Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-23
DOESN'T AGREE WITH GRAHAM.

DOESN'T AGREE WITH GRAHAM.
After asking some questions regarding
the comparative rate in various cities.
Mr.. Graham asked.
you will agree, will you not, that in
every city where there is competition the
rate Is lower?"
II will agree to nothing of the sort"
said Mr.. Hall, "because that is not the
fact Competitive rates are Illogical and
misleading and constitute no proper critic
rion."
He cited the case OF New Bedford as
showing that competition did not lower
rates.
There are five New England ex-
changes in the state in which chief
operator is employed and 10 employ
ing senior operator and supervisor.
This Ices not include the subsidiary
companies. Burlington is the largest
exchange. having 3S operators. This
list includes n senior operator. chief
operator, supervisor, service operator
and clerk.
The total number of exchanges OPP
Grated by the New England AMI its
subsidiaries is 46 and the common
battery system is in use in Burlington,
Rutland, Bennington, Brattleboro, St
Johnsbury, Montpelier and Barre.
CONSTRUCTION OF TOLL LINES.
Mr.. Hall was questioned as to the
construction of long toll lines. There
is one continuous toll line from White
River Junction to Boston To make
other long connections several cir
cults must be set up and connected.
Service from Boston to Montreal is by
way of Lansingburg, y. Y. and none
of it goes through Vermont.
Explaining the telegram toll rate, he
gave three illustrations During GER
tain period a telegram from Newport to
Boston would be telephoned to St. Johns
bury The toll Of - cents would be d.
vided so that the telephone company
would receive LIS and the Western Union
1873 cents. by way of Montpelier the
division would be 1897 and 1903 and by
way of Lancaster, n. H., 1875 and 1875.
The sender of the message is charged the
regular telegraph rate, no matter how it
is transmitted
Asked as to risks Of business, Mr.. Hall
said they We're large on account of the
discoveries and improve ments in the bus.
mess Telephone companies have just
passed through the experience of chang
ing from the magnetic to the common bat
terry system They are now facing the
question whether the present switchboard
system will continue to he adequate.
The possibility of wireless telephony
also threatens to become serious mat
ter.
In explanation of the reduced "tele-
gram toll' rate. Mr.. Hall said this was
for the reason that this is practically
a by-produCt, as the business comes at
q time when the demand for service
is comparatively small; further, less
time is required for the message than
the ordinary call and there is no
chance of loss as the dealing is with
a perfectly responsible company.
IT has been decided by the commits
sion to adjourn at noon Friday until
week from next "Wednesday. This is
because the commission will he attend =
ing the hearings in regard to railroad
rates in Boston next week, sitting with
the interstate commerce conmiss ion
and commissioners from other States.
In yesterdays account of the hear
ing it was stated that Mr.. Hall became
faint. 1t was Mr. Graham and not the
telephone official who was indisposed.