The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-18
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D|SL|kED
REPRESENTATIVE OF MOUNTAIN
STATES COMPANY ANSWERS
COMPLAINTS.

a " hNNAiI ~ tS ~S
mittee of the chamber of commerce,
held at the Palace hotel last night, the
question of dual telephone service was
discussed at length with j. f. Greene
valid of the publicity department of the
Mountain States Telephone company
Chairman McHaffie of the special
committee named to investigate the
telephone situation and to recommend
a solution for the problem of abatlns
the nuisance of the double service,
was present at the meeting and re-
ported that his committee had pro-
ceeded as far as it could go without
further instructions. He had asked MT.
GreeneWald to come to Missoula to dis
cuss the situation. after he had held
two or three personal conferences.
President Coffee of the chamber OF
outlined briefly the situa-
ton in Missoula and said that con-
ditions had become SO critical that
there is a proposition before the busl-
ness men and the professional men OF
the city to discontinue one or the otner
of the telephone services. There IS no
disposition to act hastily in the mat
ter. but Missoula has waited so long
without getting action that something
must be done, though there is no de-
sire to work injury to any company or
to any individuals. He asked MT.
GreeneWald to speak.
Speaking informally, Mr.. Greenewa1d
said that the situation in Missoula is
the situation which exists in several
.4t.1, ,ror+,,, o;firc Tho 1,anr1p of
these cities had been eager for tWo
telephones until they got them and
Their they had become just as eager to
get rid of one of them. He said that
his recognized the conditions
which exist in Missoula and sympa-
thized with the effort to change them.
MY company is new in this field he
said, though the system which it
owns is the older OF the two in your
territory. Naturally, we want more
business, but we must get it under
conditions which are. legitimate and
which have the approval of the ma
tional and state commissions which
public-service corporations.
And here is the obstacle which is in
the way of the consolidation which has
been proposed here in this city and
elsewhere in Montana"
Mr.. GreeneWald then stated the situ-
alton in which his company finds it.
self. Last year complaint was made
to the department of justice hat the
Bell company was a trust, operating
in restraint of trade. Mr.. Wickersham,
then attorney general, investigated the
situation and gave the opinion that
the benefit to the public would be
greatest if the telephone service were
in a single system, which would
able each subscriber to communicate
with every other subscriber within the
range of the limits of telephone serv-
ice. The department decided that there
should be no prosecution, under exist
ing conditions, but requested the inter-
state commission to make
inquiry into the situation.
This is the condition at present.
the speaker. 1.-THE interstate
commerce commission is investigating
the situation. We do not wish to take
anW step which will in any way
ieopardize the standing of our com
pany in the eyes of the commission.
w i'tiIHt THAT tti'l t1' i'N"i >'iit
tions which render consolidation desir-
able in instances, but we cannot take
any step which will in any way
know what attitude the interstate com
merce commission will In
Helena, in Hamilton and in Missoula,
We have discussed this matter. In Big
Timber we have beer petitioned by
practically the whole town to end the
dual service trouble. We annot act.
In Great Falls we had obtained a
lease upon the automatic system before
the investigation began. But, while this
inquiry is pending, there can be Moth
ing more lone in this line of action.
These are the orders which / have re-
ceived from h~cadnuarters.'
Judge Bickford spoke pon the
question of the consideration which
should he given to the fact hat any
precipitate action would depreciate the
value of the plant which would be de-
prived of patronage by my concerted
discontinuance of service and of the
expense which would be imposed upon
subscribers who would be compelled to
make a change.
Their was further discussion of the
situation and it was decided to request
the Montana delegation in congress to
endeaNor to secure an early decision, If
possible, from the department of JUS
tice. Judge Bicktord, President COT
and Secretary Ferguson will pre-
pare the statement to be submitted.
Mr.. G~reeneWald stated that Vice Presi-
dent Hamlin of the Mountain States
company will be in Missoula late this
month and he asked that the committee
meet with him. An invitation was eX-
tended to Mr.. Hamlin to meet the com
at such date Is will be con-
venient to him.
Their the matter will rest for a fort
night.