The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-12-20

Tho United States Government has
disciplined the Telephone Trust and
checked It's policy OF monopoly.
This action will prove OF direct value
to the people OF New York City and
greatly assist The Evening Worlds
campaign for cheaper telephone rates
In this city.
Following the lead OF the National
Government, New York can now dis
cipline its local telephone company
and put an end to its policy Of ex.
tortion in rates and interborough
toll charges.
The Telephone Trust promises the
Government that neither the parent
company nor any of Its subsidiaries.
Ind this includes the New York Tele-
phone Company. will buy up any more
telephone companies.
Tho New York Telephone Company
bAs soeen milking millions of dollars out
n New York City patrons in order TO
buy up all the telephone companies In
teven Eastern States. This policy must
now cease. There Is no longer any .x-
cuse for the extortionate rates inflicted
on New Workers.
RATES MUST BE BASED ON COST
OF SERVICE.
Telephone rates in New York City
must come down. New York will pay
sufficient rates to give Itself good SER
vice, but New York need not pay any
longer extortionate rates TO perpetuate
the company's policy OF monopoly and
acknowledgement in seven States. New
York's rates must be based on cost of
service In New York City alone. Open
the books and see how the city has
been MIXED.
After a month Of postponement the
upstate Public Service Commission VIII
give another hearing on New York's de-
mand for cheaper telephone rates on
Monday. At 10 O'Clock A. NJ. In the
Assembly Hall OF tho Metropolitan Life
Building. Madison Square. Chairman NJ.
,. Decker will preside.
~. II. Winkler. lawyer, OF No. 81 Wall
street, will demand that action be taken
on his petition that now has been pend
ing for Sc, -al months. Memorials. reso-
,lutions and petitions by the score have
been poured In on tho commission dur
ing the last month, urging prompt re-
lief. Large numbers OF civic associa-
tons have appointed representatives to
attend tho hearing and support the de-
mand.
The New York Telephone Company
was ordered by tho commission to sub
NIT at this hearing q statement OF its
s1Sntngs. expenses and capital invea(-
mont In New York City service. These
hgures have been carefully concealed to
prevent the public from knowing how
vast are the prohts from the extortion-
ate rates to subscribers and the extra
tolls charged for messages between bor-
suShs.
Rates charged in New York are the
biggest IN the country. despite the fact
Tat tho business here 10 twice that Of
oay other city.
N the telephone business the
rule 10, "xhs moro subscribers you
~, the more you charge them"
Nsw York 10 the only city in the
United 0tatss which stands for I'd.
litonal Toll CHARGES within the city
Limits.
The Telephone Company seeks TO per-
petuate Its present extortions. Its latest
scheme Is to assert that no reductions
In rates can be made until a complete
appraisal Of its physical property Ia
made by experts to be used as . basis
for . revised schedule Of rates.
This appraisal will take at least one
year, more probably two years.
II will cost 10000, which the tele-
phone company asserts the people must
pay II they want revised rates.
The telephone company makes the
blum that II its rates are reduced by
order OF the commission or by act OF
the Legislature 1t will appeal to the
courts and delay proceedings for years.
The Public service Commission Is In
cl!ncd to approve OF the valuation
scheme. regardless OF the years of time
necessary.
| The Public Service Commission
says II has NO money to employ
experts and that the Board OF
Aldermen must appropriate $780,
600 OF the peoples money, In order
70 regulate this greedy monopoly
that 10 sxtorting millions . year
eat Of the public pockets.
From the large number OF commune
cations and resolutions received by The
Evening World from telephone sub
scribers 1t Is apparent that II the Public
Service Commission at it's meeting Mon
day does not grant relief from the tele-
phone extortion. the Legislature will do
II over the commissions head,
RESOLUTIONS sY CIVIC BOARDS
AND OTHERS.
Civic assocat tons. boards OF trade. tax
payers alliances, trade unions and alsc
Individual telephone subscribers have
been signing petitions and writing to
tho Public Service Commission. Many
Of them have addressed The Evening