The Washington times., 1913-11-13
TELEPHONE PROBE
ORDERED IN SENATE
Chesapeake and Potomac Co.
Is ACCUSED of unfairness in
Resolution.
Continued from First Pase.)

Continued from First Page.)
cies of bribery akin to issuing railroad
pasSes- L do not mean that ANYBODY
has been bribed. but l have no doubt
ne company shows this favoritism in
The hope 1t will affect the attitude of
members of Congress and officials to-
ward It"
When Senator Norris introduced the
resolution there was a short AMI ami
Iltted discussion. Senator Norris ex-
plained his reasons for believing the in
.ormation should be obtained. He al
udcd TO the corporate relationship OF
Inc Chesapeake and Potomac Company
aging "a maze of corporations seem to
ne 10 becloud the issue and il the Sen
lie desired to find all the facts and as
certain if rates were exorbitant theid
solution should be adopted.
Objection Withdrawn.
Senator Gallinge- was at first disposed
TO object but withdrew his objection,
saying that on examining the resolution
folly he could see no objection to it.
He thought the public utilities commits
sion already had the needed authority
but In view of the statement of Senator
MOTIFS thought the resolution might well
be passed.
In regard to the charge of discrimi-
nation in favor of members of Con-
sress, sand Senator Gallinger, Il
assume that everybody knows there is
no difference in charge made to men,
hers of Congress. That would be a
criminal offense. L think they pay the
usual rentals. We seem to be constant
~ investigating ourselves Il
Let us see about that" said Senator
Norris. Il believe the Senator will
Hitndraw those remarks when he finds
Gu tthe facts"
He then explained in detail about the
practice of the company of allowing
congressman. Senators and high 6ffi-
ciais 70 terminate a contract any time
and not allowing other to do So He
said he was informed it was in the
rules of the COMPANY, He denounced
II as form of rebate. The same rule
ought to apply to all, he declared. to
the ordinary laborer as to the Mem
per of Congress.
High Rate Paid.
Senator Gallinger said all he knew
was that he was paying twice as much
for telephone service here as in his
home city.
If anyone is paying more, L am sorry
for them" he said. IF there is dis
elimination, the commission NAV well
inquire into it.
Senator Smoot asked If it was not
fair TO allow the contract for members
OF Congress to terminate in view of |
their temporary residence here. Sena- |
tor Norris said if it applied to them it |
ought to apply to everyone the day |
iaborer and all Others He added that /
he had consulted the Public Utilities |
Commission and had faith in it.
The resolution was then adopted.
Senator Norris at first intended to ,
ask the Public Utilities Commission !
for information as to the rates charg- /
ed the Government. But he made the /
resolution broader than that As he
finally introduced it, it calls for a |
IN Aran irn a. al
Utilities Commission into the, tele-
phone company's affairs. its relations /
20 the Government and the public, its /
capitalization, rates TO subscribers, |
and the like.
The telephone company is charged
II has been the objective of many COM
plants, but somehow has received less
attention at the hands of Congress than
have other public utilities of the Dis
trict.
Senator Norris believes the rates
charged the Government and the public
for telephone service here are outrage
ously high He said so today His res
olution is intended to help pave the
way for a general reduction of rates.
rat on the exaction of rates from the
public which are entirely unwarranted
Hard To Get Facts. I
Some days ago. Senator Norris, get
ting interested in the telephone situa-
ton here. set out to find out the facts.
He wanted to ascerain what the Gov
ernment in its various branches was
paying for telephone service. He ran
up against a stone wall.
He at first thought of introducing a
few resolutions directed to the District
Government, the Treasury Department.
and the like asking what was paid for
telephone service
But when I looked into it, said
Judge Norris, nobody seemed to know
the facts 1 found that the Treasury
Knew nothing about what other depart-
lnents were paying. / found the Inter-
state Commerce Commission had an ar