The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1913-09-15
|TUAL RELATIONS and INTERESTS
OF THE BELL SYSTEM and THE PUBLIC

well as the pending Interstate commerce
Commission telephone 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 busl-
ness.
We have found, or thought that we had,
that our interests were best served when
the public interests were best served; and
we believe that such success as we have
had has been because our business has
been conducted on these lines.
We believe that our company has an in
terest as vital as that of the public in the
proper administration of the problems OF
electrical Accommodation. The sue
cess and prosperity of OUR company de-
pend upon a solution of these problems
which shall be sound from both the stand
point of the company and the public which
it serves
Following our own best judgment, sup
plemented by the best obtainable advice
we have endeavored to do what would
best serve the public interest; wherever
possible our plans have been disclosed to
the public in advance, and what has been
done in carrying them out has been along
ordinary business lines. with the implied,
and Generally with the expressed approx
al. authorization or consent of the NUM-
cipal and state authorities directly inter
ested. Our effort has been only to obey
the law. but we avoid everything which
might even have the appearance of an
attempt at evasion.
Our business methods and policy, and
81 uoft ho dot q G n
action of our business, are matters OF COM
mon knowledge and are and for many
wears have been, we'll known to the gov
eminent. We will willingly furnish the
government any additional information
which is in our possession or under our
control, and will cordially cooperate with
it in obtaining such further information
as it may require. Every possible assist
ance will be given by us to the courts in
their efforts to determine whether our
policy is or has been inimical to the pub
lie interest We desire that anything
wrong be corrected; we will voluntarily
rectify any wrong that may be pointed
out to us: and, so far as it may be de-
termined that our policy or any act under
it is against the public interest, we will
promptly conform to such determination.
We believe that if each of our exchang-
es were made an independent unit and II
each connecting line were put under
separate control, the effect upon the tele-
phone service of the country would be a
condition so intolerable that the public
would refuse to submit to 1t and would
immediately require such physical con-
nection and common control of these va
rious 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 con-
nection as will permit one person to have
the actual possession of the particular
line of communication from one end OF 1t
to the other and this can only be given
efficiently by exchange systems and con-
Meeting lines under common control; and
that is what the Bell System is.
In tbis connection, and for general in
formation, we will restate the policy which
controlled the building up OF the Bell Sys-
tenn. and our belief as to what telephone
system should be, and what are its re-
lations to the public.
We believe in and were the first to adj
yocate state or government control and
regulation of public utilities; that this con-
troll or regulation should be by permanent
ouasi-iudicial bodies, acting after thor
oueh Investigation and governed by the
eonities of each case; and that this con-
troll or regulation, beyond requiring the
greatest efficiency and economy, should
not interfere with management or opera
ton. We believe that these bodies, II
AHA ftxEn md