The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-04-21
HIGHER
PHONE RATES.

Hartsville, s. c., April ia gen.
|eral conference Of all the towns and
cities of South Carolina having
Southern Bell Telephones and Tele-
graph Company exchanges will be
held in Columbia Tueday, April
26th. This was determined upon to-
day by the State Committee which
was elected last week in Columbia
following a conference of representa-
tives from various towns with the
Railroad Commission. The Confer
ence will be called to meet in the
Jefferson Hotel at 10 a. m.
The committee will recommend to
the general conference the organiza-
ton OF central executive body, with
misunderstanding, to file a petition
with the Railroad Commission to re-
open the entire telephone rates; See
ond. to organize the South Carolina
Association Of Telephone Subscribers.
Generally. the plan of procedure,
which the committee today deter
mined upon, was to concentrate as
much as possible the technique of
handling the whole telephone situa-
ton so as to fight the increase in
Icharges, curtailment of service, and
other changes granted in the recent
revision, in the most vigorous and
effective way.
I'VE intend" said Mr.. A. L. H.
IWiggines. OF Hartsville, Chairman of
the Committee following the meet
ing this morning, 'to organize the
telephone subscribers of South Caro-
lima as unit to fight the whole prop
osition since the telephone company
has assumed public be damned
attitude. Every phase of the situation
is to be carried up again-abroga-
tion of contracts between towns and
the company, suspension of inter city
service, the increase in the rates, and
every other point in the order of the
commission at variances with the
needs of the public.
Our success is contingent only
upon the cooperation and support
of every town in the state. There
will be work and plenty of it, if
success is to attend our efforts"
Every town will be asked imme-
diately to form a local committee,
which will have charge and direction
CT the local ground work of organi-
zation. This committee will be ex-
pected to send one or two represen-
tatfves to the conference in CoIum-
bia on April 26th. From the date of
the conference and organization Of
the central executive committee, the
work of the present steering COM
mittee will be turned over entirely to
the new organization, which then
will have direction of the local COM
mittees throughout the state.
Organization of the telephone sub
scribers into large association, con-
trolling directly 10000 to $4,000
the order of the executive committee,
| II such method becomes necessary
i'll dealing with the Southern Bell,
is expected to be one of the strong
factors of the situation. This organ
ization will be placed on a perman-
ent basis, from which it will be able
in the future to deal with the tele-
phone company and its agents, and
other public service corporations
which may disregard the rights of
an organized public.
The steering committee will under
take also to have some of the prelim-
mary work of the executive commit
tee in shape for the new body to be-
gin functioning actively immediately
upon formation The committee has
determined that the subscribers shall
go into this fight prepared to win.
Such means will be employed as are
necessary to combat the company and
lis evidence. Employment of expert
commercial engineers, accountants
and counsel will be recommended to
the general conference in Columbia
for adoption and passage to the exc
cutive organization.
Every town in the state must
arouse herself to the demand for
action II We are to win," says Mr..
Virgins. Prepare to be represented
In the general conference in Column
bia. Thereby we can present a solid
and determined front to the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany and prepare for such a showing
before the Railroad Commission as
will cause that body to change in
part, If not in whole, its recent or
der"
Every member of the State Com
mltee was present today. Many wires
and letters from other towns were
received urging action in the tele-
phone situation. These were from
Camden, Cheraw, Greenville, Clinton.
Honea Path. Darlington, Latta, Or
angeburg, Spartanburg, and other
towns. not to mention the places rep
resented in person by the members Of
the committee.
Walter J. Johnson, Sec'y.
State Telephone Committee
Florence. 8. c.