Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-02

The automatic telephones. which were
the property Of the Indianapolis Tele,
phone Company, recently en over by
the Indiana Bell Telephone Company
will remain in use at rates which have
been in effect for several years until a
unification Of the physical properties OF
the two companies is completed, accord
ing to an announcement made al the Of
fees Of the Indiana Bell Telephone Com,
pany.
The petition for an increase in rates,
recently fled with the public savings
commission Of Indiana, by the Inter
company did not contemplate any changes
in rates al this time for the automatic
phones, It is explained.
Automatic telephones will continue TO
be installed. when requested, at present
rates, and when there is a unihcation Of
the physical properties OF the two COM
panies. which probably will be in about
a year, automati will continue to be
operated, but will be so operated that the
user OF an automatic can talk with user
OF a Bell phone Just as readily as Bell
user can, and it Is maintained that as far
number Of patrons Is concerned when the
n the uniacation OF the physical proper
ties is effective the user OF one type OF
telephone will have no advantage over the
user Of the other type, for all patrons
OF the company will then be equally
available 10 all users.
SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER
AFFECTS VALUATIONS.
In a supplemental order Of the public
service commission. relative 10 the TAX
ing over Of the Indianapolis Telephone
Company by the Central Union Telephone
Company, which In turn has recently been
taken over by the Indiana Bell Telephone
Company. the value Of the indianapolis
Telephone Companys exchange property
was set at 81 40 COO toll property at ST.,
l65 1886. making It's total property value
s3,935 93S.08 and. in addition, capital
stock owned IN several Other telephone
companies IN the state at $4,000 "a, max
ing a total valuation Of 81, go 900.
The property OF the indianapolis rele-
phone Company was taken over By the
Central Union Telephone Company as Of
date Of April l. 1920. and in turn was
taken over by the Indiana Bell Tele-
phone Company.
The taking over of the indianapolis
Telephone Company was made possible
by a decision OF the state supreme court.
which upheld a decision Of the lower
CoQFtbf ANtAAUk AA@h HNNA F4Af A1aE
could be made
In the franchise granted BY the city 10
the Indianapolis Telephone Company and
the New Telephone Company. approved
March ?. 1909, there was a clause under
the head Of Assignment OF Contract" as
follows:
1T Is also agreed that the franchises
and privileges herein granted By the said
elf . fah
the distinct condition that neither such
franchise nor any rights granted by this
contract shall be hereafter assigned nor
In any manner transferred by said COM
Panlcs, party Of the second part. either
directly or indirectly. without the con
sent Of the board Of public works OF said
city and ratified by the common council
Of the city OF indianapolis expressed In
resolution regularly adopted by said
board"
COUNCILS CONSENT
NOT OBTAINABLE.
The consent Of the city council could
not be obtained when the assignment OF
the indianapolis Telephone Company was
brought up. and so the matter found its
way into the courts, In the form OF a
friendly suit fled by the Indianapolis
Telephone Company against the Central
Union Telephone Company, in which the
former sought 10 have a contract OF sale
by II to the defendant made effective.
The complainant was successful In
both the lower and the higher courts
and the taking over OF the indianapolis
Telephone Company properties by the
Central Union Telephone Company and
then by the Indiana Bell Telephone Com
pany followed.
Preceding the taking over OF the Cen
trail Union Telephone Company, and
other telephone properties In the state
by the Indiana Bell Telephone Company
the Central Union Telephone Company
had fled with the public service commits
sion of Indiana a petition for authority
TO increase its rates at exchanges in In
diana and an order was issued bv the
commission Feb. ., 1920.
In the opinion and order OF the com
mission IN the case the following tenta-
tive estimates were placed upon the
property Of the Central Union Telephone
Company in Indiana: Indiana toll sys-
TEN, 1851 .316; Alexandria, SAT ,231 Bed
ford, s157 sos; Bloomington, $21S,S29
Boggstown, S11 ,055; Brooklyn, S15,3
Bunker Hill. $20,4 ,423 Culver $4,000: Ell
wood, $176, 457; Fairland, $7434; French
Lick. $50, ,496 Gas City, $54, ,416; Green
wood. s4531S; Washing gton, S29S, 1852
Yorktown, $20,215 Indianapolis, &c.
Continued on Page Six.)