Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-07-28
PhoneCase
Goes Soon
foPortland
Rehearing To Be
Switched 49, Farmers
Present Grievances
Wages Decline

The rehearing OF the telephon
rate case which has been in pro
gress before the public servic
commission here for the past wv,
weeks will be switched to Portland
Monday.
This was the program as an
nounced by Chairman Williams, O
the public service commission, this
morning.
II. G. Willard, industrial engi-
neer, retained by the city Of Port
land as an expert witness, was re-
called to the stand this morning
for further s-examination.
Following him the city will call
Alexander Young, certified public
accountant.
The hotel men OF the state, rep
resented by Lawrence A. McNary,
Portland attorney. will be given
an inning before the commission
Friday which is expected to com
plete the session SO far as Salem is
concerned. ~
People Up in Arms.
The people OF Oregon are up in
arms against the recent increase in
rates granted to the Pacific Tele-
phone G. Telegraph company by
the public service commission and
unless relief is forthcoming many
will be compelled to eliminate
telephone service, according to ".
X. Taylor of Corvallis, president Of
the Oregon Telephone Fedora ton,
with members in twelve Oregon
counties.
Taylor frankly admitted that
his own telephone service in Cor
wallis was entirely satisfactory al
though he had heard numerous
complaint OF poor service. He lust
as frankly admitted under cross
examination by Attorney Shaw,
Tor the telephone company, that
he knew OF no one who had order
ed q telephone removed as Il result
OF the rate increase although in
sisting that he had heard numer-
Gus threats Of removal.
other valley witnesses, explained
that no objection would be made
by a reasonable increase In tele-
phone rates IL such was fonnd
necessary to maintain satisfactory
service, but all questioned the rea-
sonableness Of the recent Increase
and doubted the wisdom OF any in-
crease in rates at all,
Scores a Victory.
y. T. Gator of Corvallis, another
farmer line patron OF the Pacific
company, scored the only clean cut
victory OF the rehearing 10 date
when upon his presentation OF a ,
grievance through which he was ,
foreclosed from disposing Of Ger
tain extra shares of stock held by :
himself in his farmer line because !
this would necessitate the en-
croachment upon the territory of
q competing line, Attorney Shaw,
for the Pacific company, admitted
the 1ustness OF his complaint and a
assured Gator that a representa-
tive OF the company would inycsti- b
gate the situation Immediately and C
see that II was remedied forth o
with. s
W. c. Ruegnitz OF Portland, ex-
Dcretary OF the Loyal Legion Of c
Loggers and Lumbermen, presi- n
dent of the Purchasers Associn- y
lion OF Oregon and secretary OF the h
Oregon chapter OF the American C
Association OF Engineers, present L
ID charts showing that wages paid n
10 lumber and timber workers a
have dropped from &C cents an b
hour, the war time peak. to 271s V
'ents an hour at the present time. b
Living costs have also declined Il
rom s2.20 day for family o: st
i've living in Portland, in Febru-
lry. 1920, to $L44 day Ut the Y
resent time. =
II cost the Pacific Telephone &
telegraph company almost twice
$ much in telephone removals "
uring March and April, 1921, su
ollowing the recent rate increase. IN
han II did during the same month
I the previous year, according to m
igures submitted by Alexander b,
'oung, Portland certified account
Mt, tesefying in the rehearing Of II,
he rate case before the public IN
srvice commission here this W,
forming. he
Deficit Now Profit. ed
Revenue of the company which IA,
howed a deficit OF s36,6s6.SO wi
uring January and February, mr.
rior to the increased rates.
imped to s67.sO23S 10 the good da
March and to $43,SO5,97 over tn
nd above operating expenses In
pril under the higher rates, z
oung's exhibits show. "a
Another exhibit presented by
oung shows that there were 2749
nployes on the eompany's payroll vo
Oregon during April to whom
ere paid a total OF S2s4.S6I 60 an
r regular time and SS,lSO.1O for ca
leF ffrna tzsork