The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-23
To the Public of.
 Birmingham

DIIIAllIlSIld Just two years ago. on October P, 1918, the Ala bama Public Service Commission declared, after a this Company earned LESS THAN 5 PER CENT UPON ITS INVESTMENT IN BIRMINGHAM DUR- ING 1916.
 This investigation covered period of two years and seven months.
 The city of Birmingham represented by two distinguished counsel, and employed FIVE EX- PERTS
 These FIVE EXPERTS had access to and examined this Company 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, were fully anG elaboratey ex- amned into by the city FIVE EXPERTS who tes- tfied at length upon this relationship and these payments
 THE COMMISSION APPROVED THIS RELATION
 SHIP AND THESE PAYMENTS Since 1916 the Company's earnings at Birmingham nave been:
 During 1917 the Company earned 1.51 per cent. During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of O.O8 per cent.
 
 During the twelve months beginning August l, 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 6.
 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 available for Mir. Rosson's examination Our books are kept as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 competent accountant can speedily verify the truth or falsity of the statements We filed with the Commission on October and 6.
 The relationship between the Southern Bell Tele- phone and Telegraph Company and the American Tel ephone and Telegraph Company is identically the same it was when approved by the Commission on October IS, 1918. The payments from com pany to the other are for the purpose. Not one single different, or new, issue exists now that not fully testified to by the etys five expes and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended on October IS, 1918.
 In 1911 the city of Birmingham employed MT. Ros- son, and he made an examination of this Company's books for the city.
 We believe Mr. Rosson made a fair, impartial and true examination of o books at that time for the city of Birmingham.
  The present service cannot be materially improved nor can the several thousand applicants for service in Birmingham be given service until additional faci- ties are supplied; nor can Birmingham grow and ex- pand without adequate telephone facilities We cannot add to our investment at Birmingham until we can charge rates which will yield something nearer far profit than we 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.
 We believe Mir. Rosson will make fair, impartial and true examnation of our books at this time for the Alabama Public Service Commission
 The Company has done it's part The issue now is c-- l..kn W