Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1913-09-10
Mutual Relations and
Interests Of The Bell
Telephone and Public

states questioning the purchase OF
certain telephone properties in the
northwest, as well as the pending IN
terstate Commerce Commission tele-
phone investigation, have caused
many inquiries. Without taking up
anything Going 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 business.
We have found. or thought 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 be-
cause our business has been con-
Quoted on these lines.
We believe hat our company has
an interest as vital as that of the
public in the proper administration
OF the problems of electrical inter
communication. The success and
prosperity OF our company depend
upon a solution of these problems
which shall be sound from both the
standpoint OF the company and the
public which it serves.
Following our own best judgment.
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice. we have e~ndeavored to do
what would best serve the public in
terest: wherever possible Il plans
in advance and what has been done
ordinary business lines. with the I'M
piled, and generally. with the eN-
pressed approval. authorization or
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authorities directly interested. Our
effort has not been 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,
we'll known TO the government. We
will willingly furnish the government
any additional information which is
in our possession or under our con-
troll, and will cordially cooperate
with it in obtaining such further in
formation as it may require. Every
possible assistance will be given by
us to the courts in their effort to de-
termine whether Il policy is or has
been inilnical to the public interest.
We desire that anything wrong be
corrected: We will voluntarily rectify
any wrong that may be pointed ont
to us: and. so far as it may be deter
mined that our policy or any act I'M
der it is against the public interest,
we will promptly conform to such
determination.
We believe that if each of our ex-
changes were made an independent
unit and if each connecting line Wee
put under a separate control. the ct
feet upon the telephone service Of
the country would be a condition so
intolerable that the public would re-
fuse to submit to it and would imme-
diately require such physical connec-
ton and common control of these
various units as would amalgamate
them into a single system. Physical
connection in the case OF telephone
or telegraph dOeS not mean transfer
of messages from one line to the
other. 1t means such a connection
as will permit one person to have the
actual possession of the particular
line OF communication from one end
of it to the other and this can only
be given efficiently by exchange syS-
tens and connecting lines under a
common control: and that is what
the Bell System is.
In this connection and for general
information. we will restate the pol
icy which controlled the building up
of the Bell System, and IL belief as
to what a telephone system should
be. and what are its relations to the
public.
We believe in and were the first to
advocate state or government con-
troll and regulation OF public utilities:
that this control OIL legislation should
be by permanent quasi-judicial bod
les, acting after thorough investiga-
ton and governed by the equities Of
each case; and that this control or
regulation, beyond requiring the
greatest efficiency and economy,
should not interfere with manage
nlent or operation. We believe that
these bodies, if they are to be perm
anent, effective and of public benefit,
should be thoroughly representative:
they should be of such character and
should so conduct their investiga-
tons and deliberations as to COM
pmand such respect for both the pub
lie and the corporations that both
will without question accept their
conclusions.
We believe hat the public would
in this way get all the advantages
and avoid all the manifest disadvan-
tages of public ownership.
We believe that centers of business
and population exist for the convent
ence of the public as a whole, and
that no such center can prosper with
out sufficient and efficient NEAR OF
intercourse with other centers and
tributary territories; that such means
can only be afforded by prosperous
untllty and service companies ana
that fair rates are essential to pros.
porous companies. We do not be-
lieve that any public either de-
sires or can Obtain, nor can any
service or utility furnish, permanent
and efficient service at less than cost,
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