The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-29
TELEPHONE USERS
FORM ASSOCIATION
PLAN TO FIGHT INCREASE IN
TELEPHONE RATES
Hartsville Man to Lead Organization
Officers Elected and Plans
Discussed
The State, 9th.

The State, 9th.
/ The telephone Subscribers Associa-
ton of South Carolina, whose object
is to "seek to bring about fair ad-
justment of telephone rates and SER
vice to the subscribers of the Bell
Telephone company in South Carroll
ma" was organized at the meeting OF
the telephone subscribers held at the
jefferson hotel yesterday morning.
The officers of the new association
are A. L. NJ. Virgins, Hartsville,
president; W. J. Thackston, Green
vile, vice president; c.. S. Montelth'
Columbia, secretary. The treasurer
! is to be namtd by theSpresident.
/ The members Of the executive COM
mittee as appointed yesterday are:
! A. ]. Geer, Charleston; G. c. Sulli-
van, Anderson; D. D. McColl, Ben
nettsville; w. B. West, Columbia; II.
X. Hallet, Camden; C. L. Rizer, Olar;
iB. H. Brown, Spartanburg.
Plan of Organization
, The meeting was attended by about
! 25 men from various parts of the
state and was representative. After
! A. L. M. Virgins of Hartsville had
:, been made chairman, a short address
by George B. Croner of Newberry
was had. The action Of the railroad
commission in granting the applica-
ton for an increase in telephone
rates was mentioned and the situation
| in general discussed. After some dis
cussion it was decided to appoint a
lcommittee to draw up plan OF or
ganizing the telephone subscribers OF
South Carolina SC, that concerted ae-
ton in opposing the raise may be OBJ
! tanned. -.
t While this committee was out for
mulating it's report, copies of the re-
port of the. Southern Bell to the rail-
road commission on the investment,
revenue and expense of telephone ex-
changes at various cities were handed
iout for the information of the. men at
tending the meeting. These reports
brought forth considerable comment.
From Mewberry it was reported that
Isince the increase in rates was grant
ed the telephone force has been cut
| from 16 to II operators. G. c. Sulll-
van, Anderson, said a similar fight
was being carried on in Mississippi,
the Cumberland Telephone company
in that state acting in about the same
capacity as the Southern Bell in South
Carolina. 1t was claimed that the
American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
/ was the force behind the subsidiary
companies. 1t was said that the sub
scribers might as well realize at the
outset that in the fight against the
rate increase they were going against
"some of the ablest men in America
who are backed by all the money they
need" In speaking of the percentage
which the American Telephone &
Telegraph Co. receives from the
subsidiary companies it was claimed
that in Mississippi report showed that
on 81 long distance call the Cumber-
land received 80 cents and the bal
ance went to the parent company.
Speak of Rehearing.
There was considerable difference
of opinion as to whether the wisest
course would be to take the fight at
once into the courts or try to obtain a
rehearing before the railroad commits
sion. 1t was said that the railroad
company probably did what it thought
was right, and that it might be willing
to grant a rehearing on the applica-
ton for an advance in rates. AS au-
dit of the books of the telephone COM
pany was also discussed. Some fav-
ored such an audit, holding that the
company ought to pay for the expense
of the audit, while others held that
such a procedure would be unwise.
After various means of securing
data with which to combat the raise
had been suggested, it was announced
that the committee on the plan for or
;. ganization was ready to report.
w. j. Thackston of Greenville read
, the report. After recommending that
the name of the organization be the
"Telephone Subscribers Association
of South Carolina" the purpose of the
organization was stated as follows
"This organization shall have in
charge and seek to bring about a fair