The Natchitoches enterprise., 1921-03-24

Permanent Organization Ef =
fected to Fight Telephone
Rate Increase
Representatives from all parts of the
State met in Alexandria Wednesday,
March 10th. for the purpose of making
an organized fight before the State
Railroad Commission for the re. opening
of the telephone rate case and for the
raising of funds to fight the case to a
finish in the courts, if necessary, in an
effort to have the increase set aside.
The meeting was composed of repre-
sentatlves of commercial and municipal
organizations and members of the pO-
lice juries throughout the State to the
number of seventy-three. Permanent
organization was effected by the elec-
tion of Leon l Kahn, Of Shreveport, as
Chairman and J. B, Carter, of Ruston,
Secretary.
Ivy G. Kittrldge. city attorney OF
New Orleans. who represented the op-
ponents to the rate increase at the
hearing before the Railroad Commits
sion, delivered an address in which he
went fully into the case. giving the
facts as they developed before the
Railroad commission and characterized
the ruling as a most unfair contract.
The committee on resolutions pre-
sented the following resolution which
was adopted:
Whereas the Railway Commission of
this State has rendered an order effec-
tive March l, 1921, raising telephone
rates in the state, and
Whereas, this raise comes as sur-
prise and great hardship to the peo-
pie at this time, when the staple in
dustries of the state, such as cotton,
sugar, lumber and rice are more or less
paralyzed, and the prica Of labor, ma
terial and commodities have gone down
and show every tendency of still furth-
er going down, and
Whereas, the service is unable to
stand a raise. and
Whereas, the evidence in the case
shows that the cumberland Company
earned more in its last fiscal year in
this state than it did in any other of
the three states where it now operates,
notwithstanding the fact it has not
asked for raise in two of said other
states, and
Whereas, the people Of the state
were not afforded ample and sufficient
time to be heard before the Commits
sion, notwithstanding the fact that be-
fore and at the rehearing, the tv
Of New Orleans protested this fact, and
urged the commission to grant them
ample time within which to presen
The public's side of this case. |
Therefore, be it resolved, that this |
representing as it does,
every section of this state, earnestly |
md respectfully protests at this in
crease in rates as being unwarrented,
excessive and untlmely.
Be it further resolved. that in order
o carry into effect the above resolu-
ions, this convention do elect a per-
nAnent committee Of eight, one from
'ach congressional District, who shal
'e clothed with full powers to repre-
ent the public, and who shall be in
tructed to appear before the Railroad
commission at Baton Rouge, on March
End, to urge upon them the necessity
f granting a rehearing herein, and
Rho shall thereafter be further in
tructed to present before the Commits
ion the proper evidence on behalf of
he public, with the view of having
his recent order of the Railroad COM
lission rescinded and annulled.
Be it further resolved that the said
tanding committee Of eight, be in.
;ructed to collect from each Parish in
le State the necessary funds to de-
'ay the costs Of further defending this
'se, or any other that may arise. be-
re the said commission or before the
'urts. and in connection Herewith
ey are empowered to secure the nec-
sary expert and other witnesses and T
employ such council ss they may see
to select.
Be it further resolved that the Sec-l
tary send copy Of these resolutions
the Chamber Of Commerce, Police s.
ry and Mayor Of each city and town =, 81
this state soliciting their active co. "
GRAFTON and financial and other A. :
tance to the said Committee of eight.
The committee from the eight con-
essional districts il - follows:
first District to b selected by Com
'sioner Maloney; Second District.
u Il. Maleney, New Orleans: Third
strict, r. B. Butler, Houma: Fourth
strict, Is. F. Roberts. Shreveport:
tn District, A. H. Henderson. Rms.
!. Sixth District, F. j. Heintz. COW
ton; Seventh District. L. A. Fonte-
! Opelousas; Eighth District, Abe
bin, Alexandria.