The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1919-01-24
TELEPHONE CO.
STARTS BIG
CASE

/ postmaster Gen. BuPleson recurring
ell telephone companies in the United
States to make an installation charge
Tor telephones was not issued in con-
lormity with the provisions of the rail-
road commission law of Nevada and
telephone companies operating in this
state to disregard Burlson's order and
to continue their business along the
lines laid down by the commission
This is the first conflict of author
iiy between the state and the federal
government in regard to telephone
rates and is the forerunner of further
clashes 1t is understood In which the
railroad commission will challenge the
authority Of the postmaster general to
change the long distant rates, and also
viii challenge the authority Of the di-
rector genral of the railroads to
change freight or passenger rates.
The order issued by the railroad
commission was made at the request
of the United Farmers r lflhone a.,d
Tel company, represented by Manager
e. J. Phillips, that the company ask
ing for the approval of the railroad
commission to order No 1881 of the
postmaster general, dated August 2s,
1918 fixing charges for the installa-
lion end removal of telephones.
Under the orders isud August 2S.
effective September, rates of s5. $40
and si5 depending on the kind of tel
/ ophone installed were to be charged
for all new phones. This order was
modified on December /, making a
General charge of $3.50 for the INSTALL
alton of new phones or extensions or
$l.5O for changing the name of a sub
soriber to certain phone. Before
this order went into effect the tele-
phone companies could charge two
months rent in advance when a new
phene was installed
The order issued by the commission
Is as follows:
AT a regular meeting of the COM
mission held at its offices in Carson
City. with ]. f. Shaughnessy associate
commissioner and w. II. Simmons,
commissioner and F. H. Walker, secre-
tary of the commission present, having
under consideration the petition of the
United Farmers Telephone and Tele-
graph Company for an order approx
ing the adoption of telephone INSTALL
aticn and removal charges as set forth
IN order No. 1881 of the postm; ster
general of the United States in in con-
scrmity with provisions of sec. MOI
/ q the railroad commission lew of the
state of Neyada, requiring telephone
companies to file notice Of change OF
rate rules and regulations of thirty
days notice to tn commission and the
public
I'll is further ordered that for the
aforesaid reasons said charges are un-
lwful as pplied to domestic state
business and therefore all telephone
companies are hereby notified to forth
with cease and desist from lavying
anc collecting such charges and for
The future to collect until otherwise
ordered by the railroad commission of
the state of Nevada only ard no more
than such charges have been and are
lawfully established under the laws
of tn sovereign state of Nevada
1T is further ordered and ruled that
al telephone companies operating in
the state of Nevada assessing such
charges are violating the provisions o.
said railroad commission law of the
state of Nevada and are subject to the
penalties of the law for such violation
II is further ordered that a copy of
this order and ruling be served upon
the telephone companies openarting in
the state of Nevada"
Since its organization the United
Farmers Telephone and Telegraph
company has recognized the Railroad
Commission of Nevada and has faith
fully abided by all rules laid down by
that body. When Postmaster General
Burleson issued the new rates and
rules governing all telephone eompan-
les, Mr.. Phillips Immediately rcogniz-
ed the fact that his company could not
serve two masters. He prepared the
following petition and sent it to the
Railroad Commission of Nevada. The
Commission issued an order that such
changes had not been established by
the Postmaster General of the United
States in conformity with the provis-
ions of Section 4 Of the Railroad Com
mission Law of the State of Nevada re-
quiring telephone companies to file
notice of change of rates, rules and
regulations on thirty days notice to
the Commission and to the public
Continued to page three)