New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-08-22
INFORMATION WANTED FOR
TELEPHONE HEARING

/ The state corporation commission
has requested specific information
as to the business done In New Mex
leo by the Mountain States Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company for
use in studying the present increas-
ed rates. The commission is getting
ready for the hearing September
18th. The letter asking for the in
formation says:
Section II of Article XI of the
constitution of the State of New
Mexico, as you perhaps know. au-
thorizes the commission to inspect
the books, papers and records of. all
transportation and transmission COM
panies doing business in the state
and to require from such companies
doing business in the state from time
TO time special reports and state
mcnts concerning their business In
order that we may be in a position
to pass intelllgently upon the que,-
tion OF tolls, rates and charges we
will require and you are hereby re-
quested to furnish the commission
at the earliest practicable date with
sworn statement setting forth the
earnings, investment and eXpend-
ture of the company within the
state as a whole and also for the
several exchanges during the period
from January /, 1919, to July 81, 1919.
We will want this statement to be
so itemized that it will show in de
tail the toll, exchange and other
revenues; the toll and exchange
plant investments. how the valua-
tion of the same was arrived at, the
basis used IN computing depreoia-
ton, amount considered as a fair re-
turn over and above expenses; and
the various items of expense prop
erly chargeable to operations in
New Mexico. In other words. such
a statement as we desire will give
complete information on all matters
which are to be taken into consi-
deration for rate making purposes,
and the statistical data will be so
compiled as to clearly portray the
financial condition of the company
so far as its New Mexico business
is concerned.
We are especially anxious that
the statement or memorandum ac-
same shall contain
description of the real and personal
property of the company in this
state, with value of buildings. switch
boards, wire systems etc, and a list
of materials and supplies purchased
for use in this state and the prices
paid therefor during the period of
Federal Control; also whether or
not any new construction work was
done in this state Immediately prior
to or since the Government took
possession of the properties and
whether or not these properties were
in as good condition when returned
as they were when Federal Control
was inaugurated
In addition to the detailed finan-
cial statement and other nforma-
tion mentioned in the foregoing
paragraphs, we find that we will need
Cd a copy of the compensation
agreement or contract entered into
with the Government, ~ copy Of
the annual report of the company 10
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion for the year ended December
81, 1918, supplemented by the state
ment as to New Mexico business
herewith. and (3) a schedule showing
the salary and wages received by the
different classes of employees at the
several exchanges. For purposes OF
the salaries and wages
paid employees and the average num-
ber of employees on the payroll may
be shown since 1914, the year which
marked the beginning OF the great
war and the upward tendency in the
,ost of living
We assume that your company
stands willing and ready to cooperate
with the commission in every way
N getting at the facts. so that the
commission may know whether or
lot the higher rates are justified