The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-06-29

operating expenses would have q ton
aency to eliminate matters such as
above referred to. The Commission
wishes it understood that it is moi q
pleasure to increase rates, but it is the
dllty or the Commission to demand or
an corporations under it's jurisdiction
mat they render efficient service to
,helr patrons. and in turn, under the
laws or the State, it becomes the duty
or the Commission to see that proper-
Ties or this kind shall not be confscat
ed 10 furnish service as above outlined.
therefore. unfortunately, it becomes
the commissions duty to put into ef-
lect scale Of rates that will be lust
equitable and reasonable TO all parties
at interest
Inc commission has given due CON
sideration to the financial conditions
NeAlsting and the fact that a great many
business concerns are operating at
much less profit than has been the
custom for the past several years but
telephone service has reached the
stage whcrc 1t is an absolute necessi-
W and in order that the people may
nave access to this convenience, it be-
comes especially necessary that the
property Of the telephone company be
10 render the service demanded OF it,
However, the Commission has decid-
ed that 1t cannot at this time grant
the amount Of increase requested in
the petition Of the Laurens Telephone
company, Notwithstanding the fact
that such increase may be necessary
TO yield the usual revenue on the in
fcstmcnt maintained in this specific
instance, but we have taken into con-
sideration that cost Of material is
gradually being reduced, and the Com
mission is Of the opinion at this time
that the increases granted will in the
near future take care OF the situation
in such a way as not to unpaid the
service OF the telephone exchange and
yield a slight revenue on the invest
ment.
Therefore, the Commission issues
the following order:
1t Is ordered, that on and after July
lst, 1921, the legal rates for telephone
service rendered by the Laurens Telc-
phone Company within the city limits
Of Lanrens, S. G. shall be as follows:
Special line business telephones
$3.l0 per month.
Duplex line business telephone $2.75
per month.
Special line residence telephone
S2.40 per month.
Duplex line residence telephone
$3.50 per month.
Four party residence telephone 81 60
per month.
Extension telephone $1.2O per month.
For rural lines constructed, equip
ped and maintained to the city limits
OF Laurens by others than Laurcns
Telephone Company, with six tele-
phones or less number per line, $500
per month per drop on switchboard.
This means that when there are six
telephones orr less on lines of this
kind the charge shall he $500 per
month for six telephones or less, with
a charge Of 800 per month for each adj
dtional telephone when there are
more than six telephones on the line.
This order shall remain in effect un-
til the further orders of this Commits
sion.
In addition to the facts above set
out, this Commission has on file an
ordinance passed by the City Council
Of I.aurens, Of date June 2Sth 1920,
which prescribcs rate as follows:
Special line business telephone
$3.50 per conth.
Duplex line business telephone
$500 per month.
Special line residence telephone
$3.50 per month.
Duplex line residence telephone
$500 per month.
Under existing conditions the Com
mission does not feel that these rates
should be granted at present. Al
though giving due cognizance to the
action Of the City Council OF IIaurons,
S. c., the Commission Is Of the opinion
at present that the Laurens Telephone
Company can mcot operating expenses
OF its exchange and have a surplus
from such operation to care for deter
ioration, maintenance, cto.
In reaching its conclusion as to
rates set out in above order the Com
mission has eliminated certain items
presented to 1t as necessary in the
operation of this exchange which In
its opinion the company cab operate
without. The Commission Ia Of the
opinion that while the rates herein pre-
scribed as legal rates for service rem
dered by Laurens Telephone Company
may not be as high as the rates
charged by many similar exchanges
they will yield revenue as above out
lined. If the Commission Is in error
as to this then the matter can easily
be re-opencd and such action taken as
may be necessary in the premises.
FRANK w. SfiIGALS,
Chairman.
RI. II. ARNOLD,
Commissioners
j. p. DARBY,
| Secretary.