St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-07-23

speaking, II IS lar lIOlu DeluS COLI
Quoted, as far as the public is con-
cerned, on the selfish principles gen.
orally regarded as monopolistic. On
the contrary, in Burlington, and we
believe everywhere in Vermont, the
Telephone company is invariably
obliging and helpful, as practically
all its subscribers have learned by
experience. The public is treated
with unvarying courtesy and all
complaints are attended to prompt
ly. Indeed, complaint and criticism
is solicited by the company, and its
chief aim, as far as subscribers are
concerned, is to bring the service to
the highest point of efficiency and
satisfaction. Surely all these things
should be considered, when we un-
dertake to discuss the telephone
system.
AS to rates, we hear no complaint
in Burlington that they are too high.
Governor Fletcher's commission
gives no substantial proof that they
are excessive, but lightheartedly
throws the whole burden upon the
Telephone company. In other words,
they recommend that the burden in
the first instance ought to rest upon
the company to satisfy the commits
sion that their rates, charges and
business methods are fair, just and
equitable"
That is. the commission has found
out little or nothing on which to
base action, but it wants to cite the
company before it to prove that
it's charges are just. On the same
principle a citizen could be hailed in
to court not to prove his innocence
of a charge based upon substantial
evidence, but to prove that he had
not violated the law generally.
Governor Fletcher intimates that
he will bring the matter before the
Legislature at. it's coming session.
Then, no doubt, the question will be
fully discussed, and it's rights and
wrongs brought to light. In the
meantime we commend to our read
ers. bearing in mind what we have
said above. the reading of the report
of the commission. - Burlington
Daily News.
Lack Real Information
The report of the special counsel
of the state of Vermont concern
ing telephone conditions in this state
is marked greatly by the lack OF
information forthcoming from in
vestigation, although there are some
interesting revelations which were
not known by the general public.
Doubtless a part of this failure to
secure more extended information
was due to the recalcitrant attitude
of the New England Telephone &
Telegraph Company, which was the
chief object of the special inquiry
as it is by far the largest pubic
service corporation of the sort IN
Vermont However, enough was
revealed to enable the state to take
action if it is deemed advisable under
the conditions; and the matter has
been put suuarely up to the public
service commission for the issuing
of such order as may seem reason
able. We should say that the re-
port of the special counsel, as far
as it goes, reveals enough to Just1-
fy active steps being taken by the
state of Vermont.-Barre Times.
Pay Mr.. Bryan His Price
The more Mr.. Bryan excuses him
self. the more he accuses himself.
Bv his own confession he has been
saving about 900 per annum for
seventeen years. The. aggregate OF his
thrift is therefore a reserve capital
of $4,000, which ought to yield
him an income of about $1,000 with
which to supplement his official
salary in meeting the expenditures
of his position. He had at least this
reserve capital when he entered the
State Department, and in little more
four months it cannot have under
gone serious depletion.
To the Bryanities of the 1dola-
trous type, Mr.. Bryan's explanation
may besuficient, but to all who real
ize the Importance of the duties OF
the Secretary of State, and to all
who hold the old-fashioned doctrine
that the laborer is bound to give his
best labor for the wages he accepts,
Mr.. Bryan is making a sorry ana
a sordid spectacle of himself. lie is
neglecting the duties he has pledged
himself to perform. There are at
least three great international ques-
tions pressing on our Government
for decision. There are our rela-
tions to Mexico, involving MONROE
ism and its application; the Panama
tolls controversy with Great Britain;
and the conclusion of negotiations
with japan growing out of the Cali
fornia anti-alien legislation. Any one
of these is enough to give expert
enced and conscientious Secretary OF
State exacting employment of his
highest talents. Mr.. Bryan is Meth
er experienced nor conscientious.
He lets these questions drift, while
ambassadors vainly call for decl-
sions. and while he is speeding from
Something Lake" to Something
else Grove" to fill Chautauqua en-
gagements. He has no policies him
self: he has no time to consider pol
icies to which his attention is lnylt-
ed AS a Chautauqua lecturer, Mr.:
BRYAN is a busy man, as Secretary of
State an idle man. He is callous
alike to the charms of official duty
and official dignity.
If is in this national emergency
that Senator Bristow, the Progress
sive leader in the senate, comes for
ward with the timely proposal that
President Wilson ascertain ana
communicate to the Congress Mr..
Bryan's own appraisal of his services
per month. Then can the legisla-
tors add to his salary the amount