The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-09
To the Public of
 Birmingham

Just two years ago, 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 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, fully anG elabOrately amined into by the c;tys FIVE EXPERTS who tes- tified at length upon this relationship and these payments.
 THE COMMISSION APPROVED THIS RELATION
 SHIP AND THESE PAYMENTS have been: During 1917 the Company earned 1.51 per cent
 During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of O08 per cent.
 During 1919 the Company earned O.27 per cent
 During the twelve months beginning August 1. 1919, and ending July 31, 1920 the Company earned O.54 per cent upon its investment.
 These facts were conclusively 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 I1oh Ia ro>C oIyoofIn
 Our books are kept required by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 A competent accountant can speedily verify the truth falsty of the statements filed with the Commission on October and 6.
 The relationship between the Southern Bell TeIe- phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company Is identcaly the same now it when approved by the Commission on October IS, 1918. The payments from one com pany to the other are for the purpose
 Not one single different, or new, issue exists now that fully testified to by the city five experts and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended October IS, 1918.
 In 1911 the city of Birmingham employed Mr. Ros- son, and he made examination of this Companys books for the city,
 We believe Mr. Rosson made fair, impartial and true examination of books at that time for the city of Birmingham
 The present service cannot be materially improved the several thousand applicants for service in Birmingham be given service until additional faci 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 will yield something nearer fair 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 case. Each days delay postpones the improvement of the service and further denies service to the thousands now without service
 NLo kali Mr twill aka