The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-10
Mutual Relations and Interests
Of the Bel System andthe Public

tain telephone properties in the north
west, as well as the pending Interstate
Commerce commission telephone in
vestigation, have caused many in
quiries. Without taking up anything
going to the merits Of these proceed
ings. 1t has seemed to us proper to
state generally what has been our pol
icy 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
u business has been conducted on
these lines.
We believe that our company has an
interest as vital as that of the public
in the proper administration Of the
problems of electrical inter communi-
cation. The success and prosperity Of
our company depend upon a solution
of these problems which shall be sound
from both the standpoint Of the COM
pany and the public which it serves.
Following our own best judgment,
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice, we have endeavored to dc what
would best serve the public interest;
wherever possible our plans have been
disclosed to the public in advance, and
what has been done in carrying them
out has been along ordinary business
lines, with the implied, and generally,
ryifh %ha oyr~oscoI onDroxyol ,y1fhar-
ization 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 to
the transaction of our business, are
matters of common knowledge and
are, n for many years have been,
well known to the government. We
will willingly furnish the government
any additional information which is in
our possession or under our control,
n will cordially. cooperate with it in
obtaining such further information as
it MAJ require. Every possible assist
ance will be given by us 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 corrected; we will
voluntarily rectify n wrong that
may be pointed out to us; and, 50 far
as it smay be determined that our pol
icy:or any act under it is against the
public interest, we will promptly con-
form to such determination. ~
We believe that If each Of our ex-
changes were made an independent
unit and If each connecting line were
put under a separate control, the eff
feet upon the telephone service of the
country would be ascondition so intol-
cradle that the public would refuse to
submit to it and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
common control of these various units
as would a~malgamate them into a
single system. Physical connection in
the case Of telephone or. telegraph does
not mean transfer Of messages from
n line to the other. 1t. means. such
a4connection as will permit one person
to, have the actual possession of the
particular line Of communication from
n end of 1t to the other, and this can
only be given efficiently by exchange
systems and connecting lines under a
common control; and that is what the
Bell system is.
In this connection, and for general
information, we will restate the policy
which controlled the building up Of
the Bell system, and our belief as to
what a telephone system should be,
and what are its relations to the
public.
n We believe and were the first to
advocate state or government control
and regulation of public, utilities that
this control or regulation should be by
permanent quasi-judicial bodies, act
ing after thorough Investigation and
governed by the equities Of Zach case;
and that this control or regulation, be-
yond requiring the greatest efficiency
and economy, should not interfere
with management or operation. We
believe that these bodies, If they are
to be permanent, effective and of pub
lie benefit. should be thoroughly rep
resentative; they should be of such
character and should so conduct their
investigations and deliberations; as to
command such respect from both the
public and the corporations that both
will without question accept their CON
clusions.
We believe that the public would
in this way get all the advantages
and avoid all the manifest disadvan-
tages of public ownership.
We believe that centers of business
and population exist for the convent
ence of the public as a whole, and that
no such center can prosper without
sufficient and efficient means Of inter-
course with other centers tribu-
1 .tary territories; that such means can
only be afforded by prosperous util-
ity and service companies and that
fair rates are essential to prosperous
companies. We dc not believe that any
public either desires or can obtain,
nor can any service or utility furnish,
permanent and efficient service at less
than cost, including capital charges.
We believe that ultimately the public
either directIv& or indirectly pava the