Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-22
Complaint to Commission.

II have refrained from attending the
public hearings before the commission
of this corporation for the simple rea-
son that feel that the commission is
alive to the situation, and that the
plaint or complaint of this monopoly
is well understood" said Mr.. Heiskell
in part.
"I say monopoly because 1t has no
competitors and the facts are that
telephone rates have been persistently
and consistently increased without, !
maintain. an improvement of service.
This monopoly, whose properties have
not been valued under the law au-
thorizing the public utilities commits
sion to value same and whose rates
have not been fixed or regulated by
your commission, seized upon present
abnormal conditions to extort more
pay from the subscribers and ask your
assistance in so doing.
The public utilities commission
has been regulating. more or less. the
many of which have some competition.
The Chesapeake and Potomac Teie-
phone Company has none. ], there
fore, submit that the public--ie., the
business public-are suffering equally
with the telephone company in in
creased cost of doing business and are
bearing their~ sufferings and sacrifices
in a patriotic spirit. but this sole. but
souliess, monopoly is in terror that the
whole machinery of government and
business will suffer unless its profits
are increased.
II submit that the notice inclosed is
an effrontery to your commission; an
attempt to terminate contracts and
change rates and service in advance
of and without regard for your com
mission. Verify, this corporation and
/ it's officers are in contempt of court.
While in principle opposed to govern
| ment ownership of public utilities,
| submit that if there be one public util-
haf I.
] mandeer, especially at this time, ant
| operate in the interest of the people ol
| the country, 1t is the G. and F. Tele.
! phone Company and all other teIephon.
j companies in the confines of the United
| States"
James L. Crawford. another complain
! ant, states in a letter to the commission
/ that about ten years ago, when the com
pany was trying to expand its business
| the house holders of this city were impor-
tuned by solicitors to put phones in their
! homes. and the inducement of three
| months free service was offered for either
| a measured service or fiat rate, well know
ling that the measured service would not be
| satisfactory. That it is not satisfactory Is
attested by the overwhelming preponder-
ance of single-party phones in the homes
of the city.
The telephone company has spent
considerable money in extending it.
service and expanding its business, but
its profits on this outlay should come
! from the new business and not from {
general raise in its rates or a change
i in the class of its service. The revenue
from the expansion of the busines:
should pay for the expansion. and the
company should not expect to be re.
| imbursed in cash for it's outlay.
| while 1t Is true that the compan,
/ is under a greatly increased expense il
furnishing the service, still 1t is in re.
ceipt of an enormously increased reve-
| nue. from the expansion, while the sery.
ice itself is getting less and less salts
factory each day.
For these reasons ] protest against
any raise in the rates for private dwell
iings and any change from unlimited t.
measured service. For the service &C.
ttually rendered. the rates should bs
cut, not raised. and measured service
In homes is not and never will be salts,
| factory"