The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-14
To the Public of
 Birmingham

Just two years ago, on October 22, 1918, the Ala bama Public Service Commission declared, after a this Company earned LESS THAN 5 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 Company books and testified that the books had been honestly kept and that there was no evidence ot fraud or any attempt to conceal the facts.
 The relations between the Souther1 Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, and the payments from each Company to the other, were fully anG elaboratey ex- amined into by the city's FIVE EXPERTS who tes- tlfied 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 have been:
 During 1917 the Company earned 1.51 per cent
 During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of 0.08 per cent.
 During 1919 the Company earned o.27 per cent
 During the twelve months beginning August l, 1919, and ending July 31, 1920 the Company earned Uo4 per cent upon its investment.
 These facts were concusivey proved before the Alabama Public Service Commission at the hearing at Montgomery on October and G.
 The Commission appointed Mr.. George T. Rosson of Mobile Ala, tC examine the books of this Company and report his findings to the Commission.
 We have advised the Commission that our books are available for Mr. Rosson's examination
 Our books are kept required by. the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 competent accountant can speedily verify the truth or falsity of the statements filed with the Commission on October and 6.
 The relationship between the Southern Bell Tee- phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company is identcaly the came now as it was when approved by the Commission on October 1s 1918. The payments from one com pany to the other are for the purpose.
 Not one single different, or new, issue exists now that not fully testified to by the city five experts and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended on October IS, 1918.
 In 1911 the city of Birmingham employed Mr. Ros- son. and he made an examination of this Companys books for the city,
 We believe Mr. 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 additiona! faci ties are supplied; nor Birmingham grow and ex- pand without adequate telephone facilities
 We cannot add to our investment at Birmingham until we charge rates which vii! yield something nearer a fair profit than we now receive.
 WOULD YOU? We are asking rates at Birmingham which will re- turn us profit of less than per cent profit which the United States Supreme Court has held would be confiscatory under present conditions. 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