The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-15
To the Public of
 Birmingham

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 Just two years ago, on October 22, 191S the Ala bama Public Service Commission declared, after null 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 PERTS
 These FIVE EXPERTS had access to and examined | thls Company books and testified that the books had been honestly kept and that there evidence of iraud 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 elaborately ex- amined into by the city's FIVE EXPERTS who tes- tilted at length upon this relationship and these payments, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THIS RELATION SHIP AND THESE PAYMENTS Since 1916 the Companys earnings at Birmingham. have been: During 1917 the Company earned 1.51 pc. cent. During 1918 the Company suffered NET LOSS of O.08 per cent.
 During 1919 the Company earned 027 per cent. During the twelve months beginning August l, 1919, and ending July 31, 1920, the Company earned c.o4 per cent upon its investment
 These facts were conclusively proved before the Alabama Public Service Commission at the hearing Montgomery.on October and 6. x#| The Commission appointed Mr. George T. Rosso} of Mobile Ala, to examine the books of this Companj and report his findings to the Commission. s Sss
 We have advised the Commission that our bookb are available for MT. Rosson's examination. ssss sSJ Our books are kept required by the lnt# Commerce Commission. k&Hxe
 competent accountant can speedily yelzxsM truth or fasy of the statements We filed Wiysne no Commission on October 5~and 6 5hha1he
 The relationship between the Southern B} phone and Telegraph Company and the Amerie1 sI same now as it was when approved by the Commission 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 not fully testified to by the citys five experts and decided by the Commission in its investigation which ended on October 18 1918.
 In 1911 the city of Birmingham employed Mir. Ros- son, and he made an examlnatlOn Of this COmpanys books for the city.
 We believe Mf Rosson made fair, impartial and true examination of books at that time for the city of Birmingham
 
 The present service cannot be materially improved nor the several thousand applicants fol service in Birmingham be given service until additlona! facili- tles>are supplied; can Birmingham grow and ex- pand without adequate telephone facilities.
 We cannot add to our investment at Birmingham until we charge rates which vii. yield something nearer a far profit than we now receive
 WOULD YOU?
 We 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 Mr. Rosson will make a fair, impartial and true examnaton of books at this time for the Alabama Public Servlce Commission
 The Company has, done it's part. The issue now is foo h,,<n A