preble told of $500 damage in
CURED by a storm. He had no re-
serve fund and had to collect unpaid
bills to meet the emergency. Some
poles were reset after the storm by
subscribers themselves.
Asked if ne had any copper wire in his
equipment Preblc replied mo, but we
have got some rusty wire
FOOTE OF CORNWALL CALLED.
1 4. W. Foote of the Cornwall Telephone
company said his company was started
on small scale like the majority of In
dependent companies. The company had
81 subscribers. The rate was sl5 rental.
So month with discount for prompt pay
mcnt. He described his service as con-
| tnuous all day with night alarm and
halliday service Sunday The company
pays six pei cent. dividends yearly. All
surplus went into repairs and extensions.
/ q ,1,.n1 ,,f,.
new stock. Some extensions were paid
| for out of earnings
Mr.. Foote described purchases and dis
counts on the same from the Western
Electric company and from the New Eng
land company. The witness told of
benefits accruing from dealing with the
Western Electric company through the
New England company. He was not sure
Of a contract with the New England
Verbal agreements between the Corn
wall company and companies in nearby
towns are in existence. said Mr.. Foote
Not directly connected with the New
England, the Cornwall company former
! ~ compensated on the commission basis
| both for incoming and outgoing calls
! He has signed new contract and now
collects five cents additional on toll calls
| through the New England companys
| line but never charged his subscribers
more than existing rate for the distance
Mr.. Foote also appeared in behalf Of
the Rutland County Telephone and Tele-
graph company. The company controlled
by Mr.. Foote charges a rental rate of SIS
with regular toll rate with the New Eng
land. The company pays six per cent
and has no reserves for repairs Mr.
Foote will furnish the commission later
with contracts and data on the COM
pany's division of lines and purchasing
contracts.
FAVOR GRADUATED CHARGES.
Chairman Bacon asked if Mr. Foote wa s
not in favor of graduating his charges
pro rata on party lines rather than fix
a fiat rate.
| He replied that he was in favor He
had remained at s12 since the birth of
the company in 1905"
| The capital stock was increased many
| times for repairs. There are 2S stock
| holders in the company.
Mr. Foote built large portion of the
plant himself with his own help. A few
subscribers provided poles.
| Family wires are numerous in the
Cornwall company" was the concluding
remark Of Mr. FOote, who enlvcned the
day and technical proceedings with
flashes of typical Vermont humor.
| At AS adjournment was taken until
nine O'Clock tomorrow morning.
|
| TuNV ~