The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-02-02

the square mile, ana only 012 Subscrl- |
bers to the square mile in the territory
served by the New England Company
and, its four subsidiaries when eonsid-
cred as unit.
The brief begins with a short state
ment of the case and of the issues pre-
scented, and says there is really only
ness or Justice of the defendants pres
ent schedule of rates. 1t then calls
attention to the statute and case law
casting the burden of proof in this
case upon the compliments, a treat
ment of elementary law which is said
to be necessary only because of the
anomalous nature of the complaint
and the effort of the complainants to
appear as defendants before the com
mission.
| The preface then proceeds '"to call
attention to the testimony which eff
| fectually nails certain doubts and
| criticisms largely immaterial to the
issue, but dexterously thrust into the
record by the compliments. As at the
hearings, 50 now the companies well
come the opportunity to explain to
the commission and to the public of
Vermont their financial history. their
record of dividends and net earnings
and to give the fullest detail of the
telephone business of Vermont. -
No Evidence of Unreasonable Rates.
The brief calls attention more than
once to the fact that no evidence was
presented in support of the allegation
of unreasonable rates. although the
state had consulting telephone expert
N attendance for several weeks, and
with reference to its own presenta-
ton says: 1.-The facts upon which the
contentious of these defendants are
based are proven by the testimony of
substantial, reputable business men,
given as before noted under oath. with
all the solemnity of proceedings in a
court of justice. We insist that facts
so established, without contradiction
from any source, are proved-and
proven to the extent that these de-
PENDANTS are entitled to have findings
: in accordance Herewith These de-
PENDANTS, and the people of the state
, of Vermont, are entitled to have fact,
: found as they are proven, and to have
r allegations which are not proven-but
/ which are clearly and emphaticallx
disproven-so branded -
The inevitable effect of a reduction
I the state OF Vermont. = saws the brief
: in closing, must be crippHng of tn,
) service. That the telephone-using pub
r lie does not want. nor does it ask o
a desire that the service should b,
Z operated at an absolute loss. or. il
fact, at less than a fair profit -
Any action on the part of an
Public Service Commission it zoe
i raGrpa ratac N -
l the service must necessarily be cripple,
or impaired is a violarion of its prim
; duty to the public. What the publ
$ wants is good service, at a reasonabl
price, which will allow a fair margi
I of profit to those furnishing the sen
!" vice. This is as true in the state 0
Vermont as it is in the state o
: Massachusetts or the state of Ne,
Hampshire. The public of Vermont i
not ask thar rates be reduces TO
!, point yielding q profit smaller tina
: business men expect from ordinar
- business ventures in this state TIL
- evidence presented in this case befor
81 this Commission proves eonclusiyel
l. that the companies filing this brief al
q giving good service; that they are fu
At nishing this service at the lowe.
N prices at which such service is fu
nished at any places in the territor
- of the New England system. and tn
in spite Of the fact that Vermont, /
:, reason Of its sparse population. il
- widely scattered centres. it's top
- graphical features, is a difficult teri
80 tory in which to give service. :
nf small is the profit of these COMPANY
- that If their existing rates were 70
No. fixed by commission as an obligatol
10 schedule of rates, the order would
~ clearly contiscatory. How much mo
then would an order fixing the propos,
schedule OF rates, with all the redu
tions and increased expenses involve
be confiscatory
i Acbc Co,,o,a;n.-c Dsa,,,;,coj