Williams news., 1914-02-19
CONTROL OF CORPORATIONS
Mountain States Company Advocates Commissions
5O69 EMPLOYES


 interest was manifested today in the announcement by President Field of The Mountain States Tele phone & Telegraph Company, that he is in hearty accord with the plan for the control of the comp any he represents by State Utilities nmissions elected by the people. The company, which operates in the seven mountain states, is one of the biggest public serving corp orations in the country, and this announcement, coming as it does, in the midst of public distrust of all corporations, shows broad far sighted policy that is doing much toward bringing about a spirit of confidence in the con pany and its operations.
 The annual report to the three thousand stockholders gives the company's balance sheet and shows the growth of the telephone busi- ness in the territory. It contains much of public interest and shows the healthy condition of the comp any and its affairs.
 The report in part says: "On De- cember 31, 1913, we had' in our territory 370 exchanges. furnishing service to 2OO,O16 exchange sta tions: there are 22, 556 stations con- nected with our system on the lines of connecting companies, making a total of 222,572 subscribers sta tions in service on December 31, 1913, an increase of 1854 during the year. The total miles of ex- change and toll lines, as of Decem- Der 31, 1913, were 53s,666.O9 an increase of 32, ,O47. 16 miles for the year. Total miles of exchange u"- derground on December 31, 1913, were l96,778.23. Total miles of toll line on the same date were 76,9s4.56. Our company furnish ed as we'll to minor companies toll service over S,Ol9 miles of connect ing toll line. There are in the territory of Mountain States sys- tenn 551 joint telephone and tele- graph offices. affording facilities to the public much better than those formerly enjoyed. Two thousand three hundred sixty-fve male and female employees made possible the handling of 1,OS5,443 exchange messages per day, and S,3O7 out going toll messages per day, and were paid for their services the sum of $3,921,7s2 daring the year.
 ''Two states in cur territory dur ing the year have created Public Utility Commissions, viz: Idaho and Montana. Previous to this time, Arizona and New Mexico had already established such com missions, and, by virtue of our previous experience, we have every reason to believe that a better and broader understanding between the public and our company is taking place in consequence. We find that regulation by Public Service Commissions may be considered an assurance against unwarranted pre- judice.
 "Our system of accounting in, augurated January 1, 1913, upon the order of the Interstate Commer ce Commission, affords a ready scrunity ana an easy analysis of our operations, and has additional value in that it is duly legalized by the highest authority, thereby relieving our company from ad verse criticism when subject to in vestigation.
 "To close this report without reference to the loyalty and hearty cooperation of our 5,069 employees would be unfair, both to them apd to the stockholders, whose interest they have so thoroughly at heart. The benefit plan referred to in the report of last year has proven em-