Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-09
Ordered Resumed Wednesday
MOrning-Messrs. Cook and
Stickney Clash.
LONGER RECESS WAS DESIRED
important Witnesses Told They
Need Not Wait for Their
Cases to BE Called
Promoters Testify.

Montpelier, Oct. 3-When the telephone
hearing adjourned this afternoon it was
to reopen next Wednesday morning.
w. b. c. Stickncy, at the opening of
this mornings session, suggested that
an adjournment he taken over next
week. as he and J. W. Redmond and
f. q. Fleetwood had an important case
in supreme court next week.
r. A. Cook of counsel for the State
objected to the adjournmcnt believing
that the hearing should continue without
Interruption. The case referred to, he
said, concerned one small village. while
this hearing concerned all the people of
Vermont. He expressed some surprise
that Mr.. Redmond a former chairman
Of the public service commissions should
now appear as counsel for a company OPP
posing a proposed order of the commits
sion.
Mr.. Stickney: "IIc is acting in per-
Torrance of his proper functions as a
lawyer, which you, Mr.. Cook, seem to
ignore"
Chairman Bacon and other attorneys
desire to attend the annual meeting of
the Bar association Tuesday afternoon,
so adjournment was ordered for We'd
nesday morning.
WIN ESSlIS TO BE NOTIFIED.
Mr.. Hall, president of the New
England company. stated that it was a
great inconvenience to keep their I'm
portant witnesses waiting in Montperor
and asked that they be given "a hours
notice when their case was to he heard.
to which Chairman Bacon agreed
Mr.. Cook: Il see that these important
witnesses are still hanging around us"
Mr.. Stckney: THAT remark should
not be allowed to go in the record UNI
corrected. our important witnesses are
not here now. They are in Boston"
VI. l.. Lawrence of the Springfield COM
pany was the first witness this morning.
The present company took over the plant
in February 1902. The regular residence
rate there was $12 per year an in 1901
this was advanced to SIS. The surplus
revenues have been expended i'm improv-
ing and extending the plant Only three
dividends have been paid, amounting to
$3.50, but there has been one stock dividend
which increased the stock 300 per cent
This was done by authority of the public
service commission, which found that the
company had $1,000 of assets. Changes
and improvements have been necessary
every year TO meet the requirements of
of common battery system is now con-
tempated which will cost about $1,000,
and the company asks that it be permit
ted to continue it's present schedule of
charges
EARNINGS LAST YEAR $9314
The cost of the plant. as shown by the
company's books, is $6,727 and the capital
stock $500 and Mr.. Lawrence accounted
for this difference by depreciation. The
earnings of the company last year were
S9,314 and the expenses, including charge
of l,4ol for depreciation. S6,7s2.
Mr. Laurence declined to place any
valuation on his plant but believed the
stock was worth par which would make
the value $1,000, and if the present cash
surplus of $500 were reckoned in the
stock would be worth more.
q. F. Marsh of the West River COM
pany told the story of telephone develop
ment in IandgroVe and Chester. a short
private line was built in Landgrove in
1901 by Nj. Mcintyre. Neghbors began
to call for service and lines were ex-
tended, finally reaching to Chester where
a central office was established.
In 1905 Mr.. Marsh bought out Mcintyre
for $500 The amount he has since put
in brings the cost of his system up to
s1s2O. In the eight years he has OPP
Grated the line he has charged nothing
for his services and has drawn for his
personal expense $2,037OG, an average of
s25i63 per year. He estimated the value
of his plant at $1,000.
ORIGINAL RATE OF SO RAISED.
The original rate was $40 after two
years operation. He entered into a con-
tract with the New England company,
by which he took over their lines in
Chester, renting transmttcrs and receiv-
ers from that company for $l25 a year.
This was later reduced to 70 cents and
he was allowed to buy supplies whenever
he pleased,
The present rate is $l5 for metallic cir
cult and $l3 for grounded lines with a
small discount. The income from rentals
ut the present rate is $500 and his COM
missions on toll business $500, making a
total of S., 500 The expenses, including
ss6i for depreciation and $40 interest.
hre 1860. He pays the New England
company s26S in rentals for pole lines in
Chester and for telephone instruments.
Mr. Graham in cross-cXamination ques-
toned Mr., Marsh as to his ssurces of
Income aside from the telephone bust
ness and then questioned him as to his
acquaintance with Mr. Hageman of the
New England company.
did you not" he asked discuss
your testimony with Mr.. Hageman at
dinner at the hotel this noon?"
Il didn't eat dinner at the hotel to-
day"
Didn't YOU since you came here this
afternoon, discuss your testimony with
Mr., Hageman while You were concealed
by newspaper pretending to be read
lng?"
II haven't spoken to Mr.. Hageman this
afternoon"
HAS he spoken to ,ou?"
mo sir"
GROWTH OF WESTERN COMPANY.
w f. Hanks of Bristol appeared for the
Western Telephone company, which has
100 to 10 miles Of metallic circuit, with
BIS instruments and employing eight oper-
BtOrs.
The company was Incorporated in 1902
TO operate a small line that had been
built some years before. The plant has
cost about $4,000
The company leases two lines from the
New England company and also leases a