Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-09-09
STATE NEWS

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New York Calls for Deposit of $3.50. 900
from American Fidelity Company.
According to authoritative informa-
ton received by The Rutland Herald
the American Fidelity company Of
Montpelier. which has recently been
under fire concerning it's financial con-
dition in connection with the cancella-
ton of the state treasurer's bond
demanded by Gov. Allen M. Fletcher,
must, on or before Oct. /. deposit a
quarter of million dollars with the
insurance department of the state of
New York to protect it's policies in
that state or be denied the right to do
business there.
Democrats Uncertain.
Democratic caucuses held throughout
Vermont Friday developed contests
in some of the cities and larger towns
between factions of the party but in
almost no instance were the delegates
instructed as to choice of candidates to
be voted for at the state and district
conventions to be held in Burlington
on September %. This lack of in
struction was probably due to the fact
that great uncertainty exists in the
ranks of the party as to makeup of
the state and congressional tickets, few
names having been mentioned for any
Office.
Public Service Members Answer Tele-
phone Company
The joint answers of Public Service
Commissioners Robert C. Bacon and
Park H. Pollard as defendants in the
equity proceedings brought against the
England Telephone and Telegraph
company and the Vermont Telephone
and Telegraph company were filed in
the United States District court on
Sept. /. In the answer to the New
England company's bill of complaint
the two defendants state that they
deny that the service furnished by the
company in the states of Vermont.
Massachusetts,. Rhode Island. Maine
and New Hampshire is used, as
alleged, as territorial unit in regard
to the quality of it's service. The
defendants also deny that the company
makes similar charges for telephone
service in towns and cities where cir
cumstances are similar but on the
contrary they make an arbitrary rate
according to a classification which
they have adopted.s The defendants
deny that the average number Of
stations in Vermont per square mile
served is small in comparison to the
number of stations per square mile
served in other portions of their terri
tory. The answer denies that the
conpany's rates charged by 1t through
out the territory in which it operates.
The answer alleges that the appraisal
of it's property as furnished by the
company was correct in amounts but
| the valuations were excessive and
| largely inflated in nearly every in
stance, in regard to the assessment
furnished the company as having come
from the state tax commissioner after
an appeal to the state board OF appeals
the defendants say that the amount OF
property included large amount
owned by the company wholly without
the state of Vermont, and it was moi
divided tn show what part was used II
exchange and what part in toll business
4 The answer states that the com
pany's statement of receipts, disburse
ments and expenses combined many
items which were excessive and I'm
warranted and that the statements o:
the book cost or value of the plan
were also excessive and inflated. The
answer states further that the com
mission did not go to Boston to exam
inc the company's books and voucher
at the company's request because i
would have been unlawful to have hell
a hearing in the state of Massachusetts
The defendants admit that the assess
ment of the company's property b.
the state commissioner of taxes was
for the year of 1913, S2,25O,OOO ant
that the same was reduced by tn
state board of appeals to 81, $50, 900
but declare that the last named sun
lis an excessively high assessment
of the company's property within tn
state, and some without, as carrie'
on the books was in 1913, 81. 500, los. 26
The answer de clares that the compan,
made net earnings of IA. 3OO.22 in 19l
after deducting from the total ne
revenue an amount equal to per cen
upon the true value of the orator
property used in the telephone bushes
in the state of Vermont. The defend
ants answer in the case Of the Yer
mont company also denies the severs
allegations and declares the appraisal
furnished them by the company wer
largely inflated and excessive in neal
ly every instance. They also den
that by an order of the public servic
!. commission the rates fixed were ur
just and unreasonable etc. Both ar
swers are long and go into detail
, reply to the two companies alleys
lions.
Vermont's Big Cattle Show.
, The largest stock exhibit ever show
in Vermont will be seen at the We
mont State Fair to be held in Whit
River junction Sept. Is, 16, II and i
: and will include all of the standa1
T breeds of dairy and beef cattle. Beside
large entries by Vermont breeder
3 cattle from several states will /
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