Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-01-21
Attorney General Suggests In
terstate Commerce Commits
sion Look Into This Gigantic
Combine.
NATIONAL CONTROL is
POSSIBLE SOLUTION
Six Hundred Million Dollars In
vested in the Bell System
with Holdings in Western
Union Company,


lii, uornins Journai spectral Ica.ed wirc.l
Washington, Jan O.-lioeulation
hy the interstate commerce eommis-
sion OF the American Telephone a
Telegraph CO.. and not the eompul-
sorry competitive provisions of the
sherman antitrust law. viii be the
means ~ solving In large measure tho
so-called telephone trust problem
according to Attorney General Wick
ersham. who announced today that
/ he had referred the whole question Ia
the commission for investigation and
action.
/ This move terminates the investiea-
tion by the department of Justice oi
the alleged S600. 090. 900 telephone
trust against which Independent tclc-
phone companies have made charges
Of unfair treatment and Of the oin-
ployment OF methods destructive oi
competition The commissions investi-
cation will he far-reaching IN effect
and out Of 1t is expected to grow the
outline Of governmental policy with
respect 20 the telephone and tele-
prarh. II must be determined. accord
ing 10 officials. whether In the interest
and convenience of the public tele-
phone or telegraph monopoly under
lrigld regulation should be tolerated
hy the federal government. or wheth-
or the government should take over
st4T. 4fn4n4Ii N.
ton should be enforced under the
Sherman antitrust law and monopoly
prohibited.
Chairman Lane. Of the Interstate
commerce commission formally am
nounced tonight that. 'in response
to Information submitted to it today
by the attorney general the inter-
state commerce commission would
make m investigation into the opera
tions, rates and practices of the va
rious telephone companies.
Pointing to the complaints which
have been lodged with the govern
ment against the American Telephone
& Telegraph company generally
known as the Bell Telephone system.
the attorney general says in his com
muncation 10 the eommission Many
Of these questions Il seems to me can
not be dealt with appropriately by
the law department of the govern
ment. but should be made the subject
Of regulation after a careful investi-
CATION Of the whole subject of your
honorable body The powers vested
in you by statute, appear to me to be
ample to enable you to make a COM
prehensive and thorough investiga-
ton of the matter. II may be that as
a result Of such investigation. YOU will
conclude that additional legislation
should be suggested to congress. quite
a number Of the states have enacted
laws vesting in public utilities COM
missions. or similar bodies, jurlsdic-
ton which has been executed in some
instances with respect TO the acquisl-
tion OF telephone lines Of one com
pany by another and with respect 20
the interchange OF business and facili-
ties between telegraph and telephone
lines.
state regulation. however, cannot
he a satisfactory method Of ultimate
solution Of the questions arising out
Of telephone operation. The value Of
a telephone service depends largely
upon the facility Of connecting every
individual telephone user with any
point upon any telephone line in the
United states. but this should be at
tained under conditions which secure
the public maximum Of 10" anience
upon most reasonable terms cen 'stent
with Il fair return upon the IN st-
ment aud under suitable supervis
and control OF your honorable body
Dealing with the powers of the
Mr.. Wickersnam points
OUT thar the interstate commerce act
makes telephone telegraph and cable
engaged in interstate or
foreign business common carriers; re-
Quires that all their rates shall be
just and reasonable and prohibits the
granting Of undue or unreasonable
to any one. That section OF
the act requiring common carriers to
ile with the commission and keep
open to public inspection schedules !
Of rates. fares and charges. the at !
torney general adds. probably Is not !
broad enough to extend To telephone !
and telegraph companies. He holds !
however. that the act confers upon !
The commission ample power Of IN /
Festigation on its own initiative and |
he points to the section Of the law
authorizing the commis- |
sion 70 fix just and reasonable rates
md to prohibit unjust and discrim-
natory practices by telephone and
elegraph companies.
Under the provisions Of the stat
lte referred to. continues the attor-
ley general. "the commission there
'ore is empowered fully 70 make the |
most thorough Investigation into the
'ates and practices Of the telephone +
companies 10 determine what are /