New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
New Phone Rates
Are Announced
BY Burleson Order
Special Regulations for
Decreased Cost Are Given
in instructions From the
Postmaster General
Netc York Tribune
TNrnb ,,,,t,~ D,

, Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18. - Detailed
explanation of how the new telephone
rates to become effective January 81
are to apply to long-distance service
was made to-day in general order
Issued by Postmaster General Burle-
son. Accompanying the order were
maps to show how the new rates were
to be applied for calls for all distances.
Toll service under the new standard
lied rates are to be Of two classiica-
ticns stationto-statio messages and
rerson-to person calls. the latter SER
vice costing more.
cost the caller at the rate of cents
Tor every six miles up to twenty-four
miles, which would cost 20 cents for a
conversation continuing for five min
utcs. From twenty-four to thirty-two
miles the toll charge will be 25 cents,
and from thirty-two miles to forty
miles, 40 cents. Toll calls between
forty and fortyeight miles viii cost
SO cents, and between forty-cight and
Will be made. For each additional six
miles or fraction thereof an additional
5 cents charge will be made.
Service Charge Is Added
On all person-to-person calls, in ad-
NI|'S'i W ttc iNlC pclH, D1SeQ on QlS-
tances. as in the station to- station plan.
X. service charge will be made in the
following cases:
When the order is to establish COM
munication with a particular person in
given city, telephone address un-
known and the particular person can
not be located within one hour.
When the designated person called
refuses to talk.
Whom roport ;o rot,ruo<l 4l,o+ ~.
designated person called is "out," or
"out and will return at (specihed time)"
or "out and time of return unknown"
"is absent from the city, and similar
reports advising the calling sub
scrber of the facts ascertaned when
failure to complete the order is due
solely to the circumstances of the
called person or 10 fault in describing
the location of the called person, and
when all of the work preliminary to
establishing communication with the
called person is done.
When communication between the
designated persons can not be estab-
lished because the designated person
at the calling station is absent at the
calling station; provided that no
charge shall he made in such cases
whore the delay, if any. in establish
ing connection is greater than one
hour.
The initial period rates for person
to-pcrson calls shall be approximate
ly 25 per cent. in addition to the sta
ton to- station rates between the same
points, but no person-to-person rate
shall be less than 20 cents.
In cases whore person-to- person
cnlls are not completed and report
is made. report charge shall be
made Of approximately one fourth the
,,,,< ,C1 - 3D..
sages between the same points. but no
report charge shall be less han 10
cents for any one call, nor more
than So
The rate for appointment call shall
be approximately so per cent in addi.
tion to the rates for station-te station
messages, but in the case of any APP
| pointment call order, where the dis
tant station is reached, whether the
appointment be made or not, the re-
port charge applicable in case of per.
sonto-person calls between the same
points shall be made. No appoint
ment calls shall be accepted where the
stati tion-to-station rate Is less than q
cents.
The rates for messenger call shal
be the same as applied to appointment
calls between the same points plu
any charges that may be required fol
the service OF messengers. No mes
senger cali shall be accepted where tn,
station o-station rate is less than 25
cents.
Day Rates Are Reduced
Between the hours of $3.50 p. m. and
IL midnight the station to-station shall
be Approximately so per cent less than
the regular day rate. Between mid
night and 4:3O a. m. the rate is fur.
ther reduced to rs per cent of the day
rate, but in no night call will the
minimum rate be less than 25 cents.
Referring to the service which is
now designated as "free toll service
Postmaster General Burleson says
there will be no change until a study
Of the rates ia rnado