The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-30
'State Railroad Commission Will
Not Stand for Higher
Rates Proposed
COURTS WILL BE ASKED
FOR INJUNCTION
Chairman Shealy Does Not
Belive Increased Rates Are
Justified by Conditions :

Justified by Conditions
Columbia, April 2S.-The South
Carolina railroad commission will not
permit an increase in the rates on To-
cal telephones by the Southern Bell
Telephone & Telegraph Company
without 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 revised schedule OF
rates, giving the company about IS
per cent increase in telephone rates
on business and residence telephones.
Although the dispatch. said that the
schedule had been filed in eight 9TH
er Southern States and in Indiana and
Illinois, the South Carolina commits
sion up to this afternoon had not re-
ceived its cop.
The telephone company announced
that it was fling its new schedules on
orders from Postmaster General Bur
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 sched-
ule fled, it being held by the com
pany that an increase in rates is nee
essary. The Southern .Belrs associa-
ate line, the Cumberland Telephone &
Telegraph Company, likewise an
for increased rates.
In January Postmaster General
Burleson filed a schedule Of increased
long distance telephone toll rates
which averaged about a 20 per cent.
increase. This rate, as far as it at
fects .intrastate business, will be tesc-
ed in the United: States; supreme court
by the National Association Of Rail-
way and Utilities Commissioners. The
case will be heard on Monday, May
5, according to announcement re-
ceived by the South Carolina COM
mission a few days ago.
Although what procedure Will be
undertaken by the South Carolina
commission. was not divulged yester-
day, it is probable that as soon as the
revised schedule of rates is filed With
the commission, possibly tomorrow,
reemptory order prohibiting the in
crease win be issued on the Southern
Bell Telephone s; Telegraph Com
pany. Should the corporation disre-
gard this order, then the matter will
be handed to Attorney General Wolfe
for relief IN the courts. It is prob
ably that the first legal gun fired will
be in the shape OF injunction proceed
| ings.
'.The commission has no knowledge
of why rates should be increased at
this time" said Chairman Shealy. "1f
reasons Of this kind exist, not only
the commission but the patrons Of
the Southern Bell Telephone & Tel
! egraph Company, should know what
they are. If an increase is absolutely
necessary the people Of South Caro-
lima as we'll as the commission should
be fully apprised Of why such con-
ditions exist, and to this end the COM
mission proposes to use every effort
4
telephone lines in South Carolina have
Q right to protest in the usual way.
preemptory method Of the Southern
Bell people in attempting to increase
its rates without first notifying the
commission, which is necessary under
the laws OF the State Of South Caro-
F.! lima and the rules Of the commission.
1.-The commission and the people of
South Carolina have been extremely
lenient with all public utilities, ill.,
cluding the Southern Bell Telephone
g. Telegraph Company, during the war
period, but we can see no reason why
! this State Of affairs should continue
to exist. The Southern Bell officials
themselves can but agree to this
statement. The service rendered by
all public utilities in South Carolina
has not been up to the usual stand
ard, but the people as we'll as the COM
mission 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 we'll IS
the people have borne and arc bear
ing their part Of the burden. The
commission realizes that the people
and the utilities are copartners in the
present readjustment and one should
not profit 1t the expense Of the 9TH
er. This is the reason that the COM
mission contends that in all instances
Of this kind hearings at which each
party concerned has the opportunity
to protect his or their interests"
Approximately so cities and towns
in South Carolina will be affected by
the revised schedule Of increases in
telephone rates.