The Washington times., 1918-01-10
UTILITIES BODY
EXPERTS WILL
PROBE CLAIMS
OF PHONE CO.
BY BILL PRICE.

submitted to the commission concern
ing the appeal of the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company to
be allowed to increase its revenues
here, although reducing the quantity
OF service.
Attorneys for the company have
persistently stated, in response to
questions at the hearings before the
commission, that the financial relief
expected from the proposed changes
in this city is practically nothing,
the main object being to restore the
. eervice to normal, the only way to
J do this, in their opinion, being by
! Withdrawing the flat rate entirely and
i substituting measured rate.
Many Suspicious.
. : Many citizens who have interroga-
ted Attorney Sylvan have, apparently.
\ had suspicious that the company will
largely increase its revenues from
District people and at the same time
furnish little or no relief in the
quality of service rendered.
: To all questions along this line At
-forney Sylvan has declared that the
experience of telephone experts in all
cities is that where the flat rate Is
abolished and measured rates institu-
ted there has boen material reduction
in the number of calls. Attorney
Y Sylvan declares that this method has
been effectual everywhere, land Wal
be effectuaI here. People will weigh
Z the Importance of their calls and hest
n tate before making those that are not
. necessary"
The company asserts that its total
Increase of revenues in Washington,
II its pleas are allowed by the Utili-
tiles Commission, will be about $780,
600 a year, of which 100000 will
come from the Government. The
Government, in the future, II IL con-
sents 10 the company's pleas for in
creased pay, will be practically on
THE same footing as Washington peo-
pie generally, because 1t is asked to
pay 3 cents a call for all calls above
2,1OO a year. It is proposed to charge
Washington people the same rate.
limiting At L. S. Control
The attorneys of the company are
= not unmindful of the deep interest Of
I the Government in the present situa-
lion, and Attorney Sylvan made a sig
nificant remark during the testimony.
-, II was to the effect that friends of
the company had advised not to go
. before the commission cor the Gov
eminent will take you over" To this
q Mr.. Sylvan stated that as between
having the service in Washington
Ego TO the pot and having the Gov
eminent take US over. if that is the
only way, then the quicker they do it
the better for the people of the Dis
trict."
That Government or municipal
control is running through the minds
OF all connected with the hearing,
there is little doubt.
Attorney Sylvan has stated that he !
does not know where the company Is
going to get L % money TO pay the Z
interest on the approximately SO 0OO,- q
600 that IL IL claimed will have 10 be I
spent this year in Washington in new ,
sbuildinEs and equipment
The l2.43T hat-rate subscribers in /!
washington who are asked to relin- /
lquish that rate for a measured one
will be interested in the claim that
OF 6S 1873. 600 completed calls during
rthe last year the flaJ-rate subscribers
made 35.0OO,OOO. or over half, these
representing only onc-ffth of the
telephone stations in the District
There Were over 100 600 OGO calls
made last year, bursabo 30 per cent
OF these We're never completed. fact
That is well understood in view Of