Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-26
Commissions Decision
The decision says:

Inc decision says:
by the commission. the Bell Tce-
phone Company of PENNSYLVANIA has
petitioncd this commission to approve
continuance of the rates established
under wartime conditions by the post
master general. These rates werc ap-
proXimately 20 per cent higher than
those which this commission, after eN
tensive hearings and investigation. es-
tablished upon order in 1917.
'"The order referred to was based
upon an investigation of tho properties
and practices. income and revenues Of
the entire system now owned and Oper
ated by the present applicant The
provision of the public service com
pany law COntemplateS a period of three
years repose following such orders for
utility companies aud the public af-
fected by them. This is wise pro-
vision of the public service company law
and ought not lightly be set aside.
1T is true that under the same pro
vision this commission is authorized. on
application of utility or complaint
of a consumer or patron. TO make
changes in its former orders. but under
all the circumstances presented in the
pending application and in view of the
fact that the three year period referred
to will soon expire CApril. 1920 the
commission cannot assent TO the pend
ing request.
The evidence with respect to the
financial condition, prospective rCvP
nues and anticipated expenditures sub
mitted by the applicant is, in the light
of the prevailing circumstances not Suf-
ficient to convince this commission of
the necessity for the increase prayed
for, nor of the business or reasonable q
ness of the proposal to advance the
applicants rates above those which were
in effect prior to the period of federal
control.
$50 far as the commission is advised
by the testimony. the increased rates
established by the postmaster general
which are sought to he continued were
not predicated upon q consideration of
factors which public utility bodies are
required to weigh in fixing rates or in
determining allowable gross revenue,
Admits Operation Costs More
"Undoubtedly the Bell Telephone
Co. of Pennsylvania in common
with all other public utilities and bust
ness enterprises throughout the country
has been and still is confronted with
increased cost of operation, maintc-
nance and for extensions. Due consid
Grafton to such patent facts should anC
has been given by the commission il
the matter now before it,
"As the commission has repeatedly
expressed, the public interest demands
that the utilities by which the public
are served shall be safeguarded by be
ing permitted to secure revenues suf
hcient to meet reasonable costs of sprv,
ice, provide for proper reserve and t.
secure for them fair return, Commu
mites cannot progress nor obtain eff
cient service if these public utility me
diumS, so requisite in daily business anC
social life, are denied the right to jus
and reasonable support.
1T does not appear, however, from
the facts before the commission in thi
case that there would be any substan
tial denial of just and reasonable rev
enue to the applicant company, by nd
herring to our former order for the pc
riod of time ii has yet TO run, il
refusing the present application an
directing the applicant to return +
apd again place in effect its schedul
~ rates which We're operative unde
our order prior TO the date upon whic
the federally imposed rates went int
effect in Pennsylvania.
''The figures submitted by the com
pany as the result of operation durin
wartime conditions are as yet incon
elusive ia determining the justness o
reasonablencss of an increase of ap
proximately 20 per cent. The com
pRny' S testimony projects the estimat
of operative increases on an ascendin
fHaIe into future period Of sewers
Fars 1he commission would not b