Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
PUBLIC TO AWAIT
TELEPHONE GRILL
Attitude on Increased Rates
to Depend on Results Of
Cross-Examination.
PAY STATION COMPLAINT

With January 4 set as the date Tor
the resumption Of the hearing before
the public utilities commission on the
application of the Chesapeake and 70
tonac Telephone Company to increase
! Its tariffs, representatives OF CIVIC
bodies that have followed the testi-
mony thus far generally are suspend
ing judgment on the reasonableness OF
the request until all the facts in the
case have been developed
The public utility committee Of the
Board of Trade. which has been repre-
sented at the hearings by Edward E.
Clement, held meeting yesterday and
will make a preliminary report on the
telephone situation to the directors OF
the hoard at their meeting January Z.
There Is every indication that inc
public intends taking an active part
in the cross-examination OF the COM
pany's witnesses. and that IL II COLI
cedes that the company must charge
higher rates to meet Increased ex-
penses il will insist upon an improved
service being rendered
While not speaking officially Tor MS
Committee. Mr.. Clement stated last
night that its was felt that the proposal
to Increase the rate for pay station calls
from to 10 cents would work haro.
ship on poor people who DO most OF
their teisphoning through tns pay ; s.ht
be eliminated II the ten-cent rate were
made to apply only in the case OF sta
tions that are in the charge OF OPP
orators, leaving the present nve-cent
rate in leffect for the automatic teie-
phones
Concerning the rate increases pro-
posed. Mr.. Clement expressed the opin-
ion that the public viii be unable to de-
termfne tkeir reasonahleness or unreas-
onableness until the cross-examination
ha. heey concluded and all elements en-
tertng into the situation thoroughly
M. Clement pointed out that Of the
/ four changes in its present scheouie
proposed by the company, three anect
rates and two affect service. Broadly
speaking. he said. the elimination Oh
unlimited service and raising OF rates
| for other services would appear TO In
yolye a restriction OF telephone USAGE
that would not be to the best inierests
of the capital especially "niie 'ae
| country is at war.
| LOADS Up Trunk Lines"
| On the other hand, telephone men gen.
eraIly and others who have studied the
situation agree, he stated, that the I'M
limited service loads up the trunk hhes
| increases the amount OF unnecessary
4
should be discontinued.
In preparing for the cross-exarnina-
1 ton citizens and civic BODY representa-
| tives who have been invited by the COM
mis- sion to participate IN the hearing are
making a study of the testimony given
| by r p Sylvan. assistant to President
/ Bethel of the telephone company reIa-
/ tive to the actual operation OF. and re.
suits expected from the proposed tarin
changes.
| This norton Of Mr. Syivan's testi-
mory, showing the respective increases
1 the government and the pubic VIII pay
/ under the new rates and the advah-
! tage the government now reaps IN spe-
cial rates which is denied TO the pub
liic. is set forth in the following ex-
| cerpts
| sested has very largely as to its NOV
| ing object the elimination of non-es-
sentiai traffic. because the company pnr-
poses sending out notices TO IT'S SUD-
| scribers asking each private pranch
| exchange subscriber careiuily 10 re-
view the telephone practice OF his par.
ticular establishment, with the view OIL
eliminating anything that can be prop
erIv eliminated. and we hope that the
increase. which is from TO cents
will have an effect In stimulating econ
1ony. aside from our average
| assuming that the introduction O
this rate change on the private brancf
Exchange subscriber will reduce tht
!
Ting over such lines. the net increase II
our revenues will amount to $4,000 pei
wear from this change, not including IL
THAT raise any change in the charge u
the government on its private branch
lexchange switchboard. that matter
being treated separately.
Also Reduces 10 Per Cent.
| THE third item on the list propose:
tchanging the individual line messag.
rate schedule above 200 messages pei
fannum. Below that point no change Il
contemplated. Above that point tn,
rate changes from the two-cent TO til.
ithree-cent level That. too. we expec
| will reduce the traffic by 10 per cent
and considering the 10 per cent reduc
,tion in traffic the net increase in ou
revenue win amount to $4,000 per an
mum.
The fourth item covers the increase
in charge for local calls at the publ,
Telephones whether coin boxes or at
TENDED telephones. not including. how
eer, the semi-public telephones which
are in some residential portions OF tn,
city.
IN this change we hope for a reduc
ton of rs per cent in the volume of traf
fc. due to the doubling of this rate. /
THAT expectation Is met. our net increas,
in revenue will amount of $4,000 PEI
anuum from this item.
Governments Service.