The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-04-16

ment on Wednesday:
To The Subscribers of The Mt.
Vernon Telephone Company:
From it's first inception, twenty-five
years ago, the ownership of The Mt.
Vernon Telephone Company has been
vested in the residents of Mt. Vernon
and it's surrounding territory. Many
of the most progressive and enterpris-
ing business people of this region
men with high sense of civic. pride
and honored by their responsibility to
their townspeople have been, and are
today, owners of the securities of this
company.
These men have not only invested
their own dollars in q Mt. Vernon pub
lie utility, but have encouraged many
others active and retired farmers,
workmen and salaried people on mod.
crate wage, as well as dependents
with small capital for which safe in
vestment was sought, to likewise in.
vest their savings at home.
These business men, and those
whom they represent, have never in
the history of the company, desired
or attempted to obtain an excessive
or exhorbitant income from their in
vestment. We feel sure that it cannot
be contraverted that they have hon
estly endeavored to, create, build and
extend public service that makes for
the comfort and convenience of both
social and business life throughout
our county, and they have cOntented
themselves with low dividend return
| because of the presumed stability and
permanent character Of their hold
ings.
The officers of the company have,
without exception, expended every ef-
fort to meet the demands of their sub
scribers. Their spoken and publish
ed statements have always been sim
cere and truthful with regard to COM
pany finances and conditions have
borne the acid test of investigation
by courts and commissions.
The change made last October in
the amount of telephone service to be
rendered to certain classes of sub
scribers at "flat rate" was made
because of absolute necessity in an
effort to keep down expenses of op-
Grafton. We hoped to- postpone, and
perhaps prevent, general increase
in rates called for by ever advancing
costs, and, at any rate, the cost of an
especially abused and peculiarly ex'
pensive class of service would be as
sessed upon those who use it. This
change will require the payment of q
small toll charge for service-betweer
exchanges, and the plan has beer
carefully investigated by the Utilities
Commission Of Ohio, and its decisions
must be accepted by telephone com
pany and public alike, as being fair tt
both interests.
In view of this showing. the offic
ers of The Mt. Vernon Telephone com
pany feel that they are entitled to thu
hearty cooperation and support of ev
cry fairminded citizen Of Knox coun
ty in the further progress and develop
ment OF these telephone exchanges.
They are also satisfied that any pro
paganda designed to injure the com
pany will also -injure the entire agri
cultural, business and resident popu
lation. The company is not now. nol
will 1t hereafter ask for compensa
tion, to which 1t is not clearly entitled
The dividend return to the 36'
stockholders in The Mt. Vernon Tele
phone Company has averaged six pei
cent. II reproduced today the prop
erty Of the company would demand
a far greater investment than that up
on which the present rates are based
! The properly of the company has
been we'll maintained and its genera
service compares favorably with thai
of the best equipped telephone com
panies in the country While It's secur
fifty holders do not participate in thu
larger profits that attend many mer
camille, industrial and agriculture
lines. they are entitled to fair re
turn upon the money which they have
placed in the service of their home
communities and to have that money
safeguarded by its telephone sub
scribers who are the real beneficiar
les
This Company like practically ev
cry other telephone company, through
out Ohio and the nation requires con
tinuous addition of capital for use IN
), extending and enlarging Its facilities
to meet the increasing demand for ser
vice. In order to obtain such new in
vestment and continue to serve the
public With the same degree Of salts
faction as in the past, II is imperative
that adequate rates be charged for 10
cal and ipterexchange service. In
ability to obtain such capital would