The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-04-23
Two Subscribers Ask Presi-
dent Frank L. Beam To
Answer Ten
Questions

The following communication was
given the Banner Thursday morning
with the request that It be published:
Hon. Frank l.. Beam,
Pres. Mt Vernon Telephone Co.
Dear Sir:
We are addressing this to you be.
cause, First, you have manifested a
desire to place the situation existing
between the patrons of the Mt. Yer.
non Telephone Co. and its officers be.
fore the people of Knox county. And,
second, your confidential relation to
this concern places you in position
to know the facts which we elicit; or,
il not known by you, to which you
have ease of access.
Further, we feel that nothing we
might say In reply to your open let
ter in blandish and euphonious Ian
guage could be of any avail in arriv-
ing at a conclusion and that the facts.
as disclosed by your answers to the
following questions, are the only safe
i
this matter.
ID How do you justify the fiat
rate of $1S per year to North Liberty,
with 1O9 phones, to Bladensburg with
2OS phones. to Centerburg with 316
phones, to Gambler with 316 phones,
to Danville with 511 phones, to Fred
ericktown with S51; to Mt. Vernon
with 1905 phones, at $15 per year?
CD How many miles of line have
been constructed within the last
year, exclusive OF repair work?
CD How were the following pur-
hcases financed and what was the to.
tai cost: The Mt. Vernon exchange OF
the Central Ohio Telephone Co., the
Centerburg exchange Of the Central
Ohio Telephone Co.?
(D How much common stock do |
you hold? How much preferred?
CD In view OF the fact that 'the
stockholders of the Mt. Vernon Tele-
phone Co have received only six per
cent" and having due regard for the
legal effect of your answer, will you
sell your common stock at par?
(6) II not. would you exchange it
for an equal amount of industrial
stock of as good or better stability
and safety, earning 1879?
10 What salaries are paid the ex.
ecutive and administrative officers of
your company?
(S) Is It not the purpose of the
OF the Mt. Vernon Tele-
phone Co. to increase their stock to
100000 within the next two years
without any further increase in the
physical assets, and that the present
demand for higher rates and inter-
exchange toll charge, Is in anticipa-
tion OF such application for increased
capitalization, 30 that the present
plant will show an earning power
capable of paying dividends on the
Increased capitalization?
(D When you say "the company
Is composed OF men with high sense
or civic PRIDE; "the company Is fair |
and It's officers honest; ut is bound |
by every consideration, selfish as well
as tinsellish, to furnish the highest |
quality Of service at the lowest pos. |
sible rate we believe these things.
DO YOU believe these statements to |
the extent that you will waive the
monopolistic features of the public
utilities act, and rellnquish your right
OF way and franchise In the ex-
changes at Gambler, Danville, Fred.
ericktown, Bladensburg and North
Liberty to telephone company now
maintaining and operating large
plant that will furnish service to
these communities at rates lower
than those demanded by your com.
pany and save the Patrons executive
committee the work of cleaning up /
the lines and right of way to such an
extent that his company can enter
and operate?
1O What contributions has your
company made to the numerous char.
tiles of the county?
What We have said and ask must
not be taken in the spirit of contro.
versy or contradiction, but that of
information only. Your answers will
be accepted unsworn to. reserving
however the right to point out any in.
accuracies attributable to inadvert.
ance and with the further assurance
that In event no answer is made the
people OF Knox county are permitted
TO draw their own conclusions so far
as we are concerned.
Most truly,
GEORGE CRISE,