The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-23
Omaha is Kidding Self of Sys-
TEN and Pittsburgh Carries
Battle To The
Courts
SELECTION OF DETROITS
EXPERT Is DELAYED
wifi Matte Al ter ffuffdays-
Expected State Board Will
Give Hearings in February

Detroit is not alone in its fight ior
better telephone service ana against
the installation of meters.
Mayor Marx receiver answers 20 his
inquiries from several cities, Monday,
and learned that the telephone COM
plant seems 10 be a common one
much like the street car question s'
pecially In the larger cities.
William A. Mpgee mayor OF PUTS
burgh. described in his letter the fight
made by that city against metered ser.
vice. AS is coutended In Detroit az
the present time. the schedule submit.
TED by the Pittsburgh company WAS
considered too high and as a result Of
the general disapproval or the plan by
the business men. the Pittsburgh
Board OF Commerce fled a bill IN
equity and en1oined the company from
putting IT'S schedule in force. The
matter Il now awaiting tie action OK
the public service commission, which
has control OF the telephone service IN
Pittsburgh.
In Omaha. Neb., where metered
service now exists 90 a certain ex-
tent. no new contracts for metered
service can be made after the expira-
ton OF the present contracts, the
state railway commission having made
a ruling 10 this effect Omaha i'm
poses an occupation tax off three per
cent per annum ON the gross receipts
OF the Nebraska Telephone Co., ex-
clus,ve of the charges for service
outside the city limits and the bills
rendered TO the city for service. This
tax for the year ending Sept II. 1918,
produced revenue 70 the city OF
s27, 405. a. The zone system Is In use
In Omaha.
The fiat rates OF the Nebraska
Telephone Co. in Omaha are as fok
lows: Residence one-party general
zone. s. a month one-party Omaha
zone. $3.50; twoparty general zone,
$3.50: two-party Omaha zone, g.;
business one.party general zone. s.;
one-party Omaha zone. So, two-party
general zone $3.50: two-party Omaha
zone. S4.5U. The police and TIRE alarm
systems are under contract, the city
paying the telephone company $1,000
a. year for service.
For measured service, 900 calls per
year are allowed on two-party line
at monthly charge OF 1915, excess
calls, cents each. on a one-party
line 500 calls per year are allowed
for monthly charge OF $3.50. excess
calls three cents each, and Zoo calls
are allowed for $3.50 a month. excess
calls, three cents each. Ten-party
farm lines connecting with the Omaha
exchange are given a rate OF 81 per
month, unlimited service.
In Minneapolis measured service IS
In use only where slot machines are
supplied. as in Detroit The city has
power 10 regulate the rates and ser
vice under q franchise The rates for
business telephones range from 81 20
SIS month. while residence lele-
phones cost from 81 10 $3.50 month
The monthly rate for party lines Is
ST.
In reply 10 Mayor Marks communi-
cation to the mayor OF Columbus, q.
G.. A. Radcliffe. secretary OF the pun
lie Utilities commission OF Ohio, TO
whom the communication Was refer
red, writes that measured service IS
not "customary" Ia Ohio. and at the
present time is being used only 10
limited extent in Cleveland. The
commissioner has not received any com.
plants on the metered service in
Cleveland and has never investigated
metered service there.
In Des Moines. Ia, fat tele-
phone rate exists. For single-party
business telephones the rate is s.
monthly, and for residence Engle-
party telephones the rate is $3.50
Twoparty lines are still in use there
but multiple-party lines have beeu
abandoned. FIRE two-rarty Hines cost
81 per month FOR business purposes
and 81 per month for residences
At the present time Des Meines a
engaged in suit TO test whether
the power 10 control telephone ser
vice and the rates rest with the state
or with The city body
When Peter Witt. the cleveland
traction expert. was in the city last
week. he was asked for his opinion
regarding the proposal OF the com
pany 10 install the meter system.
thereby increasing IT'S rates RE said.
THE metered service principle IS
all right the theory being that You
pay for what you get When you toucA
on the appraisal or valuation scrutl.
nize II very carefully Go az IL with
the same care that you would after
valuation OF the d. L. r.. because
II the theories of the valuators are
al In favor or the telephone compairv
the result is sky nigh. You know that
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