The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-06-19
TELEPHONE PROBE
IS STARED HERE BY
R.. R.. COMMISSION
IFS Companies Rep
resented at This
Meetirg,
is INVESTIGATION
OF Matters of
Between Stockholders
and Patrons.
From Tuesdays Daily

In an interview today Commits.
sioner Murphy and Secretary Cas-
sell of the state railroad COM
mission, declared that the session of
the commission III Mitchell today
would have nothing to do with the
local controversy here. They stated
that as far as the Mitchell case is
concerned, the board has completed
its inventory of tine Mitchell plant
and has checked the books OF the
company at Aberdeen, but that no
statement of it's findings will De made
until September 18th, the expiration
of the 1870 days extension allowed in
the matter. 1--WE nave nothing to do
with the franchise question:" says MIR.
Murphy, 'that is for the courts to
decide. but we do maintain that we
have a right and power to fix an
equitable rate for any telephone COM
pany i'm the state where that rate is
Il matter of controversy"
AT the meeting this afternoon var
ious telephone men were called be-
fore the commission on matters of
alleged discrimination. The main
principle the commission was trying
to get at was the idea of a MAI in a
certain town calling a rural party by
going through an exchange of anoth-
er town. In some cases he would have
to pay two tolls or this call while ii
the rural party wished to call back
to him. likewise through a middle
town he would have to pay only one
toll. In other words, the commission
believed that the same rate should be
charged 10th ways on any call owe a
certain distance, when the same wiz
es were used.
1924 In Attendance.
The board OF railroad commission
ers of this state are in session here
today in the matter of the investiga-
ton into certain irregularities and
determinations practiced by various
telephone companies in the operation
of their telephone lines and in the
conduct OF their business in this state
and the failure of other telephone
companies to comply with the laws
of this state.
The meeting opened at the auditor
ium of the city hall this morning at
10 o'clock and a similar meeting will
be held at Rapid City, June goth. II
is stated that about 124 telephone
companies in South Dakota are rep.
resented at the meeting here today
At the meeting here which it is
supposed will consume two days, the
following subjects will be given Z
hearing:
Discrimination in the matter Of
charges made for telephone service
- Al jo,,, ~, Il 4, r. n 4, u,1r nrS
not stockholders.
Extra charges eXacted for deliver
ing toll messages on local exchanges
and rural telephone lines.
Discrimination in switching con
nection fees and terminal charges
Determinations in furnishing o
free telephone instruments and tele
phone service in connection there
with.
: The necessity of filing all SEIZED
2 ules of rates and all franchises ant
copies of all contracts or agreement
with municipalities and telephon,
companies as required by law.
The making and filing of annua
reports to telephone companies an
: contents thereof.
The necessity of procuring plat
and maps of each telephone system
, in the state for the information an
assistance of the board and telephon
companies.
The proper method to be adopte
in handling the depreciation accoun
and the amounts to be charged TO
depreciation.
The feasibility and ACCESSIBILITY Q
y naming and establishing a rental rat
allowing for a discount if the renta
!. is paid before a certain date and tn
= amount to be allowed for such dis
count.
All telephone companies dom
business east of the Missouri Rive
are required to be present by at leas
one representative at the hearing t
II be held at Mitchell, and all telephon
u companies doing business west of tn
Missouri River are required to be i
attendance by at least one represer
e tative at the hearing to be held &
~ Rapid City.
Roster Taken Today.
Is The session this morning was d.
IL voted almost entirely to a compl'
ton of the roster and finding whs
IS companies, east of the river wei
represented at the meeting today.
was found that 1924 companies wei
represented by 129 men. Thes
companies include all from tt
D. smallest of mutual lines to the lar
q est concerns operating lines in IL
lie state. The main topic of the inve
l. tigation is the question of discri1
ination in the monthly rental rat
i as between stockholders and patron
1t is asserted that many of the cor
A. panies do not charge their stoc
I'd holders regular rentals which is CO
10 sidered a discrimination against Il
of regular subscribers.
The present investigation will
to aid the commission in makir
I'd rules which it thinks necessary
compel a uniformity Of operation al
put the telephone business on a COZ
mercial basis.
Independent Men Will Meet.
J.l The members of the Sonth Dako
e. Independent Telephone a%ssociatio!
he will hold a mepEnp tOnipht in II