The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-16
PH0N E RULING
ON BURLES0N'S
ORDERS ISSUED
Service Connection Charg es
Generally Lowered by the
Railroad Commission
CLASSIFIC ALTON KEPT
Long distance Toll Charge Di-
vided IntOeSeveral
Classes
CLAsSIFIC ALTON KEPT

Continuance of the Burleson classi
fication in long-distance telephon
calls and new rates for service con
nections of telephones, embodyin'
generally reduction from the Bur
Lesson rates, are contained in an orde
issued by the North Dakota railroa'
commission today. The new rate
are effective September l.
Exchanges, calls and stations o
the Northwestern Telephone Elk
change, of Omaha, Neb.; the Norti
Dakota Independent Telephone com
pany, of Fargo; and the Dakota. Cen
tral Telephone company, OF Aber
deem, S. D., affecting all North Da
kota stations, are included in the or
der.
The order is divided into two part
the classification of toll service
and the new rates for service connec
Cities Are Grouped
For the purpose of making new
rates for service connections tn.
telephone exchanges of the statt
were divided into four groups. Rate:
for connecting telephones In tou!
groups were fixed as follows:
Group l., Business Phones-Whert
instrument is already in place, $3.50
Instrument not in place, $3.50. Resi-
dence phones in place
SITS; instrument not in place, $2.oo
Group 2, Business phones-ln.
strument in place, $500; instrument
not in place, $500. Residence phones
Instrument in place, $3.50; lnstru'
ment not in place, $500.
Group 3, Business phones--lnstru,
ment in place, $1.75; instrument no.
in place, $3.50. Residence phones, III,
strument in place, $1,25; instrument
not in place, $1.75.
Group 4, Business Phones-lnstru-
ment in place, $3.50; instrument not
in place, $500. Residence phones, in
strument in place, $1.00; instrument
not in place, $1.5O.
For extension stations, where the
instrument is not in place, charge
of s1.O0 is fixed for business or resi-
dence phones. ls..s.5... .gys4 !,
The groups Of exchanges are as
follows: Group l, Fargo, Grano
Forks. Group 2, jamestown, Bis
marck, Darlington, Dickinson, Man
dan, Valley City. Group 3, Grafton
Lisbon, Hettinger, Wahpeton, VII
liston, Ellendale, La Moure, ,Oakes'
All other stations are in Group 4.
A Uniform Charge
postma ster-Genera BurlesOn had
made a uniform service connection
charge over the United States OF
$3.50 for establishing service where
it was necessary to put the lnstru-
ment in place and $3.50 where the IN
strument was already in place put
not in use.
Among the stations in Bismarck
territory, which are in group A. are
wilton, Underwood, Glenn Ullin, He
bron. Killdeer, New Salem. Dawson
Flasher, Golden Valley, McClusky'
Pingree. Steele and Carson
Regarding the service connectlon
charges, " E. Smart, telephone sup
eryisor of the commission, said:
ut will be noted in every case
except that of business phones III
Fargo and Grand Forks this decision
resnlts in a decrease in the amount
of charge made for service connec-
tions where the instrument is III
Mace. and that the charge is no"
reduced as low as $1.OO at smaller
exchanges where the instrument IS
in Mace. 1t is anticipated by the
commission that this method Will re-
suit in greater satisfaction TO teie,
'nhone users in the state generaliy'
The case has been in the hands OIL
the commission since hearing Was
hold in June. The telephone COM
nanies had petitioned for contiil-
nance of the Burleson charges:
"During the period of federal con-
troll classified tool charges, making
different rates for toll calls whers
a particular person was askeo lo1
than where the calling party "oula
talk to anybody, were estapilsneu pS
the Postmaster-General,' SAID W.T..
Smart.
Reasons for Classification
"Studies indicate that nearly ~
percent of the long-distance calls 10
not require the telephone COMPANY
to locate a particular person ana ene
idea of the Postmaster-Generals clas-
sification was to make lower rate
where the particular person was i1o'
asked for. Telephone companies de-
sired to keep this classification III
effect because of the saving n>tlme
to operators and the the user OF eA-
pensive copper long-distance lines: :,
"The cost of telephone materlal
has increased greatly during the last
two wears and telephone companies
do not wish to build more additional
lines at present high prices than are
absolutely necessary, and this classl.
fication results in economical use OF
lines and is very beneficial to the
neople because of lower rates and TO
the the telephone company because OF the
economy thus obtained.
Fraud Alleged
"Where particular person IS not
reouired the telephone rate is 70 per
cont less than where the particular
nerson is required. This classltlca-
tion also carries a report charge to
H. ,nn1ied when, through no fault