Arizona republican., 1919-01-21
TO FIGHT CHANCE
 IN PHONE RULES BY ?. M. GENERAL
Arizona Corporation Com
 mission Issues An Order Which Challenges Burle- sons Right In Changes

An order was made yesterday by the state corporation commission with relation to telephone companies which challenges the authority of Postmaster General Burleson as it has been exer- cised by him in the control of the telephone lines of the country, especlai- ly with respect to intrastate business.
 After referring to changes that have been made by the companies in rates charges, regulations and rules, IL IS stated in the order that it is proposed 10 make other changes. effective on January 21, that is, today These pro- posed changes, announced in an ad- vertisement which appeared in The Republican yesterday, affect practical ly the entire service of the local tele- phone company.
 The order states that these changes have been made arbitrarily, contrary to the laws of this state and in violation of the practice of federal, state and other regulatory bodies. Such rates, charges, rules and regulations are de- clared by the order to be suspended, abrogated and annulled and that nu rates shall exist except such as have been 1lIeQ WlIU Iue COulullSSlOIi III GU cordance with the law.
 Installation Charge Obnoxious
 The law requires that before rate can be put in, it must be filed with the commission and that a hearing shall be afforded persons in opposition to them that they may show why they believe them to be unreasonable, un- just or discriminatory. No such op- portunity has ben offered. Some one in Washington, without any knowl- edge of conditions elsewhere, orders certain charges to be made. The first of these orders, and the most obnoxious Uf them to date, was that making a charge for the installation of telephone boxes. That is declared by the com mission to be discriminatory in favor of those patrons of the company whose boxes were put in before the govern ment assumed control of the system Moreover, it is declared to be an un- necessary and unjust charge.
 Commissioner Jones, speaking yes tcrday of the order, said that it was in- tended to pave the way for a refusa by patrons of the telephone company to refuse to pay the new charges anC rates and to comply with the new reg uldLlOQS Wu6IGupOn Illt tu6SllOu c the authority of the postmaster gen cral will be raised for settlement.
 Companies Had No Choice
 Mir. Jones said further that thes changes have not been made Willingl, by telephone companies. They hav had no choice in the matter, and of ficials have stated that they do no believe them to be necessary or wise
 This and other acts in connection with the government direction of tn railways and the telephones and tele graph lines were discussed at the lat meeting of the state railway commis sioners, and resolutions were adopte protesting against these acts and de claring that they doubted the legalit of them.
 4 supplemental annual report issue by the commission touching this mat ter says: Some of the state commis sions are testing the authority of tn postmaster general to prescribe in stallation charges and to increase in tra-state rates. Under the act of con gress empowering the president to as sumo control of the telegraph an telephone lines it is very doubtful
 the postmaster general has authorit to make intra- state tolls or eXchane rates. The question will no dout soon be disposed of in the courts"