The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-10-30

beng reduced.
We do not pay any excess profit tax because
we have never earned enough to be SUBJECT 10
that tax.
BUILDINGS =.
1t is common knowledge that the cost OF erect
ing any kind of building now as well as making
at,erat. ons and repairs, which constantly con-
front the Telephone Company and which involve
material labor freight, and hauling, Is on al
enormously higher plane than ever before In
solar as the cost OF materials may be reduced
Will this total cost be reduced
The only way we can furnish adequate facI'-
ties for your use from year 10 year Is by COIL
stlucting the buildings III which to house the ce'-
trail office apparatus sin the larger centers; as
well as charging EXISTING buildings TO serve the
increased needs, and this work must be carried
IN from year to yezr without delay. This IN
wolves hundreds OF thousands of dollars IN ex-
ocnse to the Company.
There are of course, many other items of ex
pensc all of which are at the highest Level
in price, and none Of which show any sign Of
reduction for fundamental reasons
Until these necessary costs CT operation are
materially reduced we cannot reduce the COSI .
Of furnishing telephone service.
We have carefully studied and analysed the
advertised reduction in prices and hnd tnat they
ere upon articles Of which we make but little,
if any, use. Applied to the telephone business,
all known reductions in prices would only reduce
the cost of furnishing telephone service one
twentieth Of one per cent.
This is many times offset by the increase in
wages which, in many places, we must make
during the current year.
Our present operating revenues are practically
equalled by our operating expenses. IL the pres
ent let down in general business continues FOL
any apprcciable time we will lose material par
of the gross revenue now received, which VII
make still higher rate necessary II deficit
avoided.
We are not asking higher rates for the SAME
SERVICE we FURNISHED ole, two or i've year
ago: but for a much GhEATLR SERVICE whlci
We now furnish CONSISTING OF facilities to ad'
many additional telephones to our system during
the past one, two and five years.
This fact should beFconsidered when compaI
ing the increase Ii rates we ask with the lncreaS
IL the charges of railroad, express and othe
DuDi4c utilities Tor the same quantity OF service
We hope as every one does, that in the rela
lively near future prices and the costs OF opera
tioL, except labor, will be lower, but we see u
immediate prospects of this result a. lar as I'll
Telephone Company is concerned
The increased rates we are now asking al
based in a measure, upon this hope. II u
present level of costs of operation 90 hghe
through causes Beyond our control, the propose
rates viii net yield fair profit
1t is imp6rtanE 10 remember that no rate Il
public utility IS permanent. Ii conditions an
prices so change in the future as to make u
rates we are now asking yield too high retur
and If the Telephone Company should not redu
the rates voluntarily, the Public Service COl
mission. would,
Conditions as they are must be met, not
they may or sholild be.
The highest and best interest OF the public
conserved IN having the Telephone Company
position to supply FACILITIES adequate to the q
lnand for telephones and service, and IN this Wi
be prepared TO render at all times an adequa
service. No community can expand and gre
without adequate telephone service, which
turn means adequate plant facilities.
With inadequate return upon the bare cost
the physical property already IN service
Company credit has disappeared.
With no credit the Company cannot secure
millions Of dollars required to provide the adj
tions and extensions of its plant, which must
provided if the public demand for telephones
supplied.
Respectfully yours,