The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1918-07-04
New Phone Rates
Are Made Known
Increases Not A. Large As Asked
by the Liberal Telephone
Company. t Gf

The new phone rates allowed by
the Public Utilities Commission have
been made public. rg' i.
A comparison Of the rates asked
shows that in a few instances the
rates allowed are less than asked.
slOn single line business phones the
rate asked was $3.50, and the rate
allowed was S2.25.
Rural party line service and
switching charges remain as before.
The following are rates asked and
those allowed: ls
Vi Rates Asked
For business service single line per
month, $3.50.
n For residence service, single line
per month, $3.50.
H For residence selective party line
per month, SLIPS.
For extension residence service
per month, rs cents.
Rural party line service per month,
$3.50.
Switching charges on party line
where connection is made at city
limits per month, 40 cents.
Rates Allowed
Individual line, business telephone
1925 per month.
M Individual line residence telephone
$1.50 per month. A.f.B t.g8 n
Two party line, residence telephone
$1.25 per month. ~,
Four party line residence tele.
phone 800 per month.
D.
cents per month.
Residence extension sets, extra Sc
cents per month.
Desk sets, extra business and res.
idence) 25 cents per month. tt
All other rates now in existence
to remain in force and effect.
One of the new collection rules al
lowed is that payments must be made
B in advance. This is hardly meeting
with the approval Of the public, ant
just why. anyone should be required
to pay id advance is hard question
Most all Of the business houses Of
Liberal would like to have their pa
irons pay their bills in advance Sc
they would have the money on hanc
to meet bills and payrolls,o but al
there is no state board to guarantee
Immunity from competition tn,
nove would not be a wise one.
A comparison of the rates viii
show that rural line service was no
raised, neither were switching
charges. The only thing that is real
ly effected by the the new rate is s
25 cent raise on business phones anC
residence phones.
There is lot of soreness on the
part Of the public over the raise anc
the pay-in-advance proposition, anC
we hear it talked quite freely tha
many residence phones are likely tc
come out, as well as a few busines:
phones. III
u One man said to the Democrat
"Guess I'll have my house phone
taken out and invest the money IL
War Savings Stamps; can buy {
stamp about every three months will
what would save and can get along
without the phone"
There is just one reason that the
rates were not raised as asked. Il
remained for the Democrat to ge
busy and organize a bunch to make
I. a protest, The paper came out will
the news of the raise asked, then go'
out and got the fellows together Il
secure counsel to appear and find out
the why Of the increase. Had it MOI
been for the action Of this paper M
one would have known much about
Y it until the raise appeared on the
monthly statement and then it woulG
have been too late.
The people of this country have
been saved several hundred dollars
through the interest taken by the
Democrat and while we have made
several sore spots in town, we realize
that when the interests Of tbe people
are to be considered someone is SURE
to be affected and will consequently
become hostile to the paper.
We do not regret the stand We
have taken in this matter. We have
4 3been able to render a service to the
N public and we cannot help but fee
Y that they will appreciate it, and give
us boost whenever they have thu
opportunity.