Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
BLAMES RESIDENTS
IF RATES INCREASE
j. w. Staggers' Letter One of
Many Protests Against High
er Telephone Cost.
BOND ISSUE SUGGESTED

That Westinghouse will have only
their stupidity to blame. If higher tele-
phone rates become effective here, for
not having demanded a representative
form of government under which they
could elect public officers directly ac-
to them. and that application
OF the lynch law would not be auaiss in
giving protection to the local public.
are some of the suggestions contained
in a fiery letter received by the public
utilities commission from ]. w. Stag
gers. Washington attorney.
Communications from lawyers. doc
tors. firms and a large number Of in
dividuals against the corpany's pro-
posed increase in rates Continued TO
pour in on the utilities body today,
with the Staggers letter voicing the
most vigorous protest.
II have received a notice from the
telephone company" he said. ''to the
effect that they had applied to the pub
lie utilities commission for an increase
in the rates. They failed to state their
reason for their request. but presume. II
called upon for one. they would say that
1t was purely patriotic act on their part
Service Not Worth the Price.
1.-THE service which they have been
rendering for the past Ave or six
months would indicate that they have
they expect to stand while making this
request-namely. that they are unable
to take care OF the present demands on
them without increasing their equip
ynn sf hoe MAJ aiao ~ IA
and not worth 10 per cent of what the
people Of Washington are paying for il.
II an increase is granted. the resi-
dents ard taxpayers OF the District OF
Columbia are absolutely helpless, and
it will be one more imposition which
they will have to bear as result OF
their own stupidity in not demanding
from Congress the right to exercise
their rights as American citizens.
thereby electing to Office men who are
directly accountable to the residents
and taxpayers for their acts.
In the renotest part OF the west.
perhaps better described as the wild and
woolly west the few residents who are
there are protected ana rely upon an
association known as the 'Anti-Horse
Thief Associstion.' which gives them
ample protection in the absence of law
and equity. and I have sometimes
this well-known organization would
not be aIniss as they would find innum-
cradle public parasites in need OF their
attention"
Bonds Suggested to Meet Expense.
Suggestion that the telephone COM
pan should issue bonds to provide
business created by the war is con-
tanned in many of the protests.
This query has reached the commits
sion from G. E. Stringfellow:
IF the business of the Pennsylvania
railroad was so great that il was nee
essary for that company to build new
tracks in order to take care OF the
business, would the Interstate Com
merce Commission allow the railroad
company to advance the tariffs on
pany issue bonds to care for the new
business? .,4..
No Increase in Dividends.
The Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company has pledged itself to
the public utilities commission not to
increase it's dividend rate without the
commissions consent in the event the
new rates for service sought should be
more compensatory than is anticipated.
Examination Of the testimony given
at the telephone rate hearings last
week, which recently has reached the
comm ission in transcript form from the
reviewed reveals this as one of the
guarantees presented by the company
that increased revenues are not to be
used in swelling the profits OF those who
own it's securities.
The statement was made by T. p.
Sylvan. assistant to President Bethel
of the telephone corporation, that IF,
by any stretch of the Imagination, re-
suits should be produced other than we
have anticipated, or more favorable
than we have anticipated, this company
binds itself and obligates itself not to
increase its dividend rate without the
express permission of this commission;
so that there is no effort of getting by
with something"
That the company may have realized
it was about to explode a bomb when it
sent a notice to subscribers that the
proposed new rates would go into effect
January, "or as soon thereafter as ap-
proved by the public utilities commits
sion," is indicated by testimony given
1t the hearing.