New Britain herald., 1918-12-31
NEW TELEPHONE RATES.

beginning January 1. 1t is remark
able for its grammatical construction,
correct regard for syntaX, it's we'll
rounded phrases. AS an explanation
it leaves much to be explained md
should be followed at an carly date
with n more detailed stateN cnt that
Will not leave the reader in the dark.
Is it possible that llv telephone
company whose business personnel Is
composed Of some of the brainiest
business mon in the country. expects
the public 10 believe that it has at
this very moment awakened to the
rising cost Of commodities which it
usqs? The war is practically ut an
end There has been no occasion for
adding to the rates during the war
although indirectly the subscribers
have been taxed through charges for
Installation, change IN loca ton. etc.
1t does not seem likely that the tel
ephone compauy's expenses can
mount higher than at present or than
during the immediate past.
Iuclsdadkin the announcement is
the statement: The amount Of row
enue resulting from the rate Increase
Will be somewhat less than the
amount % wage increases that have
been accorded to employees during
the last SIX months" Therefore, the
telephone company. with benign phil
anthropy will assume the extra
charge. If such is the case it is
unique in business history Labor is
beginning to return from the
trenches Instead of increasing, wages
are certain to decline Unless the tel
ephone company is iramuneAIo the
law Of supply and demand.
Throughout the statement issued
by the company, is q studied effort
to SHIFT the blame to tho shoulders OF
Postmaster Burleson. who has as
sumed control of all systems of COM
munication in the United States. MT.
BurIeson's name has figured prom
inertly in public and private CORES
pondence or thes company since he
took charge of the wires and all OBJ
jections by subscribers have been met
with the reply that Mr.. Burleson,-
the wicked, wicked Mr.. Burleson--~
has decreed that such and@such must
be done and the abused Telephone
company has no other course than to
obey orders.
Mr.. Burleson would not approve of
forced to experience the lack of serv-
ice to which New Britain and other
Com ecticut cities have been subject
ed during the past few months.
The Herald is informed from a
trustworthy source that the New Brit
ain payroll of The telephone company
six months ago was less than $1,000
per week. 1t is estimated that the
new charges will produce a revenue
in this city of $4,000 a year, or
$1,000 II month. villa the company
insist that fits payroll here has in
creased more than s25oea week dur
ing the six months just ended?
Since the system WAS taken over by
Postmaster Burleson, field construc-
ton has been brought virtually to a
standstil. thus eliminating another
item Of expense.
@ About five Years ago the dividend
OF the company was increased from
to- In
no suggestion from the company that
the dividend be reduced to the previ-
Gus mark
Within the past few months the
value of Southern New England Tele-
phone stock has mounted nearly
twenty points. During that time an
official OF the company was frequent
~ in conference with Postmaster
Burleson at Washington. It is not
possible. Of course. that the Increased
rates were being discr ssed thus
causing the value OF the stock to rise.
The most damaging evidence
against the company is furnished by
the delay in making public announce
ment OF the higher schedule Of rates.
IT. is reported to- The Herald that the
officials Of TIE concern knew Of tho
increase weeks ago and that local
managers received formal notice sew
era1 days ago instructine them to pres
sent on December 80 to the ncwspa-
pers in theiF cities the statement is
possible is that the company did not
wish to allow opposition to sohdify
before the new rates became effective.
Unless business men are to. be sad
died with permannt charge it will
he necessary for the Chamber Of
Commerce and other trade organiza-
tons to file objections imm ediatcly