The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-22

lCdCn any OIL MS 1IlenuS IN Lyn-
don he had to pay the toll. He
said he didn't think that was any
Improvement in the service since
the free toll privilege was abolish
ed and that he didn't consider he
60 any service at all. He said
several time safter getting Central
and giving his house number the
operator would call up half a
dozen others before getting his
house, Sometimes he would not
wait for the telephone, but would
get into his car and drive home
and tell his message when he got
there. He said he used up his free
toll calls before, and wished they
! had the same privilege again, He
said the condition was growing
worse instead of better. He real
4 lied, he declared, that the inabili-
ty to get his house promptly had
nothing to do with the toll lines.
Since the free tolls were abolish
ed he had practically given up US
ing the phone for any toll calls.
J. l.. Hardy said he was con-
nected with the Danvile exchange
and always used up his free toll
calls. He said he didn't see any
petition for the hearing so he did
not sign any paper. He allowed
that the conditions of the service
had not essentially changed AMI
that he talked all he wanted to
irrespective of the ruling on the
tel! Gals.
William Clement Of Danville told
the commission that his telephone
bill was $1.50 to $500 per mouth.
He declared that he sometimes cal
led up Barre, Montpelier, but he
added he did not expect free SER
vice to the latter places.
Rev. David Hickland of Danville
explained how the increase in
rates had split up HIS pas,orate.
10 talk over church affairs in eth
er the north or south part Of lis
charge-he resides between the
tWo-it becomes necessary tor
HIM to resort to toll service. Those
in the south part of his pastorate
may call St. Johnsbury without toll
charges, however.
The amount of his calls has var
led from 50 to 81 per month. He
has paid as high as 81 this summer
for one month. In conclusion, Rev
Mr.. Hickland asserted that he did
not consider it unreasonable to get
free toll service in Danville where
his charge is located.
L. A. Jones of Victory was the
next witness and he stated that he
used a telephone up to three years
ago. The charge up to that time
had been $1.75 per month, 1t was
then advanced to $500 per month
and Mr.. Jones decided to have his
telephone removed. The latter
continued further that Thomas MI
gent and John Lunnie, both Of
whom lived farther away from the
exchange than he did, were requir-
ed to pay less than he did per
month. Their respective charges
were $40 and $2.77. All three
mentioned phones were connected
with the Concord exchange.
Mrs. Catharine Hardy who lives
on Does Hill said emphatically
that there had been a growing dis
satisfaction with the advance in
telephone service. The farmers,
testified Mrs. Hardy, have to pay
more for tolls while they receive
less for their produce. Mrs Hardy
went ito detail to explain the in
convenience of the telephone COM
pany's increase in charges.
Mrs. Emma F. Weeks followed |
on the witness stand, announcing
that there were 164 telephones in
Danville and 1858 in St. Johnsbury |
Mrs. Weeks declared that it costs .
just as much to talk to the few
1874 subscribers in DGnville as it
does to converse with all or any
of the 1853 in St. Johnsbury. .
"This," said Mrs. Hardy, hardly
seems fair"
James Cosgrove, of the Cald-
beck-Cosgrove Corporation said:
From my own personal obser-
walton, the service is slower in
getting the operator in the last six
To my mind. promptness
in calling, has deteriorated IN the
last two or three vars.
81 have a stop watch which reg
listers the fifth of a second. | used
it to time the period that clap. ca
before | got the operator, after |
had called once, and it was min
ute.
Mr.. Cosgrove said that his COM
pany's telephone bill for the month
sometimes aggregated $48. 1t was
never lower than $36 per month.
The witness declared; 81 cannot
why the public service
should permit, almo.t
guarantee, Q per cent dividend to
the telephone company when other
public service bodies, like the rail-
roads, which are more essential to
the welfare of the country, must
get along on what little they can
earn"
In concluding his testimony, Mr..
CoSgrove asserted, at is manifest
ly unfair that the telephone rates
here should be lacked up in order
to make the Vermont lines pay"
Harry H. Carr who took the
stand shortly before noon, gave a
brief history of the telephone
companies here in st. Johnsbury.
First the New England Telephone
Cnrnlutn,, did h11uinn.. hnrn Ihn1,