Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-07-25


strated the desirability of the ar
rangement thus created.
Yours very truly,
m. b. Jones, Counsel.
"Messrs. Cook and Graham in their
report deal largely with the New Eng
land company and apparently wish TO
convey the idea that the New England
company had been given an opportun-
fly to. be heard upon the subject mat
ter of their report. In fact they asked
the public service commission to make
certain orders on the basis of the spe-
cial commissions hearing. The
facts about this alleged hearing are
as follows:
las the special commission had
investigated the affairs OF the Pas
sumpsic Telephone company at great
length. propounding a list of over
eighty interrogations which were an
swered by General Manager Brown OF
that company in writing, Mr.. Brown
suggested that the officers should have
opportunity to confer with the special
commission as to information OBJ
tanned by 1t from other sources before
it was made the basis of report.
'On July l Mr.. Brown was verbally
informed that Messrs. Graham and
Cook were to be in St. Adams on July
3 and would hear officers of the COM
pany If L ~ desired to be present on
the day named. Messrs. F. w.
Story, president, and G. A. Brown,
general manager, of the Passumpsic
company and myself appeared before
Messrs. Graham and Cook. 1t re-
Spouse to their suggestion / spoke gem
orally concerning the affairs of the
Passumpsic company and then for
several hours they piled me with
questions not only about that company
hut especially about the New England
company and its affairs. To each and
all OF these questions gave full and
frank answer so far as my knowledge,
without any opportunity for prepara-
ton, permitted. l am not, however,
omniscient even as to the telephone
business of Vermont and in some in
stances had to admit my inability to
answer. Sometimes the other gen.
tlemen could supply my lack and when
none of us could answer the special
commissioners were told that we
would furnish the information later II
desired.
"A stenographer was present at this
meeting, who stated after its close
that her notes were not verbatim but
she thought they covered the sense of
the statements made. Because Of this
subsequently asked Mr. Graham to
let me have transcript of those notes
and offered to pay all expenses. To
my surprise l received from Mr..
Cook, on July IL, the following let
ter:
July 10, 1913.
IN. B. Jones, General Counsel, N.
e. 7. & T. Co., Boston, Mass.
brother Jones:
"'Brother Graham communicated to
me your desire for copy of the
transcript from the reporter at st.
Adams.
=" I do not see how we have any au-
thority to furnish the same.
"A communication to the governor
would give you what you wish, if he
desires it furnished.
Sincerely yours,
"'E. A. Cook
This is the proceeding which
Messrs. Graham and Cook dignity
with the name of hearing and with
reference to which they complain that
we did not produce books and ac-
counting officers whose presence had
| not been requested.
1.-THE New England Telephone and
Telegraph company recognizes that
as public service corporation it il
subject to regulation by the state. TIC
such regulation 1t has never Offered
objection.
THE people of Vermont have estab-
ished a public service commission
clothed with power to receive com
plants and to rectify by order any in
equities or injustice that may exist
IAN orderly course of procedure fol
ascertaining the facts is provided BY
law and full and fair opportunity /!
given all parties in interest to presen
all the facts and to be heard upon the
conclusions to be deduced from tn,
| facts.
THE New England Telephone an(
Telegraph company has promptly com
piled with every suggestion, recon-.
mendatioL, requirement and orde'
made by this tribunal since it was
established by the state of Vermont
1t stands ready at all times to rende
to this or to any other properly con.
stituted governmental authority
strict accounting as to its rates, 1T
service, it's relations with the pub
lie, with it's employees and with athe
companies.
IN behalf of the company wish
however, to most vigorously protes
against recommendations of a com
plete telephone rate schedule for tn,
entire state made after superficial