The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-02
To the Public of Birmingham


 Just two years ago, on October 22 1918, the Ala bama Public Service Commission declared, after full investigation of this Companys operations, that this Company earned LESS THAN PER CENT UPON ITS INVESTMENT IN BIRMINGHAM DUR ING 1916
 This investigation covered period of two years and months
 The city of Birmingham was represented by two distinguished counsel, and employed FIVE EA- 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, fully and eaborately amined into by the city's FIVE EXPERTS who tes- tified at length upon this relationship and these payments.
 THE COMMISSION APPROVED THIS RELATION
 SHIP AND THESE PAYMENTS
 Since 1916 the Companys earnings at Birmingham have been:
 During 1917 the Company earned 1.51 per cent. During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of OOS 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 O54 per cent upon its investment
 These facts were conclusively proved before the Alabama Public Service Commission at the hearing at Montgomery October and 6.
 The Commission appointed MT. George T. Rosson of Mobile Aa 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 Mr. Rossons 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 5 and 6.
 The relationship between the Southern Bell Tele- phone and Telegraph Company and the Arerlc an Tel ephone and Telegraph Company is identically the same as it when approved by the Commission on October 18 1918. The payments from pany to the other are for the same purpose
 Not one single different, or new, issue exists that fully testified to by the cys five experts and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended on 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 a 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 additional faci ties are supplied; can Birmingham grow and ex- pand without adequate telephone facilities
 We cannot add to our investment at Birmingham until we can charge rates which will 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 5per 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 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 and true examination of books at this time for the Alabama Public Service Commission.
 The Company has done it's part The issue now is ooffa acts h1tD DELAY.