Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-11-11
WANTS INCREASED TELEPHONE
RATES.

(From the Shepherdstown Register.)
The Jefferson County Telephone
Company, which is local organiza-
ton that has been well managed from
its beginning, has made application
to the Public Service Commission of
West Virginia to increase its rates,
and the commission announces that it
will hold hearing on the oath of No
vember next in Charleston, the State
Capitol.
The company asks for an increase
from $50 to $4S on direct business
line, and from $24 to $50 to four
party and multi-party line; for resi-
dence phones it asks that the direct
line service be increased from $24
to $36, and from $24 to $50 on four
and multi-party line. Ministerial
and operators rates one-haf of reg
ular rate; extension stations, Sc, desk
sets So additional. All of the above
rates are per annum. A charge of
$3.50 for installing new phones is
asked for, moving telephone on same
premises SO, and changing name in
directory, $1.50.
Installation of a charge of FIVE cents
for calls between exchanges.
| So far as the Register views the
matter, the advance asked for by the
company is modest one and doubt
less ought to be granted, except for
the charge for calls between ex-
changes. General Manager HI. c.
Getzendanner has prepared a state
ment showing the present salary and
wage list to be on basis of $9,216
at present, as against $5,50S in 1916
and this is not. taking into account
the heavy increase in the cost of ma
terials and equipment. An estimate
shows further that by 1920 the sal
aries and wage will reach a total Of
$11, 1920 per annum. The telephone
company has kept the rates down fol
the past couple of years when it wa:
probably justified in advancing them
and it's subscribers should appreciate
this. The increased rate asked fo1
is only fifty cents month, except il
the matter of direct line service
where the increase is a dollar montl
This is certainly not unreasonable
considering all conditions.
But we do not think that the charg,
for calls between exchanges should b,
enforced-we wish that the compan,
would abandon this demand, at leas
until it finds it an absolute necessit,
afer trying out the increase in phon
rates. jefferson county is none to-
large for general service. The Har
per's Ferry exchange for instance
has but rs telephones connected UP
and $24 and $50 seems a stiff enougl
rate for such limited service, withou
the additional five cents for calls t.
other exchanges. Shepherdstow1
has about 200 phones and Charlie
Town about ATS, making total of
few over 800 phones, only, in tn
county. Compared with the thou
sands of phones that are accessible t
persons in larger towns and in he cit
les, it seems to us that it is hardl
fair to impose an additional tax TO
calls beyond our strictly local ex
| change.
| The jefferson County Telephon
Company has always been consider
ate and fair in its dealings with it
patrons, and as a result the utmos
good feeling has prevailed. We hop
that the directors and the liberal
minded manager will not press thei
request for the charge for service be
tween exchanges. We believe b
| yielding in this that there will be n
serious opposition to the application
| for an increase, and that all sides ma
continue to be happy and contented