The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-17
COMPLAINT ENTERED
TO GOV. FLETCHER
Telephone Rates in Some Sections of
Vermont Are Alleged to
Be Too High.

/ Governor Fletcher has received petit
tions signed by residents of Orleans
Caledonia and Essex counties, asking him
to take steps to procure for the people
reasonable telephone rates as we'll as
suitable service. Ii seems that the Pas
sumpsic Telephone company, a subsid-
| iary of the New England has bought in
a number OF independent telephone lines
| in succession; and it is claimed that that
company has advanced rates, in many in.
stances 50 cents month, while the serv-
ice is alleged to have deterioated in va
Erious ways.
Governor Fletcher has taken the petit
tions under consideration, and if sutfi.
GENTLY impressed with the situation he
will probably name a commission to in
yestigate the situation and report to him
its findings,
Complaint also has reached Governor
Fletcher from other parts OF the state,
and it is not impossible that the investi-
cation may extend far beyond the coun-
ties named in these particular petitions.
The chief petition received reads as
follows
One Petition.
"To His Exeellency, Allen NJ. Fletcher,
Governor of Vermont:
"We, the undersigned subscribers and
users of telephones of the Passumpsie
Telephone company. respectfully repre-
sent that on or about 10 years ago said
company was organized and chartered in
this state and took over and purchased a
and business in Essex, Orleans |
and Caledonia counties of the New Eng |
land Telephone & Telegraph company, /
and at said organization said New Eng |
land Telephone & Telegraph company re-
ceived and owned and still owns a con-
trolling interest in said Passumpsic Tel I
ephone company.
THAT at the time of said organization
and for long time previous and ever /
since until May /, 1910, there was oper
ated in said Orleans and Essex counties
an independent telephone company and
that said two companies were in active
that the rates of said two
were substantially the same
and that on or about May l. 1910, the
said Passumpsic Telephone company pur-
,hased said competing independent COM
1any; that at the time of the organiza-
ion of said Passumpsic Telephone COM
1any there was then in operation in
caledonia county another independent
which had been in operation
or some time, and which remained in
,peration until May |, 1912, and that
aid independent company in Caledonia
ounty and said Passumpsic Telephone
ompany during all said time were in
ctive competition, and that the rates of 5
he two companies were substantially '
he same.
"That on or about May !, 1912, said
'assumpsic Telephone company pur-
hased said independent telephone com
any in Caledonia county; that there has !
cen in operation in the south end of <
aid Orleans county two other indepen- .
ent telephone companies, which were in
ctive opposition to the Passumpsic Tel :
phone company with substantially the !
anne rates, until on or about Nav 1. y
9l3. when said two last-named indepen- 7
ent companies were purchased by said 8
assumpsic Telephone company; that the .
ervice of said Passumpsie Telephone
)mpany, including its purchased lines.
as deteriorated to quite an extent and
not now a good. sufficient or salts.
lctory service; that during all the time Il
rat the Passumpsic Telephone company X
- DttH w optfdtloH li sdiu counties. NJ L.
as enlarged its plant and lines so as to
AXE it much more valuable property; (,
lat on April l, 1918, after having ac- "
lired the two first mentioned com i
inies, said Passumpsic Telephone com d,
any raised its rates to users of its tele-
lones TO very large degree. to wit. 81
fty cents per month, and at the same b.
me narrowed the zone which the sub eY
ribers would have the right to talk "
bon without toll; that we understand.
e informed and believe that there are q,
large number of telephone companies r
the state Of Vermont the majority III
whose stock IS owned or controlled by 20
id New England Telephone & TeIe- sf
aph company; that by reason Of said al
bsidiary lines OF the New England
mpany the tariffs for long distance Ia
is are much larger than they used 20 IA
or would be If said subsidiary lines n,
re in the name of the New England IN
lephone & Telegraph company. 70
we would therefore represent that we m.
derstand. are informed and believe al
d assert and feel very strongly that se
E rates and charges Of the subsidiary ",
- OF the New England Telephone 4 n
legraPh company all through the state en-
Vermont. the New England Telephone Ia
IslsaHAnh aanE--av snd many other of