The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-08-17
CITY CUT OFF FROM
COUNTY AS COMPANY
0FF|CIALSSQUABBLE
Maysvllle Telephone Company and
Mason County Mutual. Telephone
Company Squabble Over New
Rates-Service Discontinued.

oHus~VUAS VNSA ANSN
Rates-Serylce Discontinued.
Because of misunderstanding be-
tween the officials of the Mason Coun-
ty Mutual Telephone Company and the
Maysville Telephone Company, service
between this city and the homes
served by the Washington Exchange
was discontinued Monday and farmers
were unable to call the city.
Maysville Telephone Company Off
Gals claim that more than year ago
the contract between the two compan-
les terminated. 1t was understood that
twelve months notice must be given
of any change in rates and that more
than fourteen months ago the Mays
vile Telephone Company contends
they notified the Mason County Mutual
that at the expiration of IL months
they would make an increase of five
cents a telephone per month for serv-
ice through the local exchange. Under
the old contract the county company
was paying the city company 10 cents
per telephone for service and the city
company was maintaining seven lines
from this city to Washington. They
contend that the expense of the up
keep of these seven lines was not paid
by the 10 cent charge and they in
creased the charge to Is cents per
telephone per month.
Manager German, of the city COM
pany, says the county company refused
to pay the increase although they were
given the twelve months agreed upon
and an extra two months of grace. On
Monday, after their refusal to pay the
new rate, the Maysville Telephone
Company disconnected the Washington
exchange and would ring them no
more until contract had been signed.
Representatives Of both companies
are holding conferences today and it
is to be hoped that an agreement can
be reached within very sohrt time as
the disconnection is causing much in
convenience and annoyance to both
city and country people
President Flarity Issues Statement.
President Flarity of the Mason
County Mutual Telephone Company
this morning issued this statement
over his own signature:
Nineteen years ago a contract was
entered into by the Maysville Tele-
phone Company and the Mason County
Mutual Telephone Company, whereby
the Maysville Telephone Company was
to receive 10 cents per month for each
box on the Mutual Telephone Com
panys lines as compensation for
switchboard connection in Maysville.
The Mutual Telephone Company was
also to collect free of charge all long
distance tolls originating on their line
and turn them over in full to the Mays
vile Telephone Company. The Mays
vile Telephone Company was also to
receive the free use of the Mutual
Telephone Company's poles between
the top of Maysville hill and the Flem-
ing county line, between Mayslick and
Helena Station, and about three miles
of poles north of Mayslick, or about
eighteen miles Of poles, which were to
be maintained by the Mutual Tele.
phone Company.
| The contract specified that in case
of a dissatisfaction on either side one
years notice should be given the other
party. About one year ago the Mutual
Telephone Company received notice
that they must pay Is cents per month
per box, or difference of $24S an
nually. After my election as President
of the Mutual Telephone Company, !
was notified regarding this action and
called a meeting of the Directors of
our company, who unanimously decid-
ed that the Is cent rate was unjust for
the following reasons: The Maysville
Telephone Company receives rent free
the use of eighteen miles of poles,
their long distance tolls are collected
free Of charge, and 1900 of their sub
scribers are given free service over
our line, whereas, we have but 4OC
subscribers receiving service from the
Maysville Telephone Company, fol-
which service we pay over $40O an
nually.
According to their own statement, II
costs the Maysville Telephone Com
pany more to maintain 191 phones
on their rural lines than 1t does for the
up-keep Of 1000 odd in the city. II
would appear, from this statement
that the Maysville Telephone Company
might Justly pay the Mutual Telephone
Company service charge for the use
of our 400 phones.
was instructed by the Directors to
confer with Mr.. German and present
the above reasons why we should moi
be asked to pay an increase over the
present contract and received the fol-
lowing proposition. We were offered
an annual rental Of $4,000 for the is
miles Of poles referred to, 10 per cent
for the collection Of long distance tolls
originating on our lines, and also were
offered a directory to be incorporated
in the Maysville Telephone Company's
directory. This offer was afterward
Increased $500, the contract rental be-
inr raised to $4,000. with the pruyisc