Evening journal., 1921-03-07
PROTEST NEW
PHONE BOOKS
Chamber of Commerce Files
Letter of Complaint
Against Directories
IRRITATING TO PUBLIC
AND UNFAIR TO USERS

Formal protest against recent
changes in telephone directories has
been sent by the Chamber of Com
merce to Z. Z. Bardo. district man
ager OF the Diamond State Tele-
phone Company. The protest says:
AT a recent meeting of the board
Of directors of this organization the
subject Of the telephone directory
for this city and State was very SER
iously considered and by inani-
nous vote Of the memhc.'s present
we were instructed to enter a very
strong protest to your company for
the manner in which the directories
under date of January. 1921. have
been issued.
I'VE have received great many
complaints due TO the fast that the
type is so very small, the names so
close together and the numbers sep
arated from the names by the ad-
dresses and intervening space.
''The separation Of the book COW
ering this State into one for VIII
mingtcn and vicinity and a second
book for Dover and vicinity was also
NNAN NAA NAHAN AANA NNNAH II HAS
been our constant endeavor TO bring
into very much closer relationship
the rural section of Delaware with
this city and we very strongly feel
that the separation of this book is a
very serious handicap to our efforts
i'm that direction.
I'VE also wish TO protest against
the doing away with the Outside OF
lI.H
long been a portion of the telephone
directory Of Philadelphia
l.eoails Aid Given Company.
"You will recall that in our letter
TO the Public Utilities Commission,
under date OF october 21. 1920.
when your petition was before that
body asking for authority 20 in
crease your rates, we urged the COM
mission TO allow you TO charge rates
that would provide sufficient revenue
TO your company to continue its
present service and improve supon
same. The result Of the action Of
the commission was to authorize
you TO change your rates to an OK
tent that resulted in very radical
increase to practically all business
houses.
Virtually all OF your subscribers
accepted, without protest, the ruling
Of the commission allowing these in
creases. We know that we are voic-
ing the sentiment Of the community
when we say that your company
has not kept faith with its subscrib-
ers because Of the reduction in your
service and at the same time increas-
ing your rates.
Predicts Rising Indignation.
We consider this directory serv-
ice a very important part Of the
service rendered by your company
to its subscribers and feel that they
in paying for rental and toll charges
are paying for the use OF these di-
roctories watch have now been taken
away from them or divided mp 10
the very material Inconvenience OF
the users OF the phones
"The feeling is very strong in this
regard and we can assure you that il
will not be lessened as time goes on
FOR every time a subscriber has occa-
sion TO use your directory and oX-
periencos the difficulty Of getting the
right number or of finding name
which is in some other section of tht
directory Of which he has no, a copy
you may be assured that the feeling
. of resentment and discomfort will bs
added to constantly.
This organization has alwayl
tried in every Legitimate way to fos
ter the interests Of all Of its mem
bers. your company among them
but in this particular instance W.
feel that your company has takei
advantage Of practically all the res
Of our members as well as of tn,
city and the State.
We most respectfully reques
that you pass on this letter TO tn
officials who have the regulating o
/. this matter in hand with our assur
ance 90 them that unless the mat
tcrs complained Of are remedied. WI
honestly believe that the antagon
y ism created will result to the dis
advantage OF your company"