The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-09-26

phone properties in the northwest, a.
well as the pending Interstate Commerce,
Commission telephone investigation
have caused many inquiries. Withou-
taking up anything going to the merit,
OF those proceeding, it has seemed tc
us proper to state generally what has
been our policy and purpose in the con.
duct of our business.
We have found, or thought that we
had, that our interest were best served
when the public interest we're best serv.
ed; and we believe that such success as
we have had has been because N bust
ness has been conducted on these lines.
We believe that our company has an
interest as vital as that Of the public in
the proper administration Of the prob
lens Of electrical REORGANIZATION
The success and prosperity Of our COM
pany depend upon a solution of those
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;
wherever possible our plans have been
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, authorize
ton or consent Of the municipal and
state authorities directly interested.
Our effort has been not only to obey the
law, but 70 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 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
co operate with it in obtaining such
further information as it may require.
Every possible assistance will be given
by us to the courts in their effort to
determine whether our policy is or has
been inimical to the public interest. We
desire that anything wrong be corrected;
will voluntarily rectify any wrong
hat may be pointed put to us; and, so
ar as it may be determined that our
or any act under it is against the Z
public interest, we will promptly con- t
orm TO such determination. a
We believe that if each of our ex- y
were made an independent unit !
nd if each connecting line we're put Z
lnder a separate control, the effect upon
he telephone service of the country |
'ould be a condition so intolerable that d
he public would refuse to submit to il +
nd would Immediately require such >
connection and common con- p
Of these various units as would /
malgamate them into a single system. d
connection in the ease of tele- d
hone or telegraph does not mean trans y
n of messages from one line to the
Their. 1t means such a connection as III
i'll permit one person to have the
possession of the particular line of o.
communication from one end of it to the &c
and this can only be given efficient u
by exchange systems and connecting u
mes under a common control; and that II
what the Bell System is. al
In this connection, and for general in.
'rmation, w will restate the policy
hich controlled the building up of the =,
System, and our belief as to what :
telephone system should be, and what =
e its relations to the public. Z,
We believe in and were the first to co
-vocate state or government control III
d regulation Of public utilities; that wi
control or regulation should be bv
quasi-judicial bodies, acting ~;
.er thorough investigation and govern. dr
by the equities of each case; and that 70
is control or regulation, beyond re- 90.
irins the greatest efficiency and econ. in
~, should not interfere with manage.
mt or operation. We believe that Gu
'se bodies, if they are to be perma- ,e
effective and of public benefit, 40
'uld be thoroughly representative; ic,
" should be Of such character and c..
'uld so conduct their investigations cb,
deliberations as to command such an,
pect from both the public and the A.,
p%orations that both will without :
estion accept their conclusions. 49,;
We believe that the public would in ma
S way get all the advantages and bet
lid all the manifest disadvantages of ne,
bic ownership. lex,
We believe that centers of business the
population exist for the convent Ger
e OF the public as a whole, and that Bel
r44AL - 1t.