Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-07
TOLL RAISES
EXPLAINED BY BURLEs0N
Congress Outlining Reasons
for Action.
BETTER SERVICE is PROMISED
Declares Purpose Is 10 Siandardizc
I.Ong-DiStancc Work Throughout
Country-Ratcs Said to BE Cen
orally Lower Than Before.

WASHINGTON. Feb. G--posimas;er-
General Burieson to-day sent TO Con-
"a He'd for by 4 committee of tho House
or Representa- regarding the plan
the new rates TO-: long-disiancc calls
and probable adjustments of local rates
l IN his ie'ter; which was given to The
Burlcson asserts the new toll service
Is the most Yconomicai aud cnicien,
phony can provide.
The purpose OF The new schedule OF
telephone toll rates is TO s,nndardizc
inc country and to establish uniform
charges. Congress, is told. The TOT!
service is not local in character. and.
conducted over the lines OF more than
one comnanN and across state boun-
took over tho operation of the tele-
phones the diffcrenc in toll rates and
IN me method or handling toll bust
ness on many routes were such as
greatly to comDlicatc the uuo,in. Of
u unrough rites ties The result; was un-
handling long-distance traffic and cor
''"n"hoing Inconvenience and cxpens.
60 20 me ne pubic; Under the toll! rates now
cS.anuSheu me toll service is an inter
vXplnnnuni'y, fnicrstatc and inter
Amc eIia, servief; available to AL
TRIES no INTRODUCE
ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
Mr. EurIcson goes on to saw that
IN preparing Tho new rates he has on
o Of s"rSH to introduce additional forms
make substantial reductions i'm charrno
Were ihey were excessive. and 10 In
;n ,a : me charges where they we're
,ton nor e,Xamplc." he said. the distnc-
n r.Un between calls for particular
n,!Stabl!shed for the whole cn,,,,, DIS
= ms distinction is based on Soma
tn,
f., oiIuth' more TABOR on tho par, OF tho
by !e ~ Operators than those handled
!H1r'her also tic mp the lines, Which IN
. ne case Of many long distance cnlia
conn s,en US heavy Investment in
a longer period Of time III nrrio, aor
uuhc telephone caller who was en,;e
station o ofcn an% PATTY At particular
extra cost Of serving fLc n,r,;n,,.ne
nfts so iho 'o on, distance ialker Here
hctter proportional TO tho cost ~. DC
wee and 10 its value To the uscy'
RATES ARE LOWER
THAN THOSE IN PAST
FAC; ,h nur'e ,hi calls attention to the
NV departure. much of The innS
n,stance service having been bon,IIed
TOO ms MS method in the past The ra,es'
ihose fornS =, are generally lower than +
.rdor iorneriy III effect. Similar con-
S'uerations. he contends. iiistirr III
nc" report charges The inforn,o,;
MOI ,tu 10 the telephone user may
:, "'w"HS De OF value to him mr.
~ has been obtained M a co,.;d,p
=, -, pehse' and it is faircr 10 char.
~; nApenSe against the party who
he says "7"'"st DINERS.
Moreover. says Mr. BurIeson ..ir
~ 'aSrS' rcsrct;aDly, reports from,
rn I1eG r nat The particular person .
ne" l"H ana which were not avail
no nav" been made n mcdirn,
eH!nS impor;an; information, rhus
mn, ''a,,IS were able 10 eradc nav
iuiiN perpetratcd uuon The cn,n,o,
= rom every standr1int il seems d.eir
,hi. ~ make reasonable charge for
~" - 'iaSS oil service
ne government took over ,bo ,,,o
rhoht IN 4 period Of advancing r,te.
VIZ fostmaStcr-;cn saws. sevnr,i
;,nnr pnn'Ss Ha S already secured the
missions TO advances and me o,b
would nave been compelled 10 fniiow,
'ui. u thc government had not CONE
10 their relief. 'o'''c
NEW RATES TENTATIVE
AND MAY I,I: RE.bIrI,.,,
adjustment OF rates has hcen IN :.
nasis I" enable the government m
r 49, Us guarantee TO pay just ana
Wiz '" Pc, compensation TO companies .
" hpSf INES were taken over Air
i,ut ie"oh contends that the stand,rd
ailoh OF rates and the reduciinn l.,
49, iate" insure better service !
saying: ~ e'tcr ny I
ne new rates are tentative. They
IN be reduced as fast as conditions
~ ~ 80 Variant The whole subject or
ne relation between lou r,ics mi
,o'di cNchnnSc rates is under inycs
:satioh. The postmaster is i'm a posi
~" ~ iilthc icadJustmcnts between
ne rates Tor the different kinds of SCR
wee with single eye to the yooI Of
. ne whoic body OF telephone users
hoht The country. lie does NOT
, ,In l" Coti"Ht tolls which are higher
NAN Is necessary to maintain a u.t
= !.ncIorN standard Of service. and hc
VIII not hermit the quality of the snr