The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-16
To the Public of
 Birmingham

Just two years ago, October 22, 1918, the A:- bama Public Service Commission declared after full investigation of this Company's operations tha this Company earned LESS THAN 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 Companys books and testified that the books had been honestly kept and that there 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 elaboratey amined into by the city's FIVE EXPERTS who tes tfied 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 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of COS per cent.
 During 1919 the Company earned 0.27 per cent During the twelve months beginning August l. 1919, and ending July 31, 1920 the Company earned C54 per cent upon its investment.
 These facts 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, to examine the books of this Company and report his findings to the Commission. We have advised the Commission that our books are available for MT. ROSSOn'S examination Our books are kept as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission. A 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 Tele- phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company Is technically the it was when approved by the Commission on October IS, 1918. The payments from com pany to the other are for the purpose. Not one single different, new, issue exists now that fully testified to by the cys five experts and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended 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 city
 We believe MT. Rosson made fair, impartial and true examination of books at that time for the city of Birmingham.
  nor can the several thousand applicants for service in Birmingham be given service until additional facili- ties are supplied; nor can Birmingham grow and pand without adequate telephone facilities.
 We cannot add to our investment at Birmingham until we can charge rates which vii. yield something nearer far profit than 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
 The business interests of Birmingham and the State of Alabama demand prompt decision in this 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 and true kamlnaton of books at this time for the Alabama Public Service Commission.
 The Company has done it's part. The issue is not one of facts, but DELAY.
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