Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-11
SET HEARING ON
TELEPHONE RATES
New England and Other Com
panies Called before p. S. C.
at Montpelier Sept. 80.

Brattleboro, Sept. Tho public service
commission has cited the New England
Telephone and Telegraph company and
all Independent telephone companies,
more than 100 in number, to appear before
it at the State House Mt Montpelier
on Tuesday, September 80. and show
reason why telephone rates should not be
reduced to the rates named by Governor
Fletcher's special investigating commits
sion. The formal order recites:
Whereas, the special counsel author
lied and empowered by the public service
commission of Vermont, by special order
and notice, dated June 4, 1918, to make
general investigation of the business and
properties of all telegraph and telephone
companies in the State of Vermont, has
made report and has therein presented
that the prices tolls, rates and rentals
charged by the persons partnerships, as
sociatlons and corporations operating
telephone plants, lines and property with
in the State of Vermont, for the use of
and service provided by said plants lines
and property are unreasonable And has
therein further presented that in order to
make such prices, tolls, rates and rentals
reasonable, the maximum business and
residence rates for subscribers annual
rentals for telephone instruments and
exchange service should be fixed as fol-
lows:
BUSINESS TELEPHONES
One party-line, thirty-three dollars
Two-party line, twentyfour dollars
Four-party line, twenty-one dollars
ore-than-four-party line, eighteen dol
lars.
RESIDENCE TELEPHONES.
One-party line, twentyfour dollars.
Two-party line, eighteen dollars.
Three to siX-party line fifteen dollars.
More than siX-party line, twelve dollars.
And that the toll rates charged by the
persons partnerships, associations and
corporations, operating telephone plants,
lines, and property within the State of
Vermont as established b ythe present
tariff Of rates now in force and on file
with the public service commission Of
Vermont as established by the present
twenty per cent
Now, therefore, you and each of you,
being persons, partnerships, associations
and corporations operating telephone
plants, lines and property within the
State of Vermont, are hereby notified 10
appear at the Senate chamber, at the
state House at Montpelier in the county
of Washington, on the 10th day Of Sep
temher, A. D.. 1918, at ten o'clock In the
forenoon, then and there to show cause
II any you have. why an order of tho
public service comm ssion of Vermont
should not be made. becoming effective
on the lst day of December 1913, order
ing that the maximum business and resi-
dence rates charged by you or any of you
for the annual rental of telephone instru-
ments and for exchange service on such
parts of telephone plants, lines, and prop
erty operated by you or any Of you as
arc wholly within the State Of Vermont.
shall not exceed the following annual
rental and rate:
BUSINESS TELEPHONES.
One-party line, thirty-three dollars
Two-party line, twenty-four dollars.
Four-party line. twenty-one dollars.
More than four-party line, eighteen dol
lars.
RESIDENTIAL TELEPHONES.
One-party line twenty-four dollars.
Two-party line, eighteen dollars.
Three to six-party line inclusive, fifteen
dollars.
More than six-party line. twelve dollars
And further ordering that the maxi
mum toll rates, for service originating
transmitted and delivered upon such
parts of telephone plants, lines and prop
erty operated by You or any Of YOU as
are wholly within the State of Vermont
be reduced to so per cent of the present
toll rates for said service as fixed by the
tariffs now filed by you or any of you
In the office of the public service commits
sion of Vermont, or now charged by you
or any of you, with the provision. how
ever. that said reduction to so per cent
shall be reduced or extended to the near
est common multiple of five cents, and
with the exception that said reduction
shall not apply to toll rates which do not
exceed ten cents. and further ordering
that all charges for service originating,
transmitted and delivered upon such
parts OF telephone plants. lines and prop
erty operated by you or any of you, as
are wholly within the State of Vermont,
In all cases where the customer does not
obtain telephone communication with
the party called. be abolished.