The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-08-26
Telephone System
Gets Last Hearing
Continued from Page One.)
Getting Better Service

setting Better service
Mr.. Bevins, answering a question
put by Stainback, said that the COM
munity was getting better service I'M
der the prevailing rates, and the toll
system. There was much less diff
Guilty experienced in securing num-
bers wanted.
Stone told the commission that the
present system of tolls was the out
come of 80 years of experience of
such service.
Speaking of pay-box disadvantages,
he told of the bent and perforated
coins, buttons and bits of false metal
the company had to contend with in
maintaining ~pay-boXes. For which
reason, he considered, a charge of so
cents a month per pay-boX was by no
means eXhorbitant.
Bevins said there were complaints
that some of the party lines are over
loaded. Stainback asked Manager
Brown what the company was doing
to remedy this situation. Brown re-
piled that the company was meeting
the situation as best and as fast as
was possible, though it was difficult
to run party lines with less than six
phones; the company, where possible,
tried to limit the number to four. In
Makawao it had spent $4,000 for sub
scribers' relief in this respect.
"Most Subscribers ]contended"
Manager Brown told the commits
sion that most of the subscribers were
content with the present system of
charges. Some who had favored a fiat
rate, he said, when they heard the
explanation of the present system
and its advantages, had come to the
conclusion that the toll system was
the only fair method. The majority
of subscribers were satisfied, he said,
Judging from all he had heard on the
subject. At first objections were
rather numerous, but, when it was
found how satisfactorily the system
worked, DIRECTORS had decided that
the improved service was well worth
the difference in charges. People
who had ordered their phones discon-
tinued, because of increase in rates
and the toll system, had in quite a
number of cases ordered them in
again. Some had cancelled orders for
removal before the removal had been
made. Others were returning to the
service.
Phones Ordered Out
Brown gave the figures with refer
ence to phones at first ordered out on
account of increased rates and the
toll system, as follows (the first
figures applying to business tele-
phones, and the latter to residence in
struments:) Waikiki. 10, 10; Paia,
2. "a; Makawao, 8, 10; Hama, 0, 2:
Lahaina, 2, 2.
Before the toll system vent into eff |
feet, said Manager Brown, much
trouble was experienced on account
of some subscribers talking between
districts, holding the wires in pro-
longed conversations, largely of a
social nature, to the great inconveni-
of business. This condition had
been greatly relieved under the new
system.
The C%ompany's Story
The present telephone rental and
toll tariffs of the Maui Telephone Com
panv We're approved for trial by the
public utilities commission as effect |
on October l of last year. Sub |
hitting financial statements based up
the first six months of 1921, it was
reported to the commission that the
company had paid out no dividends
the control of the company pas
ed to the Mutual Telephone Company |
on March 1S, 1918, the total net earn
together with approximately |
10000 of borrowed capital having !
been invested in permanent improve
Adding transferable net income and
accrued and paid on notes !
shows that a net profit of $5,892.63
has been made on operations, an aver
apP of $9S2.10 per month. OF $11,7S5.-
20 per year, amounting to six-and-
aight-tenths percent on s171 ,656, the
mount of capital invested in fixed
assets, plant and equipment" exclu-
sive of working capital.
The company reminds the commits
sion that the latter has held that the
-elepohne utility should be entitled to
nine percent on the amount of
invested. Representatives of
The company told the commission.
last Tuesday that the company had
The optimism to believe, should the
commission approve and make the