Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-02
PUBLIC SERVICE HEARING.
DIR. ~. n. jackson Complains against
Two Telephone Companies.

Robert G. Bacon. w \. Dutton and
william r. Warner. the members Of the
public service commission of Vermont,
met Friday at the Hotel Vermont TO
hear the complaint of Dr. Fl. Nelson
Jackson of this city against the Central
Telephone company and the New England
Telegraph and Telephone company. j.
IIollister jackson OF Barre appeared for
Or. Jackson the attorneys for the Cen
trail Telephone company being McFeeters
II McFeeters of Enosbuvg Falls. and the
New England Telephone and Telegraph
company being represented by n. B.
Jones of Boston.
The petitioner in his petition claims
that in 1911 contract was entered into
the installation Of a line TO connect his
summer home on Providence island with
the central office of that company at
Grand Isle. In the contract 1t was
stipulated that DR.. jackson was to build
The line from his island to the nearest
point to connect with the wires Of the
Central company. which necessitated the
laying of marine cable The annua
rental Of this wire was to be SO per yea,
for the first mile from the central station
and four dollars per year for each mile
beyond, the company to maintain the
entire line. The petition also claims that
there was n verbal agreement to give
DR.. Jackson a fifteen cent toll rate TO this
city, where his home Is located ard that
the service should be good service and
allow him to talk with New York from
the island. The petitioner claimed that
- cent toll rate to talk with this city
had been charged and that the service
had been poor
DR.. Jackson testified that the service
was extremely poor and that at times
the line was out OF commission entirely
Bills We're paid the company under pro-
test and the matter was referred to the
public service commission. Mrs Jackson
was also called to testify to the poor
service rendered. While DR.. jackson
claimed the company was to keep the
wires in order after they had been laid.
the company did not so maintain them.
The Central conpany, through witnesses
heard Friday, claims that DR.. Jack.
son was the one who should have main
tained the line that the wire agreed
upon was grounded wire between his
summer home and the Central station,
that the company had kept their wire s
in the proper condition and that all of
the trouble was caused by the condition
OF the cable laid by Dr. jackson, which
the company promised to assist in main
tanning. The company further testified
that the contract between the two parties
had heen lost but that there was no
agreement made as to fifteen cent rate
from Providence island to this city The
witnesses for this company were C.. II
Weed and G. $. Ovitt of E,nosburg Falls
The New England company. through
its attorney, held that the rate had al
ways been :" cents from BURLINGTON to
Grand Isle, with which latter exchange
DR.. Jacksons island home is connecte ed.
This company knew Of no such Is cent
rate IT such rate were granted by the
central company. II the fifteen cent
rate were granted 1t would be illegal
because 1t would discriminate in favor
OF Or. jackson over other subscribers.
The hearing. which was started at nine
o'clock In the morning lasted well into
the afternoon.