The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-11-13
INCREASES Of
ST AVERAGE TO
Be IN EFFECT

DUOsttN%. VIII tAsh' 'ifs~t WV
tie soon. following u conference
here Tuesday between represent.
ativcs 81 Postmaster General
Burieson and the state public
service commission.
Company officials expect that the
postmaster general. who sought the
ooui=ninsion'A advice. Will make the
new rates operative from November
IL.
Tuesdays conference was attended
by II y. Blaine and Arthur a. Lewis.
OF the public service commission;
James III. Brown. secretary OF the
commission. H. -. Pillsbury. repre-
senting the postmaster general. A. u.
Boylen. OF tho engineering depart
ment OF the telephone company, and
otto u. Rupp. local attorney for the
company.
James II. Brown, secretary OF the
state public service commission. to-
day made the following explanation
OF Increased telephone rates. which.
he ehargcA. were imposed withou,
due regard To public interests BY
Postmaster General Burleson:
because tho Western Union
Telegraph company would not rein
state union men. ms recommended
by the war board. President Wilson
asked OF congress power 90 take
over tho telegraph and telephone
companies. and when congress
granted that power. Postmaster
a s..I 80. Al
minister tho ~iro lines Postmaster
General Burieson. tho same man
who has not yet rcinHtatrd those
union tcicgrapheru 0ho Gov. Lister
wired President Wilson long ago on
their BEHALF. In the man who asserts
sole control OF tho telephones. not
only In Seattle. but elsewhere
Tn. legal advisers Of the state
public service commission declare
the state body has no power over
rates or service ninco August ].
when Burioson took control The
commission could enforce no order
against that federal officer.
The state body had fired Ss.5o an
a connection charge Mr.. Buricson
increased this 10 IS. go and SIS.
tho practically every state commits
slon In tho union has condemned
such charge as unreasonable. In
many Instances tho companies them
selves protest that the charge In far
too high.
The people Of Seattle probably do
not need 90 BE- advised how shame
fuzzy service has dc,criorAtrd Hineo
state control was superseded by that
OF Mr.. Burieson. Mr.. Burloron. not
the public service commission.
makes tho iner-ar~d phone rates.
soon TO 70 into effect.
what tho commissioners ala with
respect 20 these rason. In this.
IT told Afr. Baricson. I'm effect.
and getting worse. that The girls arc
entitled TO morv pay and should
have II. unless u In desired 20 ahar,.
don all prcsenn. OF service: and now
get this right: that II Mr.. Burlcson's
representatives statements OF the
financial situation. as to the com.
pany and federal control. IN accurate
and IL would h- unbecoming on the
part Of the commission 10 question
the integrity. we question not the
patrons arc willing to pay all the
NECESSARY incurred costs.
In conclusion. remember this: In
the entire railroad adminlEtra ton.
McAdoo has refused 20 appoint
other than railroad men. specifically
turning down requests that came
from all over tho union tina, ship.
pcrs and patrons be given repre-
sentation. II only minority vote. on
the distric, committees that pass
upon all rate changes. Mr. Burle.
son has similar committees In his
wire administration. no representa-.
tive Of the public being named. For
example. officials OF the Postal and
Western Union are majority mem.
b~rs Of tho committee to frame fele.
graph rates. and a representative OF
tho Bell company and an official OF
the Independent Telephone associa.
ton are tho majority members Of
the committee 20 fix phone rates for
tho United States"
Seattle phone rates must not BE-
Increased In order that other cities
may get better service from funds
derived hero. declares tho public
service commission In wiring 20
PoSmaster General Buricson It's
opinion OF the new charges put into
effect here.
We would feel bound 10 viror-
ously protest II you should re fit
10 increaac rates hcrc and not In
other Coast states" the wire de-
ciarca Burlcson In also told:
We are positive you win be
opcn-mindcd In complaints and that
you will use the revenues collected
30 that every patron in this state
will be sure to receive dollars
worth OF service for each dollar
paid"
Who Is Pillsbury?
III. ID. Pillsbury was an attorney
for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
Co. in n hearing before the public
service commission short time
ago" said Walter Meier. corpora.
ton counsel. Wednesday, "and now
In represented as being Burleson's
representative"
CITY PROTESTS
In the shortest session It has ever