The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-22
Give Evidence In
Rate Hearing

Continued from page one)
toll calls run from 81 to SO a
month.
John G.. Roy of East Barnet said
his office phone cost 1851 a
month and his house phone $2.43
month. Both were on a six
party line. He said he called the
Caledonia exchanges often in the
past, but was so disguised with
the change that he had not talked
as much the last two months. His
toll bill now averaged 81 a month
between stations that were for
merly in the free zone. He also
stated that he noticed no marked
improvement in the service.
K. c. Chandler of Waterford
explained to the commission how
he was connected with the St.
Johnsbury exchange while his near
neighbors were connected with the
Concord exchange. He SAID
h. had no business with Concord
but to talk with his neighbors he
had to pay toll. He was charged
$18 year for his phone and there
were anywhere from II to IS pa
irons on the - e. He said there
had been dec.uedly no improve
ment in the service and that it re-
Gently took him Is minutes by the
clock to get Central at 7 o'clock in
the morning, This happened sew
eraI times. On cross-examination
he testified that he could talk with
ST. Johnsbury people without pay
ing extra. He declared that last
summer the service was very poor
fer two months. When the COM
p&ny allowed free tolls he said he
used this privilege a good deal, but
since the privilege was taken away
he only made those calls that were
Asked by Lawyer
Grant if he gave up calling on
former free toll territory he said
he certainly did.
A. F. Lawrence furnished the
Only humor Of the hearing, declar-
ing in his testimony that he was
somewhat of joker. He began
by saying that he had not noticed
any improvement in the service.
He said he had an awful time get
ting Central and had reported the
to Manager Merrill. He
said he had a private line and that
a good many times he had to wait
one to seven minutes to get Cen
tlal. Once he said he wanted TO
talk to party right away at
quarter of six in the morning and
waited 10l2 minutes before he got
a response and then there was d
faint answer. | reported this to
Manager Merrill and asked him if
the company allowed sleeping
rooms to their operators. | said
this in joking way. On cross eX-
he said the service was
good at times, but worst when the
girls were the sleepiest. He said
since he had made a complaint
he had noticed some Improvement
ard he said the supervisor occas-
orally called him up and asked
about the service. He said he told
Manager Merrill once that they
night take the damn thing out.
Witness then suggested that no.
ocdy had asked him about those
rec calls and that he had kicked
IS much as anybody about them. |
Asked then if he found the lines |
ousy during the time they had free
oil calls he said he sometimes did |
md that he sometimes found the |
anne conditions now. He said he
that the elimination of |
he free toll calls had nothing to |
10 with his difficulties in getting |
Central. !
Arthur H. Webster, a Danville /
armer, said in order to talk with
lis North Danville friends he had
o talk through the st.
chnsbury and Danville exchange.
Ic had to pay toll to talk with
,ther parts of Danville. The toll
ate between the two exchanges
vas ten cents and his toll bill now
vas from 81 to So a month. Asked
" Lawyer Grant if he talked less
low he said the territory had been
estricted so much that he was
citing practically nothing for his
money. He said he only talked
yhen practically necessary. Asked
" Lawyer Grant if he would fore
70 a business call rather than pay
cents for a toll call, he said it
would depend on the Importance
# his business.
l.. u. Williams, Waterford
amer, said his phone was in the
Concord exchange, but that all the
business of the farm was with
,eople in st. Johnsbury. He said
o do any business he had to pay
he toll call. On cross eXamind-
ion he said he didn't use the
hone as much as he used to and
My talked when it was neces-
airy. He said he often wished he
vas connected with the st. Johns
Jury exchange, He further added
hat if he could get st. Johnsbury
service at st. Johnsbury rates he
would much prefer it.
Lawyer Porter then said,
We've improved your condition
anyway, Mr.. Williams"
Lawyer Grant said he wished to
tate to all present that any sub
,cIiber could have the service with
he exchange that he wanted by
paying the regular rate of that eX-
change.
I. u II..l- r o. T,l,r L,,,.,, |