Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-13
VAIL ASKS FAIR
PLAY in DECIDING
WAGE DISPUTES.
Bell Phone Company Head
Against Reference to
Temporary Arbiters
CLAIMS OF THE PUBLIC

Theodore N, Vail, president of the Amer
| lean Telephone and Telegraph Company
| in tho annual report to the stockholders
made public this morning, makes a plea
| that the matter OF control and regulation
I OF public utilities, which takes in the wages
| paid to employees. disputes between the
| workers and the companies should be
/ lodged with the same body for settlement
that regulates the company in the matter
! OF rates etc, and not with separate
| body such as an arbitration board or
| other temporary bodies.
when bodies Of control and regulation
consider costs and sources of revenue -
| says Mr.. Vail, they consider wages not
| primarily as TO their suillciency or equity,
but In an inclusive way with other eN-
| penses to assure themselves that costs are
! not excessive II these bodies were author
lied 20 intervene In disputes where wages
and working conditions we're concerned.
they would consider them concretely, both
as TO suficlency and equity and as DOM
inant factor In adjusting revenue.
ITO gain the object or to enforce de-
mands by combination and arbitrary ac-
tion causing suspension, partially or
wholly, of service, TO the great Incon-
venence of the public, should not be pos
sible. Such action on the part of EN-.
ployes Of a public utility is as unjustI-
fable and objectionable ns would be an
arbitrary suspension OF service by the
utility. II is an exercise of arbitrary
power, a disregard OF the interests of tho
public, which should not be allowed In
these days.
''In the present state OF public opinion
which has almost II not quite the force
OF common law, there Is no reasonable
dispute that should not be settled by COM
mon agreement, and when that fails the
side which ia disappointed and believes
that It has a good case should be willing
to leave It's case to body having power
of control and regulation, and possessed
of a knowledge OF any jurisdiction over
all the essential elements necessary for
reaching an equitable decision"
In speaking further of tho necessity Of
continuity OF service, Mr.. Vail says that
ito preserve the right of the public to n
continuous and dependable service, It
should be under the same control and
regulation by the same bodies that the
corporation itself is under" This can
only be properly done,' says Mr.. Vail, by
one and the same body. which must have
Jurisdiction over all factors involved
and therefore the only logical body TO
regulate and protect public service en-
ployes Is that which regulates the public
utility itself and has the responsibility 10
the public for this regulation"
GREAT GROWTH OF SERVICE.
Tho company during the year, added
1,029,o5I miles of wire for use in exchange
and toll service, making the total lS,505,-
545 miles. At the end OF the year 254 en-
ployes were on the pension roll. 54 having
been added and 10 discontinued during The
year. The average pension paid was S44
a month.
Financing for this year has been pro-
vided for, the average requirements being
S25. .000. 900, to be used for the develop
ment OF the Bell system To pay off the
per cent. coupon notes of associated
companies. which mature in April and
May there was sold in January S5O.000,-
600 of AZ per cent, coupon notes. matur-
ing February !, 1918,
The report of earnings, covering the
year ending December 81, compares with
the previous year as follows: