The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-14
PHONE co. IS
ATTACKED BY
GEORGE BURNS
Hasn't Employed Competent
Lineman in Two Years. Says
Lighting Commissioners
SUSPECTS BAD SERVICE
is DELIBERATE PLOT
Irving TO Force Meter System,
He Tells Charter Board
Board Takes Vacation

THE Michigan State Telephone Co.
has not employed a competent line
man In two years; there seems TO be
n suspicion, almost unanimously held
that the company is deliberately hold
ing back good service TO force tho
adoption of a meter system Public
Lighting Commissioners George Burns
told the members OF the charter COM
mission, Friday morning.
The telephone company Is paying
linemen 1920 day, when the scale
tx;$4." he continued. 1T pays install
6ss $175 to $2.25 day, with the re-
sult that It has q staff OF mere boys,
Amateurs. The operators have the big
end of the situation. The company
finds that 1t must pay reasonable
aalary 70 ret competent operators. so
they are fairly well paid, considering
the wages OF women In other lines
II understand that the average com
psnsation Is $50 a month. Is that
ovsrburdening them with money!
aSked Mr. Ahern.
According to the scale paid to wom'
eH It 10 q fair wage" Mr.. Burns re
Piled. "A great many girls work IN
st1res for IS q week"
Zone reason for the poor service Ia
t1V enormous growth OF the COM
pnny's business in the past two
years. Mr.. Ahern said. This has
caused an overcrowding OF wires"
THAT may be the reason given by
the company" was Mr.. Burns an
ever. 1T isn't satisfactory to Ue as
. telephone user at the maximum
price"
III, thu company increases its rates.
Z then. it WIN be guilty or extortionr"
NJ. Burton asked.
:1rtJ should say so,' Mr.. Burns re-
tafed. ITO pay $3.50 . month for poor
! ooSvieef on q residence phone Is un-
Just. The excuse that the company
! hasn't got the proper equipment IL
not satisfactory to me-"
Mr.. Burns roast of the telephone
company came at the end of an hours
discussion, during which the charter
Z commissioners delved deeply into De-
! trOit's electrical problems. He blsm-
! cd the d. u. r. for the disintegration
y Of CITY water mains by eiectrolysis
!. IL hope that the city, by municipal
: ownership, will remedy that situation
Z he said. THE lighting commission and
!. the. Edison Co. avoid ground circuit
like a rattlesnake, because It is very
expensive"
SThe Edison Co. wants the current
returned IL it isn't used" Mr.. Keat-
Z ing suggested.
1T wants all its current paid for, al
Z least" Mr.. Burns answered THE
street railway company is responsible
: for 80 per cent Of all the damage done
: By electric action on the pipes"
: rs It practical to remove the cause
Of danger" asked Mr.. Ingram.
Undoubtedly" was the reply. THE
d. u. r. doesn't use enough copper
1 to insure contact from rail to rail.
The current escapes into the ground
Ind returns by the line OF least resist
Ance, which Is usually the water
| pipes."rff
1.-THE expense Is not prohibitive?"
asked Mr.. Ingram.
II 8"It IL done. in other cities" said
Mr.. Burns.
h The charter commission adjourned.
Friday. not TO meet again until next
Thursday, June 10. There was a bat
{le over the adjournment. in which Mr..
eGuthard deity turned President Den