The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-17

tract have been in effect between the
companies since 1908, but the New Eng
land company did not care to enter into
a formal contract until it had thoroughly
demonstrated the desrability of the ar
rangement thus created.
Yours very truly,
IN. b. Jones, Counsel.
'Messrs. Cook and Graham in their
report deal largely with the New Eng
land Co. and apparently wish to convey
the idea that the New England Co. had
been given a opportunity to be heard
upon the subject matter OF their report.
In fact, they asked the public service
commission to make certain orders on
the basis of the special COMMISSIONS
hearing The facts about this alleged
hearing are as follows:
"As the special commission had inves-
tigated the affairs of the Passumpsic
Telephone Co. at great length, PROFOUND
| ing list of over 80 interrogat tions,
which were answered by Gen. Mgr.
| Brown of that company in writing, Mr..
| Brown suggested that the officers should
have opportunity to confer with the
| special commission as to information
obtained by it from other sources before
| ii was made the basis of a report.
informed that Messr. Graham and Cook |
were to be in ST. Adams on July and
would hear officers of the company if |
they desired to be present on the day |
named Messrs. +. w. Story, president,
and G. A. Brown, general manager OF
the Passumpsie Co., and myself appeared |
before Messrs. Graham and Cook. In
response to their suggestion, spoke
generally concerning the affairs of the
Pasumpsic Co. and then for several
hours they piled me with questions not
only about that company, but especially /
about the New England company and its
affairs. To each and all of these ques-
tions ! gave a full and frank answer
so far as my knowledge, without any
opportunity for preparation, permitted.
| am not, however, omniscient even as
to the telephone business of Vermont,
and in some instances had to admit my
inability to answer. Sometimes the 9TH
er gentlemen could supply my lack and
when none of us could answer the special
commissioners were told that we would
furnish the information later if de-
sired.
"A stenographer was present at this
meeting, who stated after its close that
her notes were not verbatim but she
thought they covered the sense of the
statements made. Because of this sub
sequently asked Mr.. Graham to let me
have transcript of these notes and
offered to pay all expense. To my sur
prise | received from Mr. Cook on July
IL the following letter:
July 10, 1913.
M. b. Jones,
General Counsel n. E. T. & T. Co., I,
Boston, Mass.
Brother Jones'
Brother Graham communicated to me
your desire for a copy of the transcript B
from the reporter at st. Alhans.
II do not see how we have any au-
thority to furnish the same
"A communication to the governor !
would give you what you wish, if he j
desires it furnished Ii
Sincerely yours, E
''E. A. Cook. 9
This is the proceeding which Messrs. /
Graham and Cook dignity with the name 4
of hearing and with reference TO which /
they complain that we did not produce !
books and accounting officers whose I
presence had not been requested {
"The New England Telephone & Tele c
graph Go. recognizes that as a public q
service corporation it is subject to regu-
lation by the state. To such regulation G
it has never offered objection t
"The people of Vermont have estab, i
lished public service commission i
clothed with power to receive complaints t
and to rectify by order any nequities 9
or injustice that may exist. o
"An orderly course of procedure for a
ascertaining the facts is provided by law \
and full and fair opportunity is given a
all parties in interest to present all the d
facts and to be heard upon the conclu- !
sions to be deduced from the facts. y
"The New England Telephone & Tele- n
graph Co. has promptly complied with !
every suggestion, recommendation re- 2
luirement and order made by this tri-
bunal since it was established by the /
state of Vermont. 1t stands ready at all A
times to render to this or to any other !
constituted governmental au- !
thority strict accounting as to its -
rates, its service, its relations with the =
public, with its employees and with other
y
ain behalf of the company, / wish, \
however, to most vigorously protest :,
against recommendations of a complete n
telephone rate schedule for the entire :,
state, made after superficial investiga- :
ton of barely a monthly inexperi- :,
enced men and with scarcely pretense !
If any attempt to justify their recon- !,
by facts. = .
"The law of the land provides and y
believe the people of Vermont desire that
he company may receive a fair return r
Ipon its property.
"The company will prove as soon as
t is given the opportunity to do so that
t is not earning fair return on its
Investment in the state of Vermont. R
"Messrs. Cook and Graham apparently
Wished to avoid coming to this conclu-
ion. They asked for the earnings of the
but did not ask for the ex-
,enses or the amount of property in
-olved."
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