Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-21
CLAIMS PHONE
SERVICE DOESN'T
WARRANT RAISE
Service Commission Takes Up
Petition of Indiana Bell
Company.
OPPOSITION IS STIFF

That the present service being
rendered by the Indiana Bell Tele-
phone Company is insufficient and
unsatisfactory in this city and the
rates established therefor by the
order of Feb. 8, 1920, are too high
for the character of service rendered,
was one Of the claims made by the
city Of Indianapolis today before
three of the members of the public
service commission of Indiana in the
hearing of opening statements in the
matter of the petition of the Indiana
Bell Telephone Company for author
ity to increase its exchange rates.
An answer and objections by the city
of Indianapolis to the granting of the
petition, was prepared by Samuel Ashby,
corporation counsel, and presented before
the commission by d. II. Bynum. assist
ant city attorney.
In the answer the increase In rates
granted to the Central Union Telephone
Company by the public service commits
sion. effective March !, 1920, were touched
upon. aud then the objections by the city
Of indianapolis were set forth as fol-
lows:
That said telephone company accept
cd said rates provided for In said or
der. approved Feb. .. 1920, without hling
any petition with this commission for a
rehearlng thereon, and without taking
any appeal therefrom 10 the courts as
provided In section 20 Of the acts OF 1913,
creating public service commission.
CLAIMS NEW PETITION
FILED TOO soon.
.'That the time In which the Central
Union Telephone Company. or its sue
cessor IN interest. had a right to tske
an appeal 20 the courts from said order
OF Feb 0, 1920, fixing exchange rates In
the city OF Indianapolis, had barely e1-
pired when this petition was filed. and
there has not been sufficient time TO test
the sufdclency or insuftciency Of rates
provided IN said order.
'eThat 1t Is contrary to the spirit and
intent Of the law creating "a public serv-
ice commission for a utility to file
petition for Increase in rates before the
rates granted under a previous order
have been fairly tried and tested. and
this petition should be denied for that
reason
THAT the pnbHc service commission.
hy It's order, permitted the Central Union
Telephone Company 10 purchase the ply
steal property Of the Indianapolis Tele
phone Company In the city Of Indian
apoiis and EtRse or Indiana. Tor the pur-
l'ese OF providing for a united service
ia the city Of indianapolis and thereby
eliminate the necessity OF telephone pa
tross maintaining Two separate teisph0Re
Systems.
SAYS COMPANY DID
NOT COMPLY WITH ORDER
That the telephone service In the city
" indianapolis has no. been unified or
combined. and the telephone patrons are
still required to pay for the use OF two
systems. and this city objects 70 the
consideration Of said petition By this
commission until the petitioner is able
10 grant unified and single telephone
service In the city OF indianapolis.
That the present service being rem
dered by the petitioner IS insufficient and
unsatisfactory. and the rates established
therefor by said order Of Feb. 0. 1890.
too high for the character Of the serv-
ice rendered
Wherefore, the city Of indianapolis
FAdEH tudb ShAu pfitlsh ne NtuleAt
4. +. Davidson, as attorney for the
Indiana Bell Telephone Company. set
forth various features Of the petition.
snd pointed out that in the order Of the
commission Of Feb. . Il was ordered
that all rates herein established shan
be continued In force subject to further
consideration and modification and shall
not he considered as finally fixed"
SEVERAL COMPLAINTS
MADE AGAINST SERVICE.
One Of the matters that came up az vari-
Gus times during the morning was COM
plant Of poor service, aud another was as
to the exact relationship between the In
diana Bell Telephone Company and the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany,
r. w Mcdaniel Of Shelbyville raised
objection to the proposed increase in
rates, though fairly good service Is being
rendered there at the present time, he
said.
A number Of other objectors to the pc
tition were heard during the morning.
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