The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-01
DECREASE OF RATES
WOULD CRIPPLE SOME
Representatives of Compa-
MES Satisfied May Re-
turn Home

| Vermont public service commission was
resumed at the State House in Mont
pelier this morning when the taking Of
testimony was continued.
All of the questioning of the witnesses
to-day was done by the states counsel,
Messrs. w. A. Graham and Z. H. Deay-
lit, the counsel for the telephone cont
panies remaining quiet. The questioning
related chiefly to toll contracts, purchase
contracts and contracts relating TO lin
it of territory.
Ernest A. English of Hartland testified
that when he had Is subscribers rate
of $40 a year paid him well, but when
| he had from 40 to 80 subscribers, he
| found he was losing money on a rate
of S12; so he went up to S15, at which
rate, he said the business was paying,
making no allowance for overtime, OPP
Grating and interest ON his investment.
He now has ll0 subscribers. Mr.. Eng
| lish said he was preparing to make
repairs this fall when he got the sum
mons to attend this hearing He stopped
repairing.
The witness said he had purchased his
Instruments MlltTt ne NltpNG uubiiE Sth
eral manufacturers, but during the past
year he had been leasing them from the
New England company. He said at the
present time he has l6 parties on some
lines and to reduce the number TO six
would cause him to fall behind on
$l2 rate. He said the telephone busi-
ness was a side issue with him but he
hoped to sell the business at good fig
ure Profit of 5000 he said went to pay
for his services.
]. Ralph Paine OF Fairlee testified he
saw bankruptcy if the order proposed
should become effective. He operates
d system at Lake Morey under the name
of the Fairlee Telephone Co. He is
charging SIS and SIG rates, and he called
it low enough He has 200 subscribers,
55 in Vermont aud the Others IN New
Hampshire He told how he had to pay
81 80 year for a right of way to carry
his line across the Boston & Maine track.
J. w. Farnsworth of Colchester said
his phone rates are $40 year and he
managed to live by doing his own work
and having his wife attend 10 the
switchboard. His poles he bought years
ago for zoe; some of them an inch and
half in diameter at the top. These
poles he has to shin, witness said. Mr..
Farnsworth wanted no change in the
telephone rate.
The examination of the representa-
tives of the various companies involved
was started yesterday after the prelim
inares of the hearing had been disposed
of. f. A. Field, representing the Addi
son and Panton Telephone company, de-
MED that the New England company
held any stock in his company.
John F. Alexander of Rockingham,
owner of the Saxtons River exchange
said his company had 100 miles OF wire,
$500 poles and It's subscribers; and
$4,000 was l3 l-3 per cent, allowing
nothing for reserve or depreciation. In
reply to a question by w. A. Graham, |
counsel for the state of Vermont, Mr. !
Alexander said about 81 800 was rep
resented in New England telephone |
ownership and equipment.
Mr.. Alexander said the Mental charge |
was 50 yearly before he leased the Sax
tons river exchange and after he con /
tracted with the New England Tele- |
phone and Telegraph company residence |
rates were increased to Sl2 with dis |
count fOr prompt payment.
Mr. Alexander testified that although |
he and his subscribers were forced to |
pay for outgoing calls over New Eng |
land lines, he received no payment for /
use of his lines by New England sub
scribers This is provided for under the |
traffic contract existing.
His company receives no compensation |
for transmitting call through his ex-
change from one company's lines to an
other.
Chief Counsel NJ. B. Jones for the New
England Co drew from witness that he
received commission on toll calls /
through his office.
He had purchased material for erect
ing new lines but to date had failed to
do so on account of the proposed reduc-
tion of rates.
Need Not Stay If Satisfied.
At this point in the hearing, Chair
man Bacon of the commission stated
that representatives of companies not I
desiring hearing and who will agree
with any rate schedule adopted by the
commission may return to their homes,
subject to recall at any time if their
presence is desired.
N. r. DIOMH optIdtliig an exchange OF l.
l73 subscribers, told of the transactions I
of his company and enlivened the hear
ing when,t replying to a question as TO
the continuity of the service furnished.
he said an ordinarily continuous service
was maintained from in the morning
until at night and on SATURDAYS and /
holidays when he ''heard the bell.'
The Champlain Valley company, rep
resented by Manager Preble, was next
heard. He told of the depreciation of
his plant and equipment and added that
if his company was forced to reduce its
rates, the company would have to go out
of business.
One hundred and sixty subscribers
were served by his eompany three or
four on two-party lines, many on three
to six party lines, and the remainder
more than six party lines
Mr.. Preble told of $500 damage in
cured by storm. He had no reserve
enrd and baJ IN cntlaaf ,tppa;d bi1ls 10