St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-01-14
PRESS COMMENT
Close Of Telephone Inquiry

Close of Telephone Inquiry.
The inquiry instituted by the pub
lie Service Commission to determine
whether or not the rates charged b.
the telephone companies for service
in Vermont are reasonable has come
to an end with the exception of the
filing of briefs and possibly argu-
ments- 1T has been a protracteC
inquiry that has extended over a per
iod of three months during which
the New England Telephone Com
panies, its subsidiaries and all others
have had ample and unrestricted OPP
portunity to present all the evidence
in their possession to support their
contention that the rates they have
established are fair and reasonable
and not unreasonable and excessive
as many citizens have complained
and as the special counsel appointed
by the governor reported after an in
vestigation which necessarily was not
complete or searching because much
important and essential information
was not furnished by the telephone
companies.
This inquiry so far as the Public
Service Commission is concerned has
been thorough, fair and painstaking
and the finding, when it is announced
will, it can be declared without ques-
ton or doubt be based upon the
facts as they have been presented by
the telephone companies and in &C
cordance with consideration of JUS
tice toward the people of Vermont
and toward the telephone companies.
Those who claim the investigation
has been exceedingly costly should
remember that if it has entaiied
heavy expense responsibility for that
lies entirely with the telephone COM
panies. 1t must indeed have been a
matter of very substantial expense to
retain such a large corps of eminent
during the entire stretch of
the inquiry as represented these COM |
panies, but that is a matter wholly |
within their own jurisdiction and |
entirely outside the province of the
of the state or of the |
people of Vermont.
This investigation was instituted |
with one purpose in view and one
only-to get the facts. Behind it |
here were neither personal nor po-
itical considerations, nor did preju
lice of any sort enter into its incep-
ion or influence it's conduct from
-
that would show
beyond question or cavil, whether the
'ates charged for telephone service
re as citizens who entered COM
'laints with the executive insist un-
easonable, excessive and unwarrant-
ID or whether they are reasonable,
ust and fair as commended by the
telephone companies.
Very properly the burden of estab-
ishing the reasonableness of their /
harges was placed upon the tele-
hone companies and they should +,
and cheerfully have assum-
d it. The entire fabric of their bus
hess is based upon franchises granted
" the state under which they en-
oy and exercise valuable and pro-
table privileges. 1t is not merely
within the right but it is the imper-
tive duty of the state to see that
hese valuable privileges derived from
he people are exercised in such a
gay that the public is treated fairly
nd justly and is not mulcted in un-
ighteous charges or subjected to {
or hampering conditions.
The full case will soon be before !
he Public Service Commission and
q due course it's decision as to {
yhether the order previously issued
y it directing a reduction in tele-
hone rates is to stand or be revoked
7ill be forthcoming. What that de-
ision will be it is impossible to
orecast but the fact that the state
as not deemed lit necessary to in {
reduce witnesses, expert or other J
Use, seems to furnish signal and {
Inclusive proof that it is fully salts {
ed to rest it's case on the evidence !
S it has been disclosed by the tele- l
hone companies themselves Mon
pelier Journal.
Advice To The Journal.
The Montpelier Journal is very {
nxious to have the reasons set forth '
Thy an extra session of the legisla- {
ure should be called. 1t might con- !
ult its own files of a few months ago
nd find some very satisfactory rea- {
Ons, but from it's recent expressions,
hasn't much trust in newspaper edi-
Orials Certainly not in it's OWN so l
here isn't anything to be gained in !
gain reviewing the ground just at '
his time. But The Messenger dis
Ikes to see one of its contemporaries
and thirsting for knowl-
dge and not be satisfied, SO, out of l
he kindness of it's heart, it will {
uggest to The Journal way by
Thich it ought to be able to reap it's
carts desire.