New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-27
WOULD PUT PHONE
UNDER P. S. BOARD
Committee Urges Power
Be Given Commission,
as Over Railroads.
ONLY CONTROL WILL
PREVENT MONOPOLY
Standardization of Equipment
Suggested, That Companies
May Unite Services.

More authority FOR the Public Ser
vice Commission IN the supervision OF
the telephone business is recommended
In the report Of the Foley committee
which was introduced in the Lcgls!at-
ure Yesterday. If the telephone busl.
ness is not subject TO the control o.
connection il must submit 10 reguis-
lions. the committee urges.
The aim OF the commission Is 10 be
universal service. Il Is hoped that IN
line every one in the state who has
telephone may talk with any other per-
son having q telephone. o..
As TO the rates in New York CITY,
the committee follows Professor
Bemis's recommendations Tor redue-
lions. .:.
tees opinion, can be applied to te!e-
Iphone lines as well rs 10 railroads
y and Standardization Of equipment Is
suggested. But there ls no idea o. or
dering rural mutual neigh oorhood hnes
20 reorcanize their systems AT "ha'
would probably be prohloiu''e ca
pense.
Changes in Law Suggested.
The committees recommendations for
amendments 10 the law are as follows;
"Therc should be vested IN the PUP
lice Service Commission ample aulhot
IAN TO compel every telephone Inc 70
he constructed and maintained at me
sttndard fixed by the commission.
THE only method Of destroying the
power of monopoly Us by tesuhe l"e
,utboritv over standard and construc-
,ion in the Public Service Commission.
THE authority should be extended 10
include telephone and telegraph AneS
as fully as 1t does railroads.
"The statute should be amended so
as 10 establish a clear, concise ana r2-
tional definition Of a commercial ana
mutual telephone company. These are
"A number OF short lines, popularity
known as farmer lines usually 'ncor-
porated and not operated for CONNER
cial profit To compel reconstruc-
ton Of such lines would be tantamount
10 their destruction.
/ Must Obtain Leave First.
al "a certificate Of public convenience
VI and necessity should be required rom
the Public Service Commission "hen
o, any telephone line is 70 be constructed
or extended. except for the sole pur-
,ose Of installing an instrument for q
guhscriber. The law now requires sucn
IN certificate from "a railroad corpora
;iou.
exemption Of telephone corpora-
tons having less than $4,000 capital
from supervision and regulation by the
Public Service Commission should be
abolished.
"Physical connection between lines
Of different companies may be ordered
by the Public Service Commission when
standard Of construction and equip
mnnt permit
"Ir the case OF commercial lines
connection with any other commercial
line and exchange Of messages can be
compelled. and II the physical condi-
lion OF the line be inadequate 10 per
init such connection and exchange OF
messages the Public Service Commits
sion shall have authority 10 require
the line 10 be changed before the con-
A nection can be made.
Companies to Join Service.
"The statute should provide that 8
commercial telephone company. whose
line is not more than two miles dis
tant from a telephone line giving Z