The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-05-30
telephone fight
Is SIGNIFICANT
RAILROAD COMMISSION WILL
SETTLE QUESTION OF SERVICE
BY TWO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ANT TO ALL CoMPANlEs-CoN-
Germ WOULD CLOSE EXCHANGE,

The state board of railroad commits
sioners will lave an interesting and
important issue to decide between two
telephone companies soon. The Farm
ers' Telephone Co. of Berthold has fl,
ed complaint with the commission to
the effect that the Northern Telephone
co. refuses to establish physical con-
nection with the Farmers line SO that
the patrons of the latter may enjoy
the advantages of the Northern's long
distance service.
An effort has been made by the two
companies to adjust their differences
but as yet this has not been accom-
plished and it is very likely the COM
mission will have to hold a hearing in
the matter.
Not Fair Play.
This question involves a very i'm
portant issue which is of interest 10
all the telephone lines in the state as
there has heretofore. been very strenu-
Gus opposition to the. proposition of
physical connection between the vari-
ous companies, at least on thu part of
the long distance lines. which hold that
they should not be compelled to place
their highly equipped organizations at
the service of what they claim are the
less efficient rivals or competitors as
the case may be.
wisconsin takes Step.
The railroad commission of Wiscon-
sin has just decided what is believed
to be the first issue of this kind by or
der1ng a physical connection and in
terchange of business between two La
crosse companies, the cost Of the con-
nectlon being divided between the
and patrons of one line be-
ing to pay a reasonable rate
Tor the use OF the others long distance
service. This decision is based upon
the theory that all public utilities COM
ranies ARE bound, for the good of the
public. to grant the greatest use of
their properties. whether thew wish to
afford that extension of the utility or
not n the fact hat adequate COM
pensatlon must be paid for this en-
forced service is thought by the Wis
consin commission to obviate any con-
st1tut1onal objections that may arise.
rms very interesting case will in all
PROBABILITY get into the courts and one
OF the companies involved promises to
take 1t to the United States court if
defeated in the lower courts.
Want to Close EXCHANGE.
Appetizer interesting telephone case
before the commission, and which will
be the subject of a hearing at Walum,
In Gr1ggs county, June II, is the appli-
cation of a local company with head
quarters at Darcy for permission to
close its exchange at Walum on the
ground, that this exchange Is being
maintained at a loss. This proposition
IS being vigorously opposed by the
Walum subscribers, even though the
company promises to give them what
appears at first glance equally as good
service through the Hannaford ex-
change. This is the first case where
permission has been asked of the COM
mission to close an exchange and the
outcome, therefore, has much of inter-
est in it.
Commission Invited.
The North Dakota commission has
been invited to attend a convention of
boards of . railroad commissioners at
Des Moines. Ia, June 6, for the pur-
pose of discussing the matter of phys
ical valuation of railway properties In.
the various states, the interstate COM
merce commission having asked the
cooperation of the various commits
sions in securing valuations in their
respective states. 1t is probable n
or all the commissioners from this
state will attend, the subject under
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