Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-28
ADVERTISEMENT
AdVertse
MUTUAL RELATIONS AND INTERESTS
Of The BELL SYSTEM AND THE PUBLIC

certain telephone properties in the
northwest. as we'll as the pending In
terstate Commerce Commission tele-
phone investigation, have caused
many inquiries. Without taking up
anything going to the merits of these
proceedings, it has seemed 10 us
proper TO state generally what has
been our policy 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 sucn
success as we have had has been be-
cause our business has been conducted
on these lines.
We believe that our company has an
in the proper administration of the
problems of electrical inter communi-
our company depend upon a solution
of these problems which shall be
sound from both the standpoint of the
company and the public which it
serves.
Following our own best judgment.
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice, We have endeavored to do what
would best serve the public interest;
IL b.xF
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, authori-
Zatien 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 all
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 II
in obtaining such further information
as it may require. Every possible as
sistance will be given by us to the
courts in their effort to determine
whether our policy is or has been int
mical to the public interest. We de-
sire that anything wrong be corrected,
we will voluntarily rectify any wrong
that may be pointed out to us; and, SO
far as it may be determined that our
policy or any act under 1T Is against
the public interest, We will promptly
conform TO such determination.
We believe that if each of our ex.
changes were made an independent
unit and if each connecting line were
put under a separate control, the eg-
feet upon the telephone service of the
country would be a condition so intol-
cradle that the public would refuse to
submit to 1t and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
common control of these various units
as would amalgamate them into
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
a connection as will permit one person
10 have the actual possession of the
particular line of communication from
one end of it to the other and this can
only be given efficiently by exchange
systems and connecting lines under
common control; and that is what the
Bell System is.
In this connection, and for general in
formation, we will restate the policy
which controlled the building up of the
Bell System. and our belief as to what
telephone system should be, and whai
are it's relations to the public.
We believe In and were the first to ad
yocate state or government control ane
regulation of public utilities; that this
control or regulation should be by per
rnanent quasi-judicial bodies, acting at
ter thorough investigation and governed
by the equities OF each case; and tina
this control or regulation. beyond requir
ing the greatest efficiency and economy
should not interfere with management o
operation. We believe that these bodies
If they are to be permanent, effective AM
Of public benefit, should be thorough!
representative; they should be of sucl
character and should so conduct their in
vestigations and deliberations as to com
mand such respect from both the publ
and the corporations that both will with
out question accept their conclusions.
We believe that the public would II
this way get all the advantages an
avoid all the manifest disadvantages o
public ownership.
We believe that centers of business ant
population exist for the convenience o
the public as whole, and that no suci
center can prosper without sufficient ant
efficient means of intercourse with othe
eenters and tributary territories; tina
such means can only be afforded by pros
porous utility and service companies an'
that fair rates are essential to prosper
Gus companies. We do not believe tina
any public either desires or can obtain
nor can any service or utility furnish
permanent and efficient service at les
than cost, including capital charges. w
believe that ultimately the public eithe
directly or indirectly pays the losses in
VOWED In the efforts to furnish such ser
vice at less than it's fair cost, eithe
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