Arizona republican., 1919-05-02
BIG PH0NE RATE
 RAISE CHECKED
 BY COMMISSION
Move to Increase Rates
 Here $1 Met by Order From State Commission Declare It to Be Unlawful

The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph company yesterday filed with the corporation commission schedule of rates that raises rates ap- proximately one dollar per phone for business phones all over the state.
 The corporation commission instant ly issued an order forbidding the put ting into effect of the proposed rates which were to take effect yesterday and asked a court order of restraint also.
 The company, through H. Y. McFay, it's Arizona representative, filed with tho corporation commission a tariff increasing the monthly telephone rent al in ten of the principal cities and towns of the state, The proposed rates were to become effective on the date filed, May 1st.
 For business telephone the rate at Bisbee and Douglas was increased from Sf to S6 per month; at Globe, Nogales, Prescott and Yuma, from s4 to S5 per month; at Glendale from g. to s4 per month; at Jerome from 8 to s per month. At Phoenix and Tucson the rate increased from s5 to ss per month and the tWo-party business rate from
 
 business rate was raised from s to $4: the one-party residence rate at Glen dale and Jerome increased s1 per month.
 The fo1r-party residence rate was inereased at Bisbee, Douglas, PhoeniI and Tucson to the extent of g cents per month: no change was proposed in the four party rate in the othei raorrle4I tho r.t fr1fY,u. q ts per month: changes were made 1T charges for private exchanges result ing in advances affecting hotels, ana larger business establishments.
 Upon presentation of this proposed schedule to the commission, the repre- sentative of the telephone company was uniformed that the commission would immediately issue an order sus pending the proposed advances anC calling into conference Assistant At torney General Candy, requested hin 10 forthwith apply to the court for al order restraining the telephone com pang from collecting the increased charges
 In giving out this information. Com missioner Jones said, '"The precipitate unlawful manner in which the tele phone companies attempt to inaugur ate increases is from any angle who'll! indefensible. The fact that the pro posed tariffs were prepared outside O the state and had been under con sideration for some time makes it evi dent that withholding information from the commission and the publi, was premeditated and designed to pre- vent legal proceedings to require al observance of our laws and to proven the public and press from commentinI on further and. I hope, final act o the postmaster general in his mis hsndling of the wire systems of tn, country. Our laws require public ser vice corporations to file with the com mission. thirty days before effectiv, date. all tariffs and to give publicit! of such filings. The law further pro vides that the commission itself shal noh authorize an increase of rates un less there has been a public hearinl and a showing that the increase i justified"
 Commissioner Bitter
 Continuing MT. Jones said: User of telephones are given no opportunit- 10 say to the company these increase are more than we wish to pay and yo may therefore remove your telephone My advice to patrons of the telephon is 10 fatly refuse to pay the increase rates. The commission has issued a order suspending the proposed ad vances, but heretofore, these order have been given no consideration either in this or other states by tn companies or the postmaster general in fact. there seems to be no rule o