Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1919-04-30
TO RESIST RAISE,
IN TELEPHONE RATE
}Rai,roaJ Commission Has Nct
Received Notice.
ASK INJUNCTION
Chairman Shcaly Thinks Public
Utilities Should Bear Share Of Bur-
den--Fifty Towns Affected.
The State April IS.


the rates on local telephones by the
Southern Bell Telephone s: Telegraph
Company without g, contest, stated
Frank w. Shealy. chairman, yesterday
A press dispatch printed yesterday
morning announced that the Southern
Bell Telephone & Telegraph Company
had filed with the Georgia railroad
commission a revised shedule of rates
giving the ompany about Is per
cent increase in telephone rates on
business and rsidence telephones. Al
though the dispatch said that the
schedule ad been filed in eight other
Southern Stats and in Indiana and
Illinois, the South Carolina commits
sion up to this afternoon had not re-
ceived its copy
The telephone company announced
that it was filing its new schedules on
orders from Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson director Of the United States
telegraph and telephone administra
ton. However, it was stated that if
orders had not been received from the
government for an increased rate,
there would have been revised sche
dule filed. it being held by the COM
pany that an increase in rates is nee
essary. The Southern Bells associate
line. the Cumberland Telephone &
Telegraph Company, likewise announ-
ced the filing of a new schedule for
increased rates.
In January Postmaster General
Burleson filed schedule of increased
long distance telephone toll rates
which averaged about a 20 per cent, in
crease. This rate, as far as it affects
intrastate business Will be tested in
the United States supreme court by
the National Association of Railway
and Utilities Commissioners. The
case will be heard on Monday. May s.,
according to announcement received
by the South Carolina commission a
few days ago. .,.2
Although what procedure will be un
dertaken by the South Carolina COM
Iaission was not divulged yesterday, it
is probable that as soon as the revised
schedule of rates filed with the com
mission. possibly tomorrow pre-
emptory order prohibiting the increase
viii, be issued on the Southern Bell
Telephone & Telegraph Company.
Should the corporation disregard this
order. then the matter will be handed
to Attorney General Wolfe for relief
in he couts. It is probably that he
first legal gun fired will be in the
shape Of Injunction proceedings.
s'The commission has no knowledge
of why rates should be increased at
this time" said Chairman Shealy. eff
reasons of this kind exist, not only the
commission but the patrons of the
Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph
Company. should know what they are.
II an increase is absolutely necessary
the people of South Carolina as well
as the commission should be fully ap-
prised of why such conditions exist,
and. to this end the commission pro-
poses to use every effort available to
see that the patrons Of telephone lines
in South Carolina have right to pro-
tst in the usual way.
"The commission is surprised at the
preemptory method Of the Southern
Bell people in attempting to increase
it's rates without first notifying the
commission, which is necessary under
the laws of the State of South Caro-
lima and the rules of the commission.
'sThe cmmission and the people of
South Carolina have been extremely
lenient with all public utilities, includ
ing the Southern Bell Telephone &;
Telegraph Company, during the war
period. but we can see no reason why
this State Of affairs should continue
to exist The Southern Fell officials
themselves can but agree to this state
ment The service rendered by all
public utilities IN South Carolina has
not been up to the usual standard
but the people as Well as the commits
sion have been willing to concede
! many Of their rights to aid in the win
ming Of the war. but, at this period OF
| transition from war to peace condi-
tons, the public utilities must bear
their part Of the burden as well as the
people have born and are bearing
| their part Of the burden. The COM
mission realizes that the people anu
the utilities are copartners in the pre-
, sent readjustment and not profit at