The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-09-26
Mutual Relations and Interest
OF the Bell System and the Public

SuCu service al less tnan ITS ta1r cos
either through the loss Of the capita
involved, the losses incident to poo
service or the necessary increase il
charges required to pay for duplication
OF capital.
We believe that the highest CONNER
cial value of the telephone service de
ponds on its completeness-on the ex
tent and comprehensiveness of the ia
cilites foS intercommunication. no
only between individuals but between
centcrs Of population; that no i~soIatec
section can be considered independent
ly OF any other section or Of the whole
that rates must be so adjusted as tt
make ii possible to obtain the maximum
development by making it possible for
everyone to be connected who will add
to the value OF the system, thus giving
the greatest value TO the greatest mum.
beri that the interdependence Of the
telephone service and the value q com.
Plete and universal intercommunication
justify and require some services partly
at the expense of the whole for the
benefit OF the whole.
We believe that this highest com.
mercial value can only be obtained bv
one system under one common control
and that it cannot be given by indepen-
dent systems unless they are operated
under agreements which result in one
common control and one common inter-
est, in effect making them a single
system.
We believe that rates should be so ad-
as to afford the company suai.
cient revenue to pay such WAGES ard
compensation as will secure the most
efficient service; to maintain the very
and most advanced standards of
plant and apparatus, to carry on such
scientific and and experimental research
ma inventions as 10 insure the highest
standards, and to carry to reserve and
depreciation such amounts as will en-.
able the company at any time to replace
Did plant and old methods with now
plant and new methods as fast as thew
nay be developed and found to be TO tbe
advantage of the services. We believe
hat IN addition, such fair charges should
paid upon the investment in plant &C
will enable the company at any time TO
'otain money necessary to provide the
liant required TO meet the contippird
demands of the public; and in order
waste and duplication of effort NAV
'e avoided and uniformity of purpose
Nd common control be enforced, that
mere should be a centralized General
in close communication
nth and having general authority over
whole on matters common to all or
iatters of general policy.
We believe that any surplus bevond
nat necessary to equalize dividends on
iair basis should be used by the COM
any Tor the benefit of the public and
lould be inalienable for any other mr..
ose' and should be either invested in
'Venue-earning plant until necessary 70
loS'ltute plant which may become in. /
iequate or obsolete, or should be used
make the service cheaper or better.
we believe that under proper govern.
entail control and regulation the profit. .
ON promotion or operation allowed 70
distributed should not be so large as /
warrant or tempt complete dunlica.
On OF plant and organization, with lie
iplication Of its capital charles and
organization operating, maintenance
q depreciation expenses; and we do
oelieve that utilities giving at fair
an efficient and sufficiently com.
universal service should no
beet to limited competition. not div.
6 such service. Competition which
lores the obligation to furnish a com.
and comprehensive service is not
mpeuuon' is not for the benefit Of
: public in that it does not reach the
lole public interested.
L. therefore, complete duplication
IN Its dual exchange connection and .
al bills for service, is a prerequisite
complete competition, government :,
ltrol.and regulation cannot 10 hand h,
hand with competition. m
We believe that the record of the Bell 60
will be accepted by the public
iully in accord with these declara. 4,
MS Consistent adherence to this mol. <
has given the public Of the United ~
ties the best, most comprehensive and AZ
'apest telephone service in the world
l made the Bell standards the stand. L.
IS of all nations. =
o remove any possible excuse for co
apprehension on account of tho -,
ny misleading statements which have IN
n circulated as to the alleged un. til
.essary and overcapitalization and
.essivs charges of the Bell System, fr,
following statistics are given. Ex. ~
t where stated, the figures are for the
l SYSTEM that is, the American Tele.