New-York tribune., 1913-12-23
LIGHT ON PHONE
RATES REFUSED
New York Telephone Co.
Breaks Promise to Up
state Commission.
COUNSEL "UNABLE"
TO GIVE FIGURES
Hearing Forced to Adjourn, but
Chairman Decker Will Take
Compulsory Steps.

The New York Telephone Company re-
fused yesterday 10 aid the upstate Pub
lie Service Commission in its effort 10
establish lower rate Of tolls in this city.
Representatives of the company told the
commission at hearing in the Metro
politan Building that they could produce
no figures showing its gross income.
do you mean 10 say that you cannot
tell this commission what your yearly IN
come is in New York city, asked the
chairman.
NO" replied a lawyer for the com
pany New York City is just a part o!
a section served by our company, and the
only way we could get at il would he oy
a method OF apportionment. | have no
idea whether We are making or losing
money in New York City"
NJ. S Decker chairman OF the com
mission, tried TO compel John l.. Swayze'
counsel for the telephone company. 10
tell something OF the financial status of
the concern. The lawyer declared he was
unable 10 answer Decker's questions.
You do know what your gross earn
ings are in The Bronx and in Westches-
ter County, don't you?" asked the chair
man.
NO. we do not" answered the attor-
ney.
Mr.. Swayze." said Chairman Decker
this commission wants TO know how
much money your company IS making.
We've simply got to know how much
money YOU take in and how much you
take out II Is hardly conceivable that
after YOU pay out your operating eN-
penscs YOU have little left We are help
less in your hands. and We need the in
formation that you alone can give. Your
refusal simply stops these proceedings at
the threshold"
Mr.. Swayze reiterated that II was I'M
possible for the company 10 furnish the
figures. He said that az best only an
estimate could be made Of the gross earn
ings in New York by some method of ap-
portionment Mr.. Swayze also refused TO
give the gross amount OF capital invested
by the company. Chairman Decker SAID
that the telephone company had prom
ised to supply detailed information, and
T. p. Sylvan. of counsel for the concern
admitted it had.
Among those who appeared al the hear
ing were Harrison B. Neil, Of No. lo)
Broadway, representing several com
panies. including the Postal Telegraph
Gable Company. and NJ. II. Winkler. OF
No. 90 Wall street, representing thirty
New York business concerns which are
fighting for lower rates. Mr.. Nink.er
tried TO get figures and facts from the
company's counsel. but with no better
success than the chairman Of the com
mission,
Mr. Swayze also refused 10 give in
formation regarding the contract calling
for the payment of 4ia per cent Of the
gross income Of the New York Telephone
Company to the American Telegraph and
Telephone Company. Mr. Decker made
formal demand for the production OF TINS
evidence.
Mr.. Winkler presented petition ask
ing for a reduction OF rates 70 the same
basis as Chicago rates and the abolition
Of the extra charge for messages be
tween boroughs. II. 3. We'll appeared as
LAWYER for a number of real estate men.
Andrew Kinney. Of the Rockaway Board
of Trade, and NJ. NJ Nash, Of the Staten
Island Civic League, voiced the claims Of
their respective sections
Mr. Winkler said that if the Chicago
rates were applied to New York 1t would
mean an annual saving Of about S,5p'pJ
10 the people of New York city Afte'
the hearing was adjourned until thls
morning, Mr.. Decker made this state
ment:
THE New York Telephone Company
must furnish the fiscal information re-
garding the company that has been asked
| for. shall prepare tonight a formal
dcmsnd, to be offered tomorrow forcing
| it TO furnish US with the Information
| On November 4 the company said tha'
! ii would answer these questions when
were submitted to it. on December y
To-day it has refused to carry out It's
promise