The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-24
Relations and
Interests Of the Bell
System and the Public

Tue suit u py the CHlteC
States questioning the purchase of GER
tain telephone properties in the
northwest, as we'll as the pending In
terstate. commerce commission tele.
phone investigation. have caused
many inquiries. Without taking w
anything going to the merits of these
proceedings. 1t has seemed to Vi
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 We're best
served when the public interests were
best served: and We believe that such
success as We have had has been be-
cause our business has been conduct
ed 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 RlscArical inter-com.
munication. The success and pros
perity Of u company depend upon a
solution Of these problems which shall
be sound from both the standpoint of
the company and the public which it
Following our. own best Judgment,
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice. We have endeavored to do
what would best serve the public in
%terest; wherever. possible our plans
have been disclosed to the public in
advance. and what has been done in
carrying them out has been along or
binary business lines. with the i'm
Piled, and generally. with the ex-
pressed approval, authorization or
consent of the municipal and state
directly interested. Our
has been not only to obey the
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
of common knowledge and
are. and for many years have been.
known to the government. We
Will willingly furnish the govern
ment any additional information
is in possession or under
our control. and. will cordially co..
operate with 1t I'm obtaining such
information as it may require.
Every possible assistance. will : be
given by US to the courts in their ef-
Tort to determine whether our policy
is or has been inimical to the public
interest, We desire that anything
~ronS be corrected;gw will volun-
tarily rectify any wrong that may be
out to u.s. and. SO far as it
may be determined that our policy or
any act under it Is against the public
interest. We will promptly conform to
such determination.
We believe that il each OF our OK.
changes were made an independent
n and If each connecting line were
put under a separate control, the eff
feet upon the telephone service of the
would be a condition so intol-
cradle that the public would refuse to
submit to it and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
control of these various unit,
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 Il the other. It means
such a connection as will permit one
person to have the actual possession
Of the particular line of communica.
ton from n end Of 1t to the othe,
and this can only be given efficiently
by exchange systems and connectins
lines under a common control:, and
that is what the Bell System is.
In this connection. and for genera
information, wiA restate the pol,
Icy which controlled the building vi
Of the Bell System, and our belief al
to whatta telcphone system should be
and what are its relations to the pub
lie. ~ Z.
We believe in and were the first I,
advocate state or government contro
and regulation Of public utilities; tina
this control or EJACULATION should be b.
permanent q%uasi-judicial bodies, act
ing after5 'thorga.b4 investigation an,
governed by the equities OF eacl