The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-21
To the Public 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 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 EX- PERTS.
 These FIVE EXPERTS had access to and examined this Company books and testified that the books had been honestly kept and that there was 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 anG elaborately ex amined into by the cty's FIVE EXPERTS who tes- hfied 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 nave been:
 During 1917 the Company earned 151 per cent During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of 0O8 per cent
 During 1919 the Company earned o27 per cent. During the twelve months beginning August l, 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 this Company and report his findings to the Commission.
 We have advised the Commission that our books are oJlotNIA fnr Mr 1c axrorrN IyofI0
 Our books are kept as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 A competent accountant can speedily verify the truth or falsity of the statements We filed with the Commission on October and 6. phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company IS identically the same now as it was when approved by the Commission on October 18 1918. The payments from com pany to the other are for the same purpose.
 Not one single different, or new, issue exists now that was not fully testified by the eys fv. expert and decided by the Commission in its 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 c}ty.
 We believe MT. Rosson made fair, impartial and true examination of books at that time for the city of Birmingham.
 The present service cannot be materially improved nor can the several thousand applicants for service in Birmingham be given service until additional facli- 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 will yield something nearer far profit than we now receive.
 WOULD YOU?
 We are asking rates at Birmingham which will re- turn 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 MT. Rosson will make fair, impartial and true examlnaOn of books at this time for the Alabama Public Service Commission.
 The Company has done it's part. The issue now il