The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-09-03

Commerce Commission telephone int
Festigati0n. haYe caused many inquir-
ies without taking up anything 30.
ing to the merits off these proceedings,
ltt has seemed to us proper 70 state
generally what has been our policy and
purpose III the conduct Of our bust.
ness.
we have found or thought that we
had. that our interests were best serY.
ca when the public interests were best
served and We believe that such sue.
eeas as we have had has been because
our business has been conducted on
these lines.
we believe that our company has
an interest as Vital BIS that of the pub
lie ~ thh proper administration Of the
problems Of electrical inter.cummuni-
cation The snecess and prosperity Of
our company depend upon i solution
Of these problems which shall be sound
from both the standpoint Of the COM
pany and the public which 1t serves.
Following our own best Judgment.
supplemented 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 III advance, and
what has been done In carrying them
out has been along ordinary business
lines, with the implied and generally,
with the expressed approval authori.
zation or consent Of the municipal and
state authorities directly interested.
Our effort has been not only to obey
the law, but to avoid everything which
might even have the appearance Of an
attempt al evasion
Our business methods and policy,
and practically all Of the details aa to
the transaction of our business, arc
matters Or common knowledge and
are, and for many years have been
4 Wen known 70 the government. We
VIII willingly furnish the government
any additional Information which is Id
our possession Or Under our control,
and VIII cordially cooperate with 1t in
1 obtaining such further information AS
It may require Every possible assist
ance will be given by us to the courts
in their effort tO determine whether
lour policy is Oh has been inimical to
the public 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 bs determined that our policy or
any act under Il Is against the public
interest, we will promptly conform to
such determination.
we believe that If each Of our ex-
changes We're made an independent
lunit ana II each connecting line we're
put under separate control, the ef-
feet upon the telephone service of the
country would be a condition So intol.
cradle that the public would refuse to-
submit to it and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
common control of these various units
as would amalgamate them into a sim
gle system Physical connection III
the case Of telephone or telegraph does
not mean transfer Of MESSAGES from
one line to tile other. 1t means such
q connection as viii permit one person
70 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
systems and connecting lines under Il
common control; and that Is what the
Bell System Is.
In this connection. and for general
information, we will restate the policy
which controlled the building up of
the Bell System, and our belief as te.
what telephone system should be.
and What are its relations to the public.
we believe In and were the first 10
advocate state on government control
and regulation Of public utilities. that
this control or regulation should be by
permanent quasiiudioial bodies. act
lng after thorough investigation and
governed by the equities OF each ease:
and that this control OF regulation. be.
yond requiring the greatest efficiency
and economy. should not Interfere
with management or operation. We
eeiieYe that these bodies, ii they are
q be permanent effective and Of Sub.
llc benefit, should be thoroughly rem
fesentatiVe they should be Of such
character aud should SO conduct their
investigations and deliberations as ID
command such respect from both tho
public and the corporations that both
Will without question accept their con.
clusions.
we believe that The public would
n this way set all the advantages and
avoid all the manifest disadvantages
of public ownership.
we believe that centers oil business
and population exist for the conven.
lenee Of the public as whole. ana
that no such center can prosper with.
ont Sufficient and efficient. means Of
intercourse with onther canters and
tributary territories. thai such means
can only be afforded bv prosperous
utility and service companies and that
TAR rates are essential t0 prosperous
companies We do not believe that as
public either desires or can obtain. nor
can any service or utility furnish. Der
manent and efficient service ut less
than cost including capital charges
Ae believe thai ultimately the public
either directly OF Indirectly pays the
losses involved IN the efforts u fur
nish such service at less than its lair
eosteithef through the loss of the cgpi-
tal involved. the losses incident to poor
service or the necessary Increase fl
charges required to pay for duplica.
ton Of the capital.
We believe that the highest com
mereial value of the telephone service
defends On lis completeness on the
extent and compfahensiHanase nf me