The Washington herald., 1913-08-21

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phone properties in the Northwest .,
wen as he peadins Interstate Commerce,
Commission telephone investigated. hav.
caused many inquiries Without taking
up anything going to the merits Of thes<
proceedings. II has seemed to ~ proper
to state generally what has been ouI
policy and purpose In the conduct Of
our business.
We have found. or thought that We
had. that our interests were best served
when the public interests were best
served; and We believe that such sue.
cess a. We have had has been because
our 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-communica-
ton. The success and prosperity Of our
company depend upon q solution 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. sup
plemented 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 ex-
pressed approval. authorization or con-
sent Of the municipal and State authori-
ties 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 az 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 informa-
ton which is in our possession or under
our control. and will cordially cooperate
with il in obtaining such further In
formation as it may require. Every pos
sible assistance will be given by US to
the courts in their effort to determine
whether our policy is or has been mimi
cal to the public interest We desire that
anything wrong be corrected: We win
voluntarily rectify any wrong that may
be pointed out to US; and. SO far as it
may be determined that our policy or
any act under it Is against the public
interest, We will promptly conform to
such determination.
We believe that IL each Of our ex-
changes were made an independent unit
and II each connecting line were put
under a separate control. the effect upon
ths telephone service OF the country
would be condition 20 intolerable 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 amalga-
mate them into . single system. Physi-
cal connection in the case of telephone or
telegraph does not mean transfer Of mes
sages from one line to the other. It
means such a connection as will permit
one person to have the actual possession
Of the particular line Of communication
from one end of 1t to the other and this
can only be given efficiently by exchange
systems and connecting lines under q
control: and that is what the
Bell System is.
In this connection. and for general in
We will restate the policy
which controlled the building up Of the
Bell System. and our belief as to what
\ telephone system should be. and what |
ire its relations to the public.
We believe in and were the first to ad- |
rocate State or government control and 1
regulation Of public utilities: that this !!
control or regulation should be by per
quasi-judicial bodies, acting |
Ifter thorough investigation and gov
,rned by the equities of each case: and
hat this control or regulation. beyond
.equiring the greatest efficiency and
economy, should not interfere with man
Lsement or operation. We believe that
hese bodies, If they are to be permanent.
Elective, and Of public benefit. should be
representative; they should
,e of such character and should 50 con-
luct their Investigations and delibera-
ions as to command such respect from
9th the public and the corporations that
10Th will without question accept their
onclusions.
We believe that the public would In
his vay get all the advantages and
void all the manifest disadvantages OF
ublic ownership. l.
We believe that centers of business and
opulation exist for the convenience OF
he public as q whole. and that no such
enter can prosper without sufhcient ard
ficient means Of intercourse with other
enters and tributary territories; that
UGH means can only be afforded by
rosperous utility and service companies
nd that fair rates are essential to pros
erous companies. We do not believe :
nat any public either desires or can OBJ ,
ain, nor can any service or utility fur 2
sh, permanent and efncient service at
IS than cost. including capital charges
ve believe that ultimately the public
ther directly or indirectly pays the
,ses involved in the efforts to furnish :
,ch service at less than its fair cost.
,b.r through the loss of the capital In.