The herald., 1921-03-10
Nero Orleans Rates

New Orleans Rates
NJ. c;+v If New Orleans has presented elabo-
-. data in support of its contention ina, the .eie
n nv Nv axebange rates in that city should not be
ps.d We can, therefore, give consideration
70 such evidence
W. find that when the investment In New
o,I"s Ia considered in connection with the net
s,s.tine revenues of that city that the proposed
Hc,ssse asked for in that city is fair and just
The Board of Trade of New Orleans has for
.... TENT constantly in touch with the telephone
r r..tion in the city of New Orleans 1t has had
s.armittee of experts who have made study OF
=. ,sIenbone business. The Cumberland Company
=. semi-snnua[y filed statements OF its invest
.rt and revenues and disbursements IN the State
= Iouisana with this committee. 1t was through
!. Efforts that about ten years ago the business
=. vas reduced from $1,000 per month to $500
- month for straight line business service.
These gentlemen have made q full and COM
,la. Investigation of their own and have unani-
rsmsy recommended that the present request OF
4. Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company
ir N Increase Of rates in the City OF New Orleans
iusified and should be granted by this Commits
non
During the period of government control the
hange rates in every city Of this state, IN fact.
\ The entire United States, except the cities OF
Nv Orleans and Shreveport, were raised.
While it is true that this Co nmission must base
n orders solely on the evidence produced at the
Earrings before It, il must be apparent to all If
/ has been necessary to increase telephone rates
every city and town from one end Of the coun-
n tcthe other that New Orleans could hardly be
differently situated that its rates should not also
h increased.
Eh also fact that within the last few months
be rates in all surrounding cities in the neighbor-
rs states have been increased.
On February 3rd, 1921, the Railroad
cennission Of the State of Georgia, in
creased the rates in the city of Atlanta,
Georgia, 40 follows: Business telephones
we're increased to $1,000 and residence
islephonss to $500 per month. Atlanta
q much smaller city than the city Of
New Orleans.
In Dallas, Texas, the business rate has been
hueased to $1,000. In Houston, Texas, which
b very much smaller city than the city Of New
woo In the city Of St Louis the rate is $500,
nd ylA00 per month for business telephones. In
BE eties Of Buffalo, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleve-
M and Washington there is no flat rate for IN
United straight line business telephones, but the
nnsured service plan is in effect, l. e., subscribers
e charged certain amount for each and every
~ that g put in over their telephone. The charges
noe N these cities TOR measured service Is higher
nn the rates which the Cumberland Company is
an'fted to charge for measured service in New
| 0dam
ne city of New Orleans introduced some thirty
va exhibits dealing with the financial and oper-
~ conditions of the telephone company. Many
Nee exhibits were copies of or were compiled
mn NE books and accounts of the company as kept
: accordance with the forms and classifications
EAnoed and. required by the Interstate Com
,as Commission There are no serious variances
ssssn many of these exhibits and similar exhibits
80 the first hearing in this case by the tele-
r'as company.
suggestion was made by the accountant for
@ Of New Orleans that the salaries paid the
Ias'on IN the various exchanges were excessive,
80 o. the recent decline in living costs. Our
sanon has been, however, that the telephone
yIaon are not overpaid, and that In order to
80 a me character of telephone service demanded
49, PUBIC . necessary for the telephone COM
- ADJUST It's wages as to attract competent
y $50 az departments. The operators come
- y. contact IN the Performance of their duties
sS s users OF telephone service and there must
~. saenncy IN the operating department or the
49, M,sI We see no reason, therefore, to anti
: - oecine In the wages and salaries Of en-
IA WHICH nave not been on as high q level
a. 49, past !. the wages paid employees in many
uussts. with which the telephone company
II ss'es Tor its employees
,r,i ,M - secountant for the city of New Orleans
irs ~ average investment for the state of Lou
80 . OF July 81, 1920, to be s1I orc. O33. 90.
~ Eeks its return.
lS.s =. nes operating revenue has rapidly declined
sss. .a s isn part Of 1920, and it n now quite
sorSs m,l the surplus will be consumed in few
sh'es some relief is accorded.
&o.~sa .seountant for the city Of New Orleans
. Gn6,a.sSs great length the relations between the
Il A. Telephone and Telegraph Company and
M nsss.1m Telephone and Telegraph COMPANY.
Y ss sss aad also been thoroughly unfolded m
mn - Of witnesses for the telephone com.
j III q ~ nsve disposed of this subject IN another
daaer ~ =. order. We have found no reason To
news as 90 expressed.
IN jss SSa'0lt was filed by the City of New Or.
J ~ "a Is With the costs of material and sup
= pn 4 operating and maintaining :eispbone
IN e.. ~. ~ shown by these exhibits that there
q ~ ~ ne declines in certain classes Of mate
4 kshu .seiy IN telephone operations. At
~ ss,, 80 OF maintaining and oneratin, te ge
q ~ i ~ used for such materials a. ara
Supmss - sxnioit The much greater mart ~
ss zen ossn no decrease in the cost ~ .L;Isaj
sa LOT and the officers of the u conanano
9sasd !. no g decreases in labor costs conid ~
'sSsssn with n s the near future. support