The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-12
To the Public of
 Birmingham

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 Just two years ago, on October 22, 1918 the Ala bama Public Service Commission declared after fuil investigation of this CompanyS operations that this Company earned LESS THAN 8 PER CENT UPON ITS INVESTMENT IN BIRMINGHAM DUR- ING 1916
 This investigation covered period of two years and seven months.
 The city of Birmingham represented by two distinguished counsel and employed FIVE FIX PERTS.
 These FIVE EXPERTS had access to and examined this Companys books, and testified that the books had been honestly kept, and that there evidence of fraud or any attempt to conceal the facts
 The relations between the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, and the payments from each Company to the other were fully and elaborately amlned into by the city's FIVE EXPERTS who tes- tified at length upon this relationship and these payments.
 THE COMMISSION APPROVED THIS RELATION
 SHIP AND THESE PAYMENTS
 Since 1916 the Company's earnings at Birmingham have been:
 During 1917 the Company earned l.51 per cent. During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of 00S per cent
 During 1919 the Company earned 027 per cent. 1919, and ending July 31 1920, the Company earned u54 per cent upon its investment
 These facts were conclusively proved before the Alabama Public Service Commission at the hearing at Montgomery on October and 6.
 The Commission appointed MT. George T. Rosson of Mobile, Ala to examine the books of this Company and report his findings to the Commission. We have advised the Commission that our books are available for MT. Rossons examination.
 Our books are kept as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 competent accountant can speedily verify the truth or falsity of the statements filed with the Commission on October and 6.
 The relationship between the Southern Bell TeleS phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company is identically the same now it when approved by the Commission on October Is, 1918. The payments from one com pany to the other are for the same purpose.
 Not one single different, new, issue exists that fully testified to by the cys five experts and decided by the Commission in it's investigation which ended on October IS, 1918 In 1911 the city of Birmingham employed MT. Ros- son, and he made an examination of this Company's books for the city.
 We believe Mir. Rosson made fair, impartial and true examination of our books at that time for the city of Birmingham. a
 The present service cannot be materially improved nor can the several thousand applicants for service in Birmingham be given service until additional fac- ties are supplied nor can Birmingham grow and eX- pand without adequate telephone facilities
 We cannot add to our investment at Birmingham until we can>charge rates which vii! yield something nearer fair profit than we now receive.
 WOULD YOU?
 We are asking rates at Birmingham which will re- turn us profit of less than per cent profit which the United States Supreme Court has held would be confiscatory under present conditions.
 The business interests of Birmingham and the State of Alabama demand prompt decision in this case Each days delay postpones the improvement of the service and further denies service to the thousands now without service
 We believe Mr. Rosson will make a fair, impartial and true examination of books al this time for the Alabama Public Service Commission
 Nl..