The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-02
TELEPHONE OUTFIT
GETS RATE Hike
ASKED OF BOARD
Twenty Per Cent Increase
Authorized by Com
mission
HUEY P.LONG is
DISSENTING MEMBER
Surprise Put Over Saturday
in Long-DraWn
Hearing

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telephone company in Louisiana had
one put over them in the matter OF
the company's request for a twenty
per cent increase in rates for services
rendered. The railroad commission
last Saturday, announced that the re
quest of the company had been grant
ed. The order was signed by Chair
man Shelby Taylor and John 7. Mich
Ell, consulting a majority of the board
THE dissenting member, Huey P. Long
was not in Batou Rouge, and when IN
formed Of the decision, at his home
in Shreveport, grew wrathy and is
sued the following preliminary state
ment:
Shreveport, La, Feb. 26.-Com-
missioner Huey P. Long, of the
third Louisiana railroad, district
when reused out of bed tonight
and informed of the decision OF
his two colleagues in the Cum
berland telephone cOmpany's ap-
peal, granting an increase OF ~
per cent in rates, said; THE or
der signed by Commissioners Tay-
lor and Michel is the most hum
,iliating document ever signed by
a majority of the Louisiana rail
road commission.
81 will issue a statement Sun
day, stating some facts which will
take the people of Louisiana by
surprise. These same two men
about one year ago, recognized
rate without giving the people
a hearing when only few months
before that time on their oath be-
fore the court, they said the same
rate was not justified.
John T. Michel was Jimmy
Henriques,' the Cumberland
telephone comDany's attorney,
20 political partner in the thirteenth
ward of New Orleans and always
has shown a friendly attitude to-
ward the Cumberland telephone
company.
Taylor promised me and many
people that he would vote against
the rate raise. but what l will
say Sunday will open the eyes OF
the public. There will be many
people who can and will verify the
statement which will issue
through the press tomorrow"
This ends a long-drawn fight be
tween company on one side and tn
people of New Orlaens and St. Lar
| dry parish. The balance Of the stat
protested little against granting tn
| increase. New Orleans interests wer
represented by one Of the city con
missioners, who made a vigorous kic
against the granting OF the increase
! ST. Landry and Opeiousas were repre-
scented by Police Juror W. F. Brown
and he made several trips to Bato
Rouge to protest against the propose
increase. All these protests were
vain. judging from the order signe
by Taylor and Michel
The twenty per cent hike in phon
costs will become effective PRACTICAL
Immediately and will affect man
thousands of patrons all over tn
state.
Mr., Long, member of the commits
sion from the North Louisiana distrit
is wrathy over the action of his tw
colIgeaus and promises some ric
sensations in an exposure of tn
methods employed in granting tn
telephone company the increase. HI
statement, printed above, fore-shat
ows an explosion" that will prove e.
tremely interesting to the people
| the state. The matter of the increas
will no doubt finally land in tn
courts for final settlement, as the o.
position to the compsny's grab !
these times Of falling prices will n
doubt refuse to quietly abide by tn
dictum of two members Of the raj
road commission without taking tn
entire matter through all legal chal
nels available.