Newport daily independent. (Newport, Ark.) 1901-1929, 1913-09-16
Mutual Relations and Interests
of the Bell System and the Public

l4t sAAS OiDAGfAb ~ lisE 1ilANNN
( States questioning the purchase Of
certain telephone properties in the
northwest, as 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 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 conduct
ed on these lines.
! We believe that our company has
an interest as vital as that of the
/ public in the proper administration
Of the problems OF electrical commu-
nication. The success and prosperi-
| terity of our company depend 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,
supplemented by the best obtainable
! advice, we have endeavored to do
what would best serve the public IN
| terest; wherever possible our plans
have been disclosed to the public in
advance, and what has been done in
! carrying them out has been done
along ordinary business lines, with
! the expressed approval, authority 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 at evasion.
Our business methods and policy,
and practically all the details as to
the transaction of our business, are
matters of common knowledge and
are, and for many years have been,
well known to the government. We
will willingly furnish the government
additional information which is in
our possession or under our control,
and will cordially cooperate with 1t
in obtaining such further information
as it may require. Every possible as
sistance will be given by US to the
courts in their efforts to determine
whether our policy is or has been IN
imical to the public interest. We de-
sire that anything wrong be correct
| ed: we will voluntarily rectify any
wrong that may be pointed out to us:
and, so far as it may be determined
| that our policy or any act under 1t is
against the public interest. we will
promptly conform to such determine
ton.
We believe that if each Of our ex-
changes were made an Independent
| unit and if each connecting line were
put under separate control, the Ell
! fecr Ipon the telephone service OF the
country would be condition so IN
toIeraljle that the public would refuse
to submit to it and would immedlates
Nv REQUIRE such physical connection
and common control of these various
units as would amalgamate them into
a single system. Physical connection
in the case of telephone OF telegraph
| does not mean transfer OF all messag
es from one line to the other. 1t
means such connection as VIII per-
NIT one person to have the actual po-
session Of the particular line OF com
munication from one end OF 1t to the
other and this can only be given I'M
der a common control, and that IS
VIII t the Bell System is.
In this connection, and for general
information. we will restate the poll
cv which controlled the building up
Of the Bell System, and our belief as
to what telephone system should be,
and what are its relations to the pub
lie.
We believe in and were the first to
advocate state or government control
and regulation Of public utilities; that
tbis control or regulation should be
nv permanent quasi-judlclal BODIES,
actino after thorough investigation
Land governed by the equities OF each
case and that this control or regu-
lation, beyond requiring the greatest
efficiency and economy, should not
interfere with management or opef-
alton We believe that these podles
if they are to be permanent, erect
tive and of public benefit, should be
thoroughly representative; they
should be of such character and
should so conduct their inveshga-
tions and deliberations as to com
mand such respect from both the
public and the corporations tna t
both will without question accept
their conclusions.
We believe that the public would
in this way get all the advantages
and avoid all the manifest disadvant-
ages of public ownership.
We believe that centers of business
and population exist for the convent,
ence of the public as whole, ana
that no such center can prosper with.
out sufficient and efficient means OF
intercourse with other centers and
tributary territories; that such
means can only be afforded by pros
porous utility and service companies
and that fair rates are essential to
prosperous companies. We do not
believe that any public either desires
or can obtain, nor can any service
utility furnish permanent, and eff
Gent service at less than cost, includ-
ing capital charges. We believe that
ultimately the public either directly
or indirectly pays the losses involv-
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