The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-18
DENY REHEARINC
Industrial Court Refuses to Re-
open Phone Rate Case.
Decision Reached Today in the
Bell Case.

The court of industrial relations has
denied the application of the city of
Topeka for a rehearing of the South
western Bell Telephone company rate
case, in which the company was
granted a 20 per cent increase in rates
last fall The court held that the
city did not present sufficient reason
why the case should be reopened
The decision to deny the applica-
ton is signed by Judge w. L. Hug
gins and Judge George Wark, but not
by Judge Clyde M. Reed. who gave a
dissenting opinion in the telephone
case when the increase was granted
the company.
Asked Rehearing
The city, represented by D. NJ.
Branaman, and a committee of citi-
zens, asked for the rehearing last De-
cember. For several days Branaman
presented the citys case in the court,
his chief contention being that it was
an inopportune time to increase rates
and also that the courts methods of
arriving at rate-fixing figure did not
satisfy the city. H. H. Lewis, w. w.
Eden, F. L. Loveless and w. H.
Shields. members of the Square Circle
club, were active in urging the city to
ask for the rehearing.
Mayor Refuses to Discuss Case.
Mayor Corwine was informed today
that the application for re-hearing
had been denied. He said he did not
care to comment on the refusal. He
would not say whether the city might
go to the court asking a reduction in
ft1a nr,1xr
have after the denial of the rehearing
City Attorney Branaman said to-
day that he had not been informed
of the denial of the application. He
said that he had no idea of whether or
not the city would contemplate further
efforts to contest the higher telephone
rates.
Telephone rate matters similar to
the Topeka telephone rate case are
under consideration today in the dis
trict court, where the Southwestern
Bell Telephone company is asking an
injunction to prevent the Industrial
court from interfering with the COM
pany's increase in rates in Atchison,
Hutchinson, Lyons, Ell Dorado Win
field, Arkansas City and lola. The
company made application to the
court for increases in rates in those
cities, and as yet no decision has been
made by the court.
Nndny witnesses. Used,
The telephone company introduced
witnesses to show that the delay in
increasing the telephone rates in the
various cities over the state was hay-
ing disastrous effect on the company's
finances. r. ]. Frank, general at
torney for the company, and J. w.
Gleed. attorney for Kansas for the
company, were presenting the corpo-
ration's case, while the industrial
court was represented by Fred S.
jackson, formerly attorney for the
court
Affidavfts were introduced in the
hearing on the injunction case, which
began this morning, wherein tele-
phone company officials are said to
have interviewed judges of the indus
trial court. who. with the exception
of Judge Reed, are declared to be in
favor of early settlement of the case
and also favorab1y impressed with the
Bell company's petition for higher
rates. The decision in the case of
application for higher rates in the
various towns over the state by the
telephone company has been delayed
for many weeks