Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-20

Please do not conclude that be-
cause have omitted to comment up
on the reservation, in the resolution
of Congress Of the exercise Of the po-
lice powers to the several states, that
this commission is waving any of its
rights to regulate purely state mat
tiers. Our sole present purpose is to
protest against the toll rates pro-
posed
Telephone Conference
Chairman Cleavcs also sent a COM
munication to all the telephone COM
panies in the state calling for the
conference, one TO be held at Bangor,
Thursday, Jan. %, and the other at
Portland. Friday, Jan. "a. for a dis
cuSSion of the general telephone sit
| Uation. The communication follows:
In looking over the general telc-
phone situation since the federal gov
crnmcnt took control o; all wires, the
| Public Utilities Commission of Maine
| has become convinced that the atten-
| tiol of each telephone company
should be called TO certain matters
and an opportunity be given for all
companies to meet at some convenient
! place III the very near future and
have explained to them some features
of the federal control which it is
/ feared are not generally understood.
| "BrieflS. since Aug /, 1918. the
, postmaster general claims to have had
/ the sole and exclusive control. man
! agHnent and operation OF each tele-
phone company in the country, no
. how SlJrh
formed. what service it was render
ing or whether it had any physical
! connection with one or more other
companies for the rendering of toll
service.
The New England Telephone &
Telegraph Co. at the request of the
postmaster general is understood to
have sent to each company in Main"
:. printed copy of the contract which
the postmaster general proposed to
! each company and Il questionable to
be filled ont and submitted i'll con-
nection with the proposal of the COM
pany to the postmaster general.
We have received many inquiries
in regard TO the duty of telephone
companies and the liability and re-
reference to various matters connect
cd with federal control.
I'VE are advised that the postmas-
t. general claims the right to fix and
control the exchange rates of each
company. regardless Of the fact that
such company may not he rendering
any toll service. He also claims. under
certain conditions, the right to deter
mine the matter of maintenance e%-
tensions and additions by each COM
rany. He has prepared and ordered
filed by each company rendering toll
service a schedule of toll rates which
is based upon air line distances rath-
CT than pole line distances. The pro-
posal of contract which he offers to
each company provides in substance
for a guarantees by tho federal gov
eminent of a return to each company
substantially equal TO that received in
the year 1918 but in order for a com
pany to be assured Of such guarantee
and return it is claimed that the con-
tract must he executed by the COM
general.
"Oficials of the New England Com
pany have informed themselves of the
various contentious Of the postmaster
general and are prepared to furnish
that information in considerable de-
tail TO our Maine companies. 1t is not
practical to furnish such information
in written form.
This commission is also possessed
Of information which gives what may