New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-21
WiCkershan Shifts Campaign to
Com =, nmiSSion, Which
Orders Sweeping Inquiry.
"MONOPOLY' DENOUNCED
Attorney General Accuses 1t Of
Discrimination, Excessive
Rates and Western
Union Favoritism.

VI dSll4I. tD4ls jan -'-".N "a tiii'''lr' 80
better telephone service and cheaper rates
FOB many sections Of the United States.
contemplating regulation Of tn telegraph
and telephone systems by the Interstate
Commerce Commission. new legislation by
Congress and the states and possible. if
not probable. civil and criminal prosecu-
ton Of the So-called Bell telephone sys-
tenn mas been launched by the Attorney
General
This was made known to-day when MI.
Wickersham gave out a copy of a letter
sent by him TO the Interstate Commerce
Commission recently with respect TO the
possibilities Of the commission undertake
ing a falrcachine investigation Of the
alleged monopoly Incidentally. it wa
announced. the committee will order such
inquiry in the near future
out Of the commissions investigation
IS expected TO grow the outline of gov
eminent policy with respect TO the teie-
phone and telegraph. Ii must be deter
mined. according to officials whether in
the interest and convenience Of the pub
Ic, telephone or telegraph monopoly
under rigid regulation should be tolerated
tv the federal government. OF whether
the government should take over utilities;
or. finally. whether competition should
bee enforced under the Sherman anti
trust Law. and monopoly prohibited.
Controls Western Union, He Says.
~. N1-s..r-.,.l.,,..s 1.rt.r ia fb. con, mis-
sion sets forth at length tho nature of The
alleged combination maintained 10y the
American Telephone and Tclecra2h COM
uany. either directly o. through SUB
yidiary companies, and asserts that II
practically control, tho operations OF the
telegraph AID cable lines OF The western
Union telegraph Company.
4 comprehensive statement of the cN-
font of the service Of the Bel system am"
the independent companies. facts ana
data gathered after more than year 5
investigation by agents OF IN" Depart
neut Of Justice. are given in the letter.
Discrimination against patrons OF the
irdopendent lines. tn purchase OF COM
netting lines excessive -ates IN felds "He''
there is no competition. favoritism to"ari
the Western Union ana other ue''"uH
an based on complaints and Information
Gathered 10y tn" department OF Justice
arc ehargcd against the EEL system by
MI Wickersham.
For several months thNe has been
much speculation over the sland that IT.
Attoruc, General would take i'm regard
to the alleged $500. 100000 telephone trust
I, has been known fur some time that the
Department of Justice hes- been not ON
the trail of the American Telephone ana
Telegraph COMPANY.
There have been rumors that the al
legged corporation would be given an op-
uortunity to disintegratc i'm accordance
with tho views Of Nj WiCkcrSham' ana
there have also been rumors that prosecu-
ton was imminent. but the letter to the
commission settles speculation. a. ~ IS
made plain that the Attorney General mas
In mind a broad policy To attack In" COM
bination at every angle to the end That the
citizens Of the United states in every
locality get the best service and cheapest
,.fe-filI,