The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-09-10

vestigatfon, have caused many inquir-
les Without taking up anything go
ing to the merits of these proceedings.
1t has seemed to US proper TO state
generally what has been our policy
and purpose in the conduct Of our
business.
We have found, or thought that we
had, that our interests were best serv-
ed when the public interests were best
served; and we believe that such sue
cess as 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 or tine
problems of electrical inter-communi-
cation. The success and prosperity Of
our company depend upon a solution
of these problems which shall be sound
from both the standpoint of the COM
pany and the public which it serves.
Following our own best judgment,
supplemented 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 ben done in carrying them
out has been along ordinary business
lines, with the implied, and generally,
with the expressed approval, authori-
cation or consent Of the municipal and
state authorities 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 prac tically all of the details as to
the ansaction of our business, are
matters Of common knowledge and
are, and for many yeaIs have been,
well known to the government We
will willingly furnish the government
any additional information which is in
our possession or under our control,
and will cordially cooperate with it in
obtaining such further information as
it NAV require Every possible assist
ance will be given by US to the courts
in their effort to determine whether
our policy is or has been inimical to
the public interest. We desire that
anything wrong be corrected; we will
voluntarily rectify any wrong that
may be pointed out to us; and so far
as it may be determined that our pol
icy or any act under it is against the
public interest, we Will promptly con-
form to such determination.
We believe that if each of our ex-
changes were made an independent
unit and if each connecting line were
put under a separate control, the eff
feet upon the telephone service of the
country would be a condition so intOl-
cradle that the public would refuse tc
submit to it and would Immediately
require such physical connection and
common control of these various units
as would amalgamate them into
single system Physical connection in
the case of telephone or telegraph does
not mean transfer of messages from
one line to the other. 1t means such
a connection as will permit one person
to have the actual possession of the
particular line of communication from
one end of it to the other and this can
only be given efficiently by exchange
systems and connecting lines under a
common control; and that is what the
Bell System is.
In this connection, and for genera
information, we will restate the policy
which controlled the building up of
the Bell System. and our belief as to
what a telephone system should be
and what are its relations to the pub
lie
We believe in and were the first to
advocate state or government control
and regulation OF public utilities: that
this control or regulation should be by
permanent quasi-judicial bodies, act
ing after thorough investigation and
governed by the equities of each case
and that this control or regulation be-
yond requiring the greatest efficiency
and economy. should not interfere
with management or operation. We
believe that these bodies if they are
to be permanent, effective and of pub
lie benefit. should be thoroughly rep
resentative; they should he of such
character and deliberations as to
command such respect from both the
public and the corporations that both
will without question accept their con-
illusions
We believe that the public would
in this way get all the advantage
and avoid all the manifest disadvan-
tages of public ownership.
We believe that centers Of business
and population exist for the convent
ence of the public as a whole. and that
no such center can prosper without
sufficient and efficient means Of inter
course with other centers and tribu-
tary territories; that such means car
only be afforded by prosperous utiI-
fair rates are essential to prosperous
companies. We do not believe that any
public either desires or can obtain. nor
can any service or utility furnish, per-
manent and efficient service at less
than cost. including capital charges
We believe that ultimately the public
either directly or indirectly pays the
losses involved in the efforts to furnish
such service at less than its fair cost
either through the loss of the capital
involved the losses incident to poor
service or the necessary increase in
charges required to pay for duplica-
ton of capital
We believe that the highest CONNER
clal value of the telephone service de-
Ponds on its comprehension the ex-
tent and comprehensiveness of the ia
c:litfes for Accommodation, not
only between l. h4rt