Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-12-21
TELEPHONE CASE DECISION
Public Service Commission Ruling of
Two Cases.

Decision OF Public Service Commls-
sion in the Telephone Case in which
evidence was taken In the city Of Mex
leo on Nov. "a, 1916, before Commits
sioner Shaw and submitted to the
Public Service Commission Report.
L. W. Mccoy and other complain
ants allege the lack of and public
necessity for physical connection be-
tween the toll lines of defendant, Buff
fun. Tel. Co., and the local exchange
Of defendant, Laddonia Rural Tel.
Co., and request an order requiring
such physical connections with the
switchboards of defendants. Defend
ant Buffum Tel. Co., is willing to
satisfy the complaint and make ply
steal connection and establish joint |
rates, and agree to pay the cost Of
making the physical connection and to
maintain it under the standard form
Of contract entered into with other
connecting companies, providing for
the operation Of such connections and
and for the division of joint rates,
tolls, or charges. Defendant, Lad
donia Rural Tel. Co., does not deny
any Of the material allegations Of
the complainant, but resists the Or
der on the grounds that it may be
subjected to additional costs, pos
sibly requiring it to maintain an ad-
ditional telephone operator, and
that it is satisfied with the present
condition.
: The company appears to be vol
untary association with sharehold-
ers located outside the city limits
of Laddonia, and furnishing telephone
service to its shareholders without
the payment of a monthly rental, but
on the basis of assessment to pay
J costs and furnishing service to sub
scribers within Laddonia on the pay
:. ment of monthly rental for such SER
e vices.
o In the past two years it has moi
n been necessary to assess shareholders
y of this company, while all Of thu
= costs of operation, maintenance, etc.
s have been met from an accumulated
surplus and from revenue of'monthl!
IT subscribers. This company maintains
10 free exchange with other similar com
If panies generally to the east and soutl
g of Laddonia and with Rush Hill; bu
cannot get telephone service to Mex
leo.
Is Upon consideration of the evi
dence under the provisions of Sec. 81
I'd Subsection 3, the Commission find
er that the desired physical connectio
o. can be reasonably made between tn
as two telephone companies. This eS
ic tension and connection the Buffur
it Tel. Co. agrees to make at its expense
en- so that the two company lines wi
make a continuous line of connection
as At session of Public Service Con
RS mission, held on Dec. IL, 1916, afte
es full investigation Of the evidence
of and after due deliberation, the Con
of mission ordered:
Is Order THAT the defendants sha
make and maintain suitable physics
connection at expense of the Bufful
Tel. Co.
m, Order 2-Tolls and charges at ii
ial rates now on file by said Buffum Te
tie Co. Tolls and charges hereafter e
ch tablished with the consent and a.
an provaI of the Commission.
Ist Order 3-That defendants separate
'ty shall publish and file with this Con
Ter mission and put into effect said joi
tic rates, tolls and charges within tt
Iet days of the effective date of this o
he der.
Order A - That the Commission r
tains jurisdiction to establish divisit
es. of the joint rates, tolls and charg
of by supplemental order, after flu
he ther hearing, provided defendants
of not agree between themselves up'
"a the division of rates, tolls and char
,ur es.
he Order 5-That this order shall be
lhe full force and effect on and after &
he 22nd day of Dec. 1916, and remain
,ut effect until changed or abrogated
the Commission, and that within t
ten days after service upon them
this order and report, each defenda
10 shall notify the Commission, VIII
1t ther the terms of this order are a
re- cepted and will be obeyed.
zen ], R. Braden.
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