The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-06
ephOne Service VIII I'm
prove Under Old Owners.
at Is Prediction Made by In
dependent Men Here.
RE BACKBONE IS NEEDED
S Competitive Fighting Is
Urged by Speaker.
Officers of Association
Unanimously Reelected.

ne abrupt thrusting OF the tele
ne lines back into the hands of the
ers may temporarily make mat
worse. but will ultimately facili-
the endeavor to give better serv-
IN the opinion of the members Of
Kansas Independent Telephone
citation in Topeka for their annual
'ention. Steps for the betterment
he service can now be taken by
independent companies. it is de-
I'd
tho Burleson's order provides that
rates now in effect will remain the
until after the final act of con-
S relinquishing the lines. justified
IS can be obtained, it was declared
morning by T. l.. Youmans, presi-
of the association. by presenting
case to the public utilities COM
ion and then passing 1t on to the
office department for confirma-
This has been done since the
have been under government con-
he said.
Moro Backbone Needed.
ut the one great trouble with the
pendent companies, Youmans
is their lack of backbone to take
steps they know to be necessary.
IRE the small companies are in
petition, he says. tie one usually
9 TO make any advae4ce in rate for
his subscribers will go over to his
petitor. But this he declared to
wrong. not only to himself, and
employees, but to the public, be-
e on the present small rates he
lot pay living wages or render
| service.
re time will soon come, Youmans
when the employees of the tele-
ne companies will compel their
lOyers to pay higher wages or go
out help and when that time
es, there will be only one thing
to do-adVance the rates. he de-
id. He expressed the belief that
utilities commission had been very
in dealing with the companies
and that properly prepared APP
.tions would undoubtedly be
ted.
Discuss Higher Rates.
the auditorium this morning
was discussion of proposed in
sed rates. J. d. Waters. vice
dent, urged upon the members
lie association the prime need OF
erly preparing their cases before
are submitted to the commission
hearing. and of taking an inven-
of their systems in order that
correct amount of their invest
might be known. In the case
he commission refusing to con-
the invoiced valuation as some
ared is often the case. the propo-
n is then ready to be taken al
into the courts. The courts OF
country, Waters told his audience
not going to confiscate the prop
of private companies and give tC
re public.
,seph NJ. McShane and Charles A
nett, both of Kansas City and ex
accountants, addressed the meet
and answered questions regarding
phone accounting Capt w. S
an, secretary of the national as
alton, extended to the member
invitation to attend the nationa
'ention in Chicago in about tive
Ks, where many subjects of vita
ortance will come up.
Old Officers Renamed.
committee was appointed to which
phone owners contemplating al
tcation for a raise in rates Nigh
ent their case for review befor
,enting it to the utilities com
avn III AiiiS way. II IS DeHeNeU
old trouble of improperly prepare,
nJustified claims going to the com
'ion will be eliminated.
he committee on nomination sub
ed the names of the old officer
reelection and the resolution wa
nimously adopted. The officer
President, T. L. Youmans. Osa
omie; vice president. J. D. Waters
ner Springs; treasurer. H. L. Har
Kansas City. and secretary, L. NJ
eye. Topeka.