The Washington times., 1918-02-27
D. c. PHONE FIGHT
.CENTERS IN SENATE
AROUND KING BILL
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page
telephone company had spent some OF
its big earnings in Washington prior
10 the outbreak OF the war'in install
nc automatic switchboards and do
ing away with obsolete equipment
mere il would have been able TO have
easily met the demands of the war
in Washington.
The contention OF the telephone eN-
J,crts before the Utilities Commission
has been that the main cause OF its
breakdown in Washington was in
ability TO get competent operators
and workers generally. and that it
also was short OF equipment In the
way or SWitchbOards. etc. Having
devoted itself to the glorious pursuit
Of juicy dividends il had failed to
provide in this city the modern equip
iusnt that would have done away with
hundreds Of operators and enabled
the Government and the public to
have obtained immediate and salts
factory service through automatic
equipment.
Has Held Up Government.
For years the Government has tried
At Al dllB AOl an AAN1A pdA AlllNAAHA
service OF its own, using automatic
equipment. and paying the telephone
company for service TO and from the
outside. The company has insisted
ON doing business in the old way.
through switchboards operated by
manual labor. The Government lost.
More than a year ago Postmaster
'hance installed in the city pOstoffice
an automatic switchboard with auto
matte calling stations. That switchboard
i in operation today and connects every
part Of the city postoffce without an
operator Of any kind. This was done
through arrangement with the electric
company that owns the patents.
Finding postoffice officials pressing
steadily in the direction OF knowledge.
the telephone company recently installed
an automatic switchboard in the post
"rice department. the only Government
department in Washington TO have this.
a. has. however. according to official
rlaims. consistently discouraged the use
~ the automatic apparatus and kindly
r"tains a sufficient number Of manual
operators to take prompt care Of post
uffce business through the old methods
where those are preferred.
Cities Like Automatic.
The Utilities Commission has informa-
ton showing that automatic apparatus
is successful in hundreds OF cities Of the
country. Los Angeles, Cal. has an au-
iomatic exchange which operates 5000
telephone stations.
The automatic company claims TO be
able to supply its equipment at any
time, but the telephone experts repre-
scented that the company could not pro-
cure equipment for Washington in many
months. Postoffice officials say they can
get the equipment for Washington with
out much trouble. Telephone experts
10 not deny that automatic equipment
= successful wherever operated. They
regarded it so highly some years ago
that they paid 100000 for rights TO
use it when they please. or course it
rosts something but spending money de
Iletes the dividend funds.
Sore Over Rate Increase.
Washington people are sore 10 the
hone over prospects that they will
have to pay increased rates should
congress not act. They are perfectly
TO give a corporation fair re-
turns upon its property where that
service for the money IT has paid
F%S months Washington people have
gone across" each month with their |
regular tithes to the telephone /
money. But they didn't relish it. I
They were paying out good money |
for bum" service. They are com |
PEELED to keep this up.
Telephone company attorneys have |
let il be known that the relief the |
] tilities Commission promises to give /.
them financially will probably be 80 1
small they will be compelled later on I
10 ask for real financial relief. The 1
public understands this. II there was !
genuine square and fair service the |
public would be willing TO pay. /
i moving conditions arising from the |
war. There is nowhere a desire to |
prevent corporation making sur /
hcient money TO pay moderate divi-
bends.
All this accounts for the almost
spontaneous cry OF citizens associs-
rOns and people generally for a
hange 10 Government ownership in
he hope that they will get what is