New-York tribune., 1920-02-17
Phone Service
Failure Put Up
To Legislature
Collapse Due to Inadequate
and Inefficient Operating
Force, Says Commission;
Wages Termed Too Low
Betterment Not in Sight
Cuvillier Favors Law to
Punish Company; 46,383
Installations Still Wait
From a staff CORRESPONDENT

ALBANY, Feb. 16-The Public Serv-
ice Commission sent report to the
Legislature tonight, in which it de-
clared that the telephone service in
New York City had broken down, gave
the causes of the failure and describe d
the efforts made by the company to re-
establish facilities, but held out no
hope of prompt improvement. 1t was
announced that 46,3S3 applicants for
telephones in New York were unable to
obtain them.
Assemblyman Louis Cuvllier, who
demanded the report a few days ago.
threatening that the Legislature itself
would take up the situation if the Pub
lie Service Commission delayed longer,
said tonight that he intended to intro
duce legislation to penalze the tele-
phone company for poor service.
Would Punish Each Failure
"The report shows that conditions
are worse than anyone imagined" de-
clares Mr.. Cuvillier. There is no
reason why the company could not do
better. 1t has lain down on the job.
There is no law penalizing it for fail
ure to give the public service. | shall
introduce legislation inf1icting a pen
atty of 500 for each instance Of bad
service and also penalizing the COM
panv $3.50 for failure to install tele-
phone within fourteen days after de-
mand. with $40 added for each addi-
tional day Of delay The penalties would
be collected by the aggrleved person
or firm"
The reasons assigned in the report
for the failure Of the service are lack
Of sufficient operators, the inexperience
of operators and the inadequacy of the
it's opportunities for big wages, resulted
in many operators leaving the switch
board, it is said and hampered the
company in its program of develop
mcnt. Traffic after the war suddenly
increased beyond the expectations of
the corporation.
The report goes on to say:
"Ihc pay has not been adequate to in
vite applicants in sufficient numbers to
maintain an adequate force. Under
the new scale, adopted February 8,
employees receive S15 week while in
school, $17.58 a week for the first three
three months, increasing according to
length Of service to $25.47 after six
years of service. 1t is to be regretted
that these increases were not earlier
made
Chides Company About Dividends
"While small increase in the pay
OF an operator runs into millions in the
years operating expenses, the COM
mission cannot but be impressed with
the thought that the company has
cherished too dearly it's policy of
fixed annual dividend of per cent,
that under the present exigencies it
should, if necessary, be willing tenn
porarily to forego to some extent this
established return, and that it Ger
talnly should do so, if necessary to re-
construct its service and invite per-
manent returns in the future.
In meeting the demand for the new
installations the company, in response
TO recon- mendations of the commission,
has classified the applications and en-
deavors to meet the demands accord
ing to these classes:
The first is emergency applications.
where the service is necessary for the
protection OF property, life or health.
For example, for doctors, nurses, hos
plials, fire department, etc. Second,
necesslty. Business service and some
kinds of residence service. Third. con-
venience. This last classification is
undesirable, but it is necessary to meet
present conditions. The company re-
ports to the commission that it CON
templates during 1920, in it's entire
territory, making expenditures for
lands and buildings estimated at SIP
9o3,o00 and for central office eouip
ment $28,S62 400. The carrying out of
tnese plans depends, of course. on the
ab1llty OF the corporation to finance
them and also its ability to secure ma
terlals and personal services.
Slow in Obtaining Equipment
"lhe commission felt that the com
pany should have been able to obtain
equipment more rapidly than il has
been obtaining it. Its control of the
Western Electric Company, it's princi-
pal source of supplies, led in part TO
this inference. The commissions has
assurance that the entire ability of tho
manufacturers is now being directed TO
supplying equipment for the Citv of
New York. VI
Progress has certainly been made
toward restoring the service, ALTHOUGH
such progress has not been so rapid as
was hoped, either by the commission
OF the company, and may not yet be
apparent to the telephone user A con
siderable further period of time will he
required. with the utmost diiirence 10
make the service in all resnects ade
quate and efficient. Under conditions
prevailing it is not believed that any
further Legislation would be helpful"