The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-09-10

The suit brought by the United
States questioning the purchase of
certain telephone properties in the
northwest, as well as the pending in
terstate commerce commission tele-
phone investigation, have caused
many inquiries. Without taking up
anything going to the merits OF these
proceedings. 1t has seemed to us prop
er to state generally what has been
our policy and purpose in the conduct
of our business.
We have found, or thought that we
had, that our interests were best serv-
ed when the public interests were best
served; and we believe that such sue
cess as we have had has been because
our business has been conducted o.
these lines
We believe that our company has an
interest as vital as that u enc public
in the proper administration Of the
problems of electrical inter-commun-
ication. The success and prosperity
of our company depend upon a solu-
ton OF these problems which shall be
sound from both the standpoint of the
company and the public which it
serves.
Following our own best judgment,
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice, we have endeavored to do
what would best serve the public in
terest; wherever possible our plans
have been disclosed to the public in
advance, and what has been done in
carrying them out has I>s..n along
ordinary business lines, with the i'm
piled, and generally, with the express
ed approval. authorization or consent
of the municipal and state authorities
directly interested. Our effort has
been not only to obey the law, but to
avoid everything which might even
have the appearance Of an attempt at
evasion.
Our business methods and policy,
and practically all Of the details as
i to the transaction of our business,
are matters of common knowledge and
are, and for many years have been,
we'll known to the government. We
will willingly furnish the government
any additional information which Is In
our possession or under our control,
and will cordially cooperate with 1t
in obtaining such further information
as 1t may require. Every possible as
sistance will be given by lis to the
courts in their effort to determine
whether our policy is or has been
inimical to the public interest. We
desire that anything wrong be cor
rected; we will voluntarily rectify
, any wrong that may be pointed out to
US; and. SO far as it may be determin
led that our policy or any act under II
lis against the public interest we will
promptly conform to such determine
ton.
. We believe that if each of our ex,
!. changes were made an independent
unit and il each connecting i1ne were
J put under separate control, the eft
feet upon the telephone service of the
country would be conaition so intol
Ierable that the public would refuse te
submit to it and would is-.nediatel,
require such physical connection ant
!. common control OF these various units
g as would amalgamate them into {
| single system. Physical connection il
the case of telephone or telegraph
does not mean transfer of message:
from one line to the other. 1t means
: such a connection as will rermit on
!. person to have the actual possession
of the particular line of communica
a ton from one end of it to the othe
:. and this can only be given efIicientl.
BY exchange systems and connectint
: lines under a common control; ant
:, that is what the Bell System is.
In this connection, and for genera
l. information, we will restate the polio,
d which controlled the building up o
g the Bell System, and our belief as t.
s what telephone system should be
). and what are its relations to tn,
), public
g We believe in and We're the first t
!. advocate state or government contro
= and regulation of public utilities
: that this control or regulation shoul
be by permanent quasi-judicial bodies
acting after thorough investigation
and governed by the equities of eacl
] case; and that this control or regula
i, ton. beyond requiring the creates
y efficiency and economy, should not In
:, terfere with management Or opera
!. ton. We believe that these bodies,
L they are to be permanent effective an,
OF public benefit, should be thoroughly
representative; they should be o