The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-04-30
Takes Up The Twenty-Six
Questions And Gives His
Answer To Each

The following communication was
given to The Banner Thursday morn.
ing with the request that 1t be pub.
lished.
Messrs. George Crise,
B. b. Ferenbaugh,
John Cunninghm,
Gentlemen:
Upon my return home the first of
this week, found that you three
gentlemen had addressed to me, as
president of The Mount Vernon Tele.
phone Company, number of ques-
tions by publishing them in our To-
cal newspapers.
The method you have pursued in
presenting this matter, and the ma
ture and the wording of your ques-
tfons, makes me inclined to suspect
that you are not frankly and honest
ly seeking information with fair and
open minds, but are rather endeavor-
ing to injure the company by false in
situations suggested by the form of a
majority of your questions.
However, | am disposed to give you
the benefit OF the doubt, and it may
be there are some persons Interested
In the matter who are disposed to be
fair and whose final decision as to
where justice rests In this affair may
be affected by my sworn statement.
/ have, therefore, decided to give
you, to the very best OF my ability,
square, straightforward answers to
every one OF your questions, just as
though you were really entitled to
the information and were willing to
be convinced by the truth and the
facts.
Let me state further, that while !
am disposed to answer as fully and
accurately as possible the twenty.six
questions asked, n careful study of
my answers will present to the pub
lie the essential elements OF the earn
ing power, dividends and salaries
paid by The Mount Vernon Telephone
Company, which matters have been
grossly misrepresented. / have been
president of this company ever since
Its organization, more than twenty
Ave years ago, sand ] accepted this ap-
pointment on the condition that ev-
ely director and officer OF the com.
mn fAs
other subscribers, and this has been
carried out to the letter. The opera.
tion of our business, its methods of
bookkeeping and the regulations con
trolling practically every one OF Its
everyday business transactions are
prescribed by federal and state laws
For this reason, the full and complete
answers given to these twenty.six
questions are final. and the last that
will be given by means OF genera
publication. am not disposed to en-
ter into a prolonged or continued
newspaper controversy coyerinl
phases or our business that are al
ready regulated and controlled by tn
federal and state laws, and are mat
ter of public record in more thai
twenty reports we file with differen
commissions annually, copies @
which are on file at our Mt. Verno
office and may be examined by an
individual or committee.
Questions asked by George Girls
and y. B. Ferenbaugh.
Answers by Frank j.. Beam.
Question Cd How do you justif
the fiat rate OF SIS per year to Mort
Liberty. with 100 phones, to Bladen'
burg with 20S phones, to Centerbur
with 3lG phones. to Gambler with 81
phones. to Danville with 5l1 phone
to Fredericktown with SOL, to NJ
Vernon with 1906 phones, at $l5 po
year?
Answer 1)-The common practic
OF telephone companies has esta
lished the necessity for classifyin
telephones. The length OF the lir
has much TO do with It, both the CO.
OF construction and the cost OF mai
tenance. In congested districts mo-
telephones can be secured with le
poles and wires than In rural dlstric
and the cost OF maintenance Is lie
per telephone. because Of the short
distance to be covered. The rate ,
tablished by The Mt. Vernon Te
phone Company. for rural service,
$l8 per year net, AT all OF It's {
changes. The rates establish
where a portion OF the telephones a
in a corporation or congested d
trict varies from si5 to S42 per We
net The SIS rate at Mt Vernon
not for rural service, but is for sho
err distances and party lines.
Question t2) How many miles
Inc have been constructed with
the last year, exclusive of rep
work?
Answer (2)-None.
Question t3) How were the foll6
ing purchases financed and what v
the total cost. The Mt. Vernon