The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-04
10 the TuDIlC Of Birmingham

Just two years ago. on October 22, 1918, the Ala bama Public Service Commission declared, after full investigation of this Companys operations that this Company earned LESS THAN THAN 3 PER CENT UPON ITS INVESTMENT IN BIRMINGHAM DUR ING 1916.
 This investigation covered period of two years and seven months.
 The city of Birmingham was 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, fully anG deliberately ex- amined 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 Brrlinghan have been:
 During 1917 the Company earned l.51 per cent During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of OO8 per cent.
 During 1919 the Company earned O.27 per cent During the twelve months beginning August \, i919 and ending July 31, 1920, the Company earned O54 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 Mr. George T, Rosson of Mobile, Ala to examine the books of thls Company and report his findings to the Commission.
 We have advised the Commission that our books are available for MT. RossOn's examination.
 Our books are kept as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 A competent accountant speedily verify the truth falsity of the statements filed with the Commission on October 5 and 6.
 The relationship between the Southern Bell Tee- phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company is identically the as it was when approved by the Commission on October Is, 1918. The payments from com pany to the other are for the same purpose.
 Not one single different or new, issue exists now that fully testified by the ctys five experts, and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended on October 1S 1918.
 In 1911 the city of Birmingham employed Mr. Ros- son, and he made examination of this Companys books for the city.
 We believe Mf. Rosson made a fair, impartial and true examination of books at that time for the city of Birmingham.
 The present service cannot be materially improved the several thousand applicants for service in Birmingham be given service until additional facili- ties are supplied nor Birmingham grow and ex- pand without adequate telephone facilities.
 We cannot add to investment at Birmingham until we can charge rates which will yield something nearer fair profit than we now receive.
 WOULD YOU?
 We aye asking rates at Birmingham which will re- turn us aprofit of less than per cent; profit which the United States Supreme Court has held would be confiscatory under present conditions
 of 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 fair impartial and true examination of books this time for the Alabama Public Service Commission.
 The Company has done it's part. The issue now is not one of facts, but DELAY.