The Washington times., 1914-05-12
WHERE THE PUBLIC IS
HELD UP.

|
+, forded in a complaint Just filed with
the Public Utilities Commission. 1t
comes jIst at the time when it will
be impressive, for this is the NOV
ing season, and the case in point
deals with the charge of the tele-
phone people for moving" phones.
To summarize this case, it is as
if A, B, c and ID lived in four
houses in row. A moves to BIS
house, B to C's house, G to DIS
house, and d to AS house. Each
had telephone in his house before
he moved; each finds a telephone
in the house to which he moves. No
! physical trouble of moving. installa-
tion, etc. No possible reason why
either of the four should pay cent
for any service, because none has
been rendered.
Yet the telephone company in
this case charges each of these four
subscribers So for removal" and
before they can get service in the
new locations they must sign sup
Elemental contracts agreeing to this
payment.
This is the substance of the case
concerning which complaint has
been filed with the Public Utilities
Commission by Charles F. Creager,
who is one Of the people called upon
TO contribute $3. Mr.. Creager
Cuesses he will find OF. whether he
needs to pay the money. and ap-
peals TO the commission.
He observes quite pointedly that
such q regulation as this certainly
does not need to wait for attention
until a physical valuation of the
telephone property can be made
That seems plausible. If the COM
mission can't aS in such an out
rageous instance as this without
waiting year OF two for q physical
valuation, then the community might
as well understand that no relief IS
| to be had, from any exaction of the
public utilities, for half a decade.
For after the valuation is made it
will have to be dragged through the
courts and all the processes of ap-
peals, before it will be known GER
tainly what the valuation means and
whether it is right.
1t is worth while. right here, to
indulge word of :,dmonition to the
gentlemen who administer the tele-
phone property in this town. They
are doubtless aware that the Post
office Department, under the pres
ent and the last preceding Admin
istration, has advised that the tele-
phone and telegraph service be
taken over by the Government.
Likewise, they can hardly have been
oblivious of the fact that a good
many people find in just such petty
eXactions as the one here described,
a reason for fayoring government
ownership. 1t is quite impossible
to keep people amiable while they
feel that they are being skinned,
and skinned with no better excuse
than that they can't help them
selves.
In the present instance, the COM
plant of Mr.. Creager is of such a
character, and illustrates so COM
pletely the unfairness Of the regula-
ton about removing" Instruments,
that it will have an interest for
every telephone user. The essential
parts of the complaint follow:
The Public Utilities Commission of the
District of Columbia:
Gentlemen: | beg leave to submit to
you the following facts with the request
that a ruling be made by the commits
sion determining the rights and liza
bilities of each Of the parties mentioned
and of the telephone company.
Each of the persons named are tele-
phone subscribers, and have telephones
in their respective residences. They de-
sire to vacate their present residences
on June !, and remove to the locations
named below, and have telephone serv-
ice in the new locations.
The telephone company proposes to
charge for moving the telephones, and
before they will provide service at the
new locations have sent TO and re-
quested that each OF the parties sign a
supplemental removal contract 10 the
effect that the subscribers agree to pay
50 for such removal in each case, al
though as d matter of fact the tele-
phones, with the exception OF one in
Strument. remain in the same location
after the parties move as they do now.
The case is distinguished from the or
dinaTv one in that the company is not
required 10 place a new instrument in
either house, the telephones will re-
main as now, all that the company is
required TO do is TO list the subscribers
at their new locations with their present
telephone numbers.
The matter as taken I'D uy me with
the local contract manager OF the com
pany, who admitted that while the
company was not put 10 the same
amour. OF rator and cost. under the
circumstances surrounding tins case. as
they are in "A case where a new aIAstry-
ment had to be installed. at the same