The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-22
Calls" Commissioner for Fail
ure to Send City Officials Re-
port on Phone Probe
SHOWS THAT COMPANY
is GROWING VERY BOLD
Now Attempting to Curtail the
Service on All Party
Lines

euer. inttmating that the mayor hash
'arefully read and digested the con
report on the Local elephon
Investigation. -
In his communication, the mayo
axes occasion to politely cali tn
commission for neglecting to extern
he courtesy OF sending either tn
mayor or the council a copy Of tn
eport. The mayors letter to tn
Commissioner. mailed Friday mornini
Michigan Railroad Commission,
Hon. Lawton T. Hemans, Chair
man, Lansing, Mich:
My Dear Mr.. Hemans:
beg leave to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your letter In which you
state that have mis-interpreted
the findings of the Michigan rail-
road commission, relative to the
recent investigation of telephone
service In this city.
II have erred with thousands
Of telephone users In this city, In
believing that your report recon.
mended or sanctioned metered
service. trust you will pardon
me, especially inasmuch as your
commission failed to show the
courtesy of sending either the
common council or myself copy
OF the report. You are, therefore,
correct when you state that you
believe I have not read your re-
port. Due, undoubtedly, to an In
advertance on the part OF your
commission, my only source OF In
formation was the newspaper &C
counts of your report. which &C
counts, again observe, agree In
interpreting the report as favor
ing measured or limited service.
II your communication ad-
dressed to me. may be construed
as assurance that Detroit Is not
to be burdened with any such
recommendation, It Is doubly well
come. First, for the reason that
1t will be good news for local tele-
phone users; second. because 1t Is
the first ofilcial Information that
the railroad commission has seen
At to forward us, even though the
question Of restricting our tele-
phone service is OF vital interest
to Us.
For the purpose OF convincing
you that Detroit telephone sub
scribers with myself, we're not
the only ones who may have mis-
construed your report. wish to
call your attention to the fact that
since your report was given pub
lication, the Michigan State Tele-
phone Co., has. through It's repre-
sentatives, been notifying party
line users that four outgoing calls
per day are all that Will be per
mitted under their contracts; that
conversations must not exceed
1--WE minutes duration: that the
service in future will be accurate
ly measured: that Ave cents per
can will be charged for all In ex-
cess OF four per day, and that
homes having more than Eve per-
sons must purchase direct line
service.
That the Michigan railroad COM
mission. under the statute, must
grant a hearing before metered
service IL established. Is, as you
have assumed, information that I
was not In possession OF. but
which / am much pleased to re-
ceive. Respectfully,
OSCAR B. MARX,
Mayor.
Mayor Marx said. Friday morning
hat he was loath to enter into a cor
-oversy with the state railroad CON
lission over the report on the tele
hone probe. but he intimated tina
re independent attitude assumed b.
he commission all through the ir
estigation, 10 intolerabie.
THE telephone Investigation IL Q
ital interest to every person In Dt
roit," said the mayor. The com
lission seems to have lost sight O
1is fact, judging by the manner Il
hitch the investigation was handle
nd the contents OF the subsequen
sport. The regulation Of the loca
slephone service ought to be In tn
ands OF the common council. Whe1
10 council did start IN investigation
10 commission stepped In, and with
Mt q word to the aldermen, took CON
lcke charge Of the probe.
Whatever suggestions or recon
Commissioner Heman
-ishes to convey In his report, I wan
clearly understood that the grea
,ajority Of the telephone subscriber
, Detroit do not want metered Sol
ice."
Aid. Lodge, chairman Of the con
littee on public utilities, who wa
ne Of the men responsible for star
lg the telephone probe. said he di
OF like the tone Of Commissions
Iemans' letter to the mayor.
IT vead the report of the commii
lon, and I thought ! clearly under
TODD that the commission favore
le installation OF metered service a
means Of improving the service,
Aid Aid. Lodge. IL do not like tn
ttitude assumed by Commissions
Temans In his letter to the mayor
o my mind the state railroad con
lissiou should have extended to tn
lty ohicials the courtesy Of cooper
on In an investigation which wa
tarted BY an aldermanic committe
nd then taken up by the commission
Our contention that the telephon
ervice and rates ought TO be reg,
tied blythe council, II made stronge
han ever by the attitude Of the raj
odd commission In this matter"
The 3. r. Brooks and Fritsch Co., {
~ Monroe-ave.. pride themselves O
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