The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-18


tlgation. have caused many inquiries.
Without taking up anything going to
the merits OF these proceedings. 1t
has seemed to us proper TO state gem
orally what has been our policy and
purpose In the conduct Of our bust
ness.
We have found or thought that We
when the public interests were best
| served; and we believe that such sue
cess we have had has been because
our business has been conducted on
these lines.
We believe that our company has an
interest as vital as that of the public
in the proper administration OF the
problems of electrical inter-communi-
cation. The success and prosperity OF
our company depend upon n solution
of these problems which shall be sound
from both the standpoint of the com
pany and the public which 1t serves
Following our own best judgment.
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice. we have cndcavored 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. authorl-
zation or consent Of the municipal and
State authorities directly interested.
Our effort has been not only to obey
the law, but to avoid everything which
might even have the appearance OF an
attempt at evasion.
! Our business methods and policy,
and practically all Of the details as to
! the transaction Of our business, are
matters OF common knowledge and
are and for many years have been.
we'll known to the government. We
will willingly furnish the government
| any additional information which is in
our possession or under our control
and will cordially cooperate with it in
| obtaining such further information as
it may require. Every possible assist
ance will be given by us to the courts
in their effort to determine whether
our policy is or has been inimcal to
the public interest. We desire that
anything wrong be corrected; we will
voluntarily rectfy any wrong that
may be pointed out to US; and. so far
as II may be determined that our pol
| icy or any act under it is against the
public interest, we will promptly con-
| form to such determination.
We believe that II each of our ex-
changes were made an independent
unit and II each connecting line were
put under n separate control. the cf-
feet upon the telephone service OF the
country would be a condition so intol-
cradle that the public would refuse to
submit to it and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
common control OF these various units
| as would amalgamate them into a
/ single system. Physical connection in
the case OF telephone or telegraph does
not mean transfer of messages from
one line to the other. 1t means such
n connection as will permit one person
to have the actual possession of the
particular line of communication from
| one end OF 1t to 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 It's relations to the public.
! we believe in and were the first to
and regulation of public utilities; that
this control or regulation should be by
permanent asi-judicial bodies, act
ing after thorough investigation and
governed by the equities OF each case;
and that this control or regulation. be-
yond 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 pub
| lie benefit, should be thoroughly rep
resentative; they should be of such
character and should so conduct their
Investigations and deliberations as to
command such respect from both the
public and the corporations that both
will without question accept their con-
clusions
We believe that the public would
in this way get all the advantages
and avoid all the manifest disadvan-
tagcs OF public ownership.
We believe that centres OF business
and population exist for the convent
ence OF tho public as a whole. and that
no such centre can prospect without
sufficient and efficient means of inter
course with other centres and tribu
tary territories: that such means can
only be afforded by prosperous utility
and service companies. and that fair
rates are essential to prosperous com
panies We do not believe that any
public either desires or can obtain. nor
can any service or utility furnish, per-
manent and efficient service at less
than cost including capital charges.
Wa believe that ultimately the public