El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-20
MUTUAL RELATIONS AND INTERESTS
OF THE BELL SYSTEM & THE PUBLIC

States questioning the purchase OF GER
tain telephone properties in the north
west, as well as the pending Interstate
Commerce Commission telephone In
vestigation, have caused many inquir-
les. Without taking up anything 60
ing to the merits of these proceedings
it has seemed to US proper to state
generally what has been our policy
and purpose in the conduct of our bus
mess.
We have found, or thought that we
had, that our interests were best served
when the public interests were best
served; and we believe that such sue
cess as we have had has been because
our business 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
problems of electrical inter
cation. The success and prosperity of
our company depend upon a solution
of these problems which shall be sound
from both the standpoint of the COM
pany 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, aJthori-
zation or consent of the municipal and
state authorities directly interested.
Our effort has been not only to obey
the law, 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
matters of common knowledge and
are. and for many years have been,
well known to the government. We
viii willingly furnish the government
any additional information which is in
our possession or under our control, and
VIII cordially cooperate with it IN OBJ
tanning such further information as
it nav require Every possible assist
anee will be given by US to the courts
in their effort TO determine whether our
policy is OF has been inimical to the
public interest We desire that any
thing wrong be corrected; we viii volun-
tarily rectify any wrong that may be
pointed out to US; and, so far as it may
be determined that our policy or any
act under it is against the public inter-
st. we viii promptly conform to such
We believe that if each of our ex-
changes were made an independent unit
and If each connecting line were put
under a separate control, the effect upon
the telephone service of the country
would be a condition so intolerable that
he subtle would refuse to submit to 1t
nd would Immediately require such ply
deal connection and common control OF
-hese various units as would amalga-
nate them into a single system. Ply
sical connection in the case of telephone
II telegraph does not mean transfer of
messages from one line to the other 1t
means such a connection as will permit
me person to have the actual possession
# the particular line of communication
rom one end of it to the other and this
an only be given efficiently by eX-
.hange systems and connecting lines IN
Ter a common control; and that IS what |
he Bell System is.
In this connection, and for general |
We will Testate the policy /
which controlled the building up OF the !
Bell system, and our belief as to what l
telephone system should be, and what !
re its relations to the public.
We believe IN and were the first TO /
IdvOcate state or government control !
nd regulation Of public utilities; that I.
his control OF regulation should be by /.
quasl-ludlcial bodies, act /
ng after thorough investigation and /
governed by the equities of each case; /
nd that this control OF regulation, be- |
rond requiring the greatest efficiency 1
nd economy, should not interfere I
With management or operation. We be- !
ieve that these bodies, If they are to be /
,ermanent. effective and OF public bene- [
It, should be thoroughly representative; I
hey should be of such character and (
hOuld so conduct their investiga-
ions and deliberations as to command /
uch respect from both the public and
he corporations that both will without
uestion accept their conclusions.
We believe that the public would in
his way get all the advantages and !
void all the manifest disadvantages of
ublic ownership.
We believe that centers of business
nd population exist for the con-
enienee of the public as a whole,
nd that no such center can pros
er without sufficient and efficient
leans of intercourse with other
enters and tributary territories; that
UGH means can only be afforded by
rosperOus utility and service companies
nd that fair rates are essential to pros
erous companies. We do not believe
hat any public either desires or can
btain, nor can any service or utility
urnish, permanent and efficient ser
ice at less than cost, including capital
harges. We believe that ultimately
be public either directly or indirectly
avs the losses involved in the efforts
D furnish such service at less than its
lir cost, either through the loss OF the
lpital involved, the losses incident to
OOr service OF the necessary increase in