The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-07
TELEPHONE RATES.
To Give First Glass Service the Com.
pany Needs an Adequate Income.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: have
been a subscriber of the New York Tele-
phone Company for many years. having
first used a telephone in Brooklyn back
in 1880, but I never gave the matter
of the. telephone system much though'
until the last two or three years. when
began to realize the difficulties that the
company has TO cope with in a city like
New York.
| When we consider the amount of tele-
phoning done in this city and the num-
Der of wires to be handled we should
be patient and not call tho manager or
write letters Of complaint If we have
to wait little longer than usual for
our number. Some folks say that the
telephone company makes a great deal
OF money. I admit that when you call
from a hotel booth higher rates are
charged. but this extra money does not
go to the telephone company. On the
other hand, you can step into any booth
Of the telephone company and call CEN
trail in New York city for five cents. and
when you consider what this saves in
many cases it is a liberal advantage.
To keep UP this good service and ad-
vantage we should be willing to pay
the small increase as required and asked
by the telephone company. The public
demands good service and should be
willing TO pay for 1t, and the telephone
company Is entitled to make a decent
dividend on the capital invested.
Under the present rates we cannot
ask for any better service than what we
nave. and we certainly should not do any
unreasonable kicking. We must pay
enough SO that the telephone company
can give us better service: otherwise
we cannot expect first class service. We
all know that the price of everything
has just doubled and the telephone COM
pany has TO pay more for everything
as well as the rest OF us. and certainly
to get the increase in the rates. 1t seems
to be only common sense.
Just think what a great benefit the
telephone is to the public. 1t Is one
of our greatest institutions and there
fore let US help thiSsconpany so that
II may make money. as we are all try
ing to do. It will only help us to DO
more efficient business. We cannot ex-
pect 100 per cent. efficiency If we are
not willing to pay for II.
I personally believe the Public Service
Commission should consider the matter
carefully, and believe that the COM
mission will see that the business peo-
pie of the city demanding 100 per cent.
efficiency should be willing to pay for
the same There is no question but
what the telephone in an office Is very
often a very busy instrument and very
necessary facility, and IL we do not help
the telephone company in getting the in
crease we only hurt ourselves.
All business houses should thoroughly
understand the situation, for poor tele-
phone service very often costs great
Ideal. l have always made il a point
/ 10 pay the telephone bills promptly, for
this is one Of our obligations, and II we
are required to pay double the present
| rates I personally would not object, con-
sldering the great advantage the tele-
phone is to us.
Just remember that the telephone COM
rany is a big corporation with very
heavy expenses and great responsibility.
] do not believe, however. that 90 per
cent. of the people here think Of what
the telephone company has to put up
with during these times.
WERN MACHINERY AND ENGINEERING
COMPANY,
BY GUST PIERS wERN, President
NEW YORK, October 6. . ~,