The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1919-08-07
THE TELEPHONE RATES

GCIllaDS UncHe was no escape lIOlu Z
rise in the local telephone rates for Ontario
nevertheless there are two sides to The
question, and both should be considered be
fore the Commercial club agrees not to entcl
any objections to the request of the Nal
hcur Home Telephone company for higher
remuneration.
That the company cannot make money
at the present rates may be granted, for cv
eryOnc knows that the cost of operation anC
upkeep has advanced to Il large degree il
the past three years.
Against this admission there is set foltl
the fact that when the company bought tn,
Ontario Independent company it entered
into contract specifying certain conditions
which change in the rates and service now
would violate.
OF course the company at the time OF
purchase did not foresee Il world war and
so general a rise in prices and SO material
revolution in business practices as we have
witnessed in the past year But, argue those
who have no sympathy with the company
"a contract is a contract" and there is no
reason why we should let them break that
contract with Ontario now. Again they ar
que that had prices fallen, had operating
costs thru inventions or lower wage stand
ards make operating cheaper, the public
would not have received the benefit. The
company would not be asking permission to
reduce the rates.
OF course this is hypothetical. The
facts are that the cost is greater, and it is Il
practical question of whether or not the pub
lie wants to see the company insolvcnt or
is willing To take Il rise in price and change
service so that the company may prosper.
The Argus believes that there is sub
stantial grounds for the position of both the
company and those who are opposed to any
change i'm rates on service, if viewed respect
lively from the personal interest of each.
But we believe there is Il middle ground
that is safer in the long run for the public
rs Il whole.
Ontario and the Fruitland Bench, On.
tario and the Nyssa-Arcadia country have
grown under the practice of viewing this as
one community. Business has been prcdi-
Gated ON that condition and to change that
condition will work to the dctrimcnt of bus
mess materially, and the comfort of the
people,
I'm the long run the public will have 10
pay for the cost of maintaining the telephone
company, and allow it to earn dividend
publlt polltN lllS lllulcdltu lldl pubic scr
vice corporations are entitled to that. The
question then resolves itself into this:
Is it better to pay telephone rentals
sufficient to meet the requirements of the
company, on take Il smaller rise and have
the exchange service between Ontario and
Nyssn and Onatrio and Fluitland CON.
tmucd?
There is of course another alternative;
namely to fight amy change and stand on the
old contract and put the matter up to the
courts 10 determine which shall prevail, the
terms of the contract on the general law Civ
ing the Public Service Commission entire
power over the rates
The Argus believes that the citizens of
Ontario want to be fair with the telephone
company, and that they want the best ser
vice possible, therefore we believe that the
matter will be adjusted satisfactorially after
all sides have been thoroly examined and the
public is thoroly informed of all the condi
tions which effect the company and the city
1t is in that spirit at least that the problem
should be faced and only in that way can IA
satisfactory solution be reached.