Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-14
Discuss Bill for Reduced Telephone Rates to
Associated Press Newspapers : Several Wa
terville Measures Are Heard = Other Impor-
tant Matters

Newspaper passes, the average rate OF
speed OF stenographers and a number OF
other extraneous matters developed at the
continued hearing Tuesday afternoon be-
fore the legal affairs committee upon the
act requiring the New England Telephone
Co to give reduced rates to Associated
Press newspapers.
Hon. W. Il. Pattangall of Augusta,
counsel for the Maine newspapers repre-
rented, submitted a new draft which
provides that the New England Telephone
& Telegraph Co. shall allow all newspa-
pers In Maine, members of any press
association. a discount Of 80 1-3 per cent.
from the regular commercial rates on all
toll charges for messages originating in
Maine.
Mr.. Pattangall explained the reduced
rates offered by the Western Union and
Postal Telegraph companies for press
service of 50 1-3 per cent. day rate ana
sS 2-3 night rate and also Of special rates
on all news from state capitals. He said
that the bill asked that the New Eng
land Telephone & Telegraph Co. make d
reduced rate Of 80 l-3 per cent. upon all
messages originating In Maine in order
that the Maine newspapers might cover
the Maine field as they should.
Hon. }. r. Bass Of Bangor, owner and
publisher OF the Bangor Commercial. re-
viewed his experience publisher Of the
Bangor Commercial since 1879 and told
how demands had increased on the part
OF the patrons OF the papers so that
where they were formerly satisfied with
mail letters they now insisted upon tel
ephone news. He thought that the New
England company ought to do as we'll as
the Western Union and Postal as it was
chartered as a telegraph company ana
the Associated Press news upon which
there was big press discount came over
the New England wires in part.
Councillor F. b. Nichols, owner and pub
Usher OF the Bath Times, supported the
contention Of Mr.. Bass
oVii' Na eiihii VI SuIiUclldIlu, SIldH
man of the committee. asked Attorney
Pattangail Of the committee If his clients
had formally applied to the Public Utili-
ties Commission in the matter. Mr.. Pat
tangall thought that the better way was
TO come to the Legislature for direct leg
islation because to get at the matter OF
any rate with the commission would re-
auire a review OF all business rates of the
telephone companies.
Yes, and a physical valuation, and
that's buryinH ground" interjected Sen.
Wood Of the committee.
NJ. b. Jones of Boston, general counsel
for the New England Telegraph & Te,o-
phone Co.. opposed the measure He in,
sisted that 1t was not right for the news
papers of Maine to ask his company to
file such rates. which were clearly dis
criminatory. There were many other Gus,
toners who were larger users than the
newspapers. Il would suggest that you
are not talking about wholesale service
but about the taking of quite lot Of
retail service
Mr.. Jones then went on to exnlain tho
circuit leased for a certain time and said
Se
offered by the telegraph companies as
experienced stenographers could easily
take So words per minute. This state
ment brought forth protest from Mr.
BASS and from Charles F. Flynt, pub. sh-
er and managing owner of the Kennebec
Journal that no stenogra pher that they
knew anything about could take much
more than 100 words per minute.
The hearing then ran along for about
half an hour taking up almost every
phase OF the telephone and publishing
business. and there were interesting ar.
gunents between Rep. Anderson and Sen
merrill on the part of the committee and
MI. Bass and Mr.. Flynt of the publisher.
present as to free passes and the reg;,-
iation Of advertising. Mr.. FLINT OF the
henhebec Journal said that he thou h,
the publishers were entitled to the re-
duced rate from the nature OF tho car
vice and the amount taken. and ne
thought the telephone companies ought
10 meet them on the matter
Mr.. PattanGall in closing brought ont
the point that there was a wide differ
ence between the Legislature repu,at-
ing telegraph or a. telephone rate and
reSuiating advertising because the
state OF Maine had safeguarded the
telegraph and telephone companies so
mat 'hey were free from competition.
the rates could he properly fixed by
the same body that granted these COM
panies this freedom from competition