South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-21

west. as we'll as the pending Interstate
Commerce Commission telephone in
vestigation. have caused many inquir-
les without taking up anything go
ing 20 the merits Of these proceedings,
Il has seemed 10 US proper 10 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
success as we have had Las been
because our business has been con-
Quoted 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
communication. The success and
prosperity Of our company depend
upon a solution of these problems
which shall be sound from both the
standpoint Of the company and the
public which it serves.
u.
supplemented by the best obtainable
advice, we have endeavored to do 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 with the expressed approx
al. authorization or consent Of the
municipal and state authorities di-
rectly 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. and 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
and will cordially cooperate with it in
obtaining such further information as
II may 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 any wrong that
may be pointed out TO us; and, so far
as il may be determined that our pol
icy or any act under il is against the
pubic interest we VIII promptly con-
form to such determination.
We believe that If each Of our ex-
changes were made an Independent
unit and II each connecting line were
put under a separate control the eff
feet upon the telephone service of the
country would be q condition so intol-
cradle that the public would refuse TO
submit 10 it and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
common control of these various units
as would amalgamate them into a
single system. Physical connection in
the case of telephone or telegraph does
not mean transfer Of messages from
one line TO the other. 1t means such
a connection as will permit one person
TO have the actual possession Of the
particular line of communication from
one end of it to the other and this can
only be given efficiently by exchange
systems and connecting lines under a
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.
We believe in 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 each 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-
taxes OF pubic 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
coUfse with other centers and tribu-
tary territories; that such means can
only be afforded by prosperous util-
lty and SeViCe companies and that
fair rates are essential to prosperous
companies. We do not believe that any
public either desires or can obtain, nor
can any service or utility furnish. per
1hanent and efficient service at less
than cost, including capital charges.
We believe that ultimately the public
either directly or indirectly pays the
losses involved IN the efforts 10 furnish
such service at less than it's fair cost,
either through the loss OF the capital
involved, the losses incident TO poor
service or the necessary increase In
charges required 10 pay for duplica-
ton Of capital.
. We believe that the highest com
mercial value Of the telephone serv-
Ice depends on its completeneSs-on