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

ght by the Caledonian-Record
lst the removal on May Is OF
the five free toll calls of the pa
irons of the New England Tele-
phone Company in the counties of
Caledonia, Essex and Orleans. The
case of the petitioners was COM
plctec at noon and at 1.30 the Tel
ephone company began to present
their side of the case.
The hearing began shortly after
10 o'clock with all the public ser
wee commission present, W. A.
Dutton of Hardwick, Eli Porter
Of Wilmington and w. A. Warner
'of Nergennes. Neil Clauson of
Blattleboro officiated as CLERK.
The petitioners were represented
by David r. Porter and Arthur l..
Graves and the New England Tel
ephone Company by George r.
Grant of Boston, their chief coun-
sci and Shields and Conant Of st.
Johnsbury. After Judge button
announced the opening of the
hearing Lawyer Grant filed an
answer on behalf of the petitionec.
Lawyer Porter said he expected
the hearing would be conducted
somewhat informally and began
by asking Lawyer Grant the pur-
pose of cutting off the free tolls.
Mr.. Grant said that the results
D+ ha itS,
where so much free service has
been given had been far from Civ
ing a fair return on the property
and their purpose was to obtain
some of the revenue from this sec
ton that the New England Tele-
phone Company needed in its bus
iress. Further, the company feels
that the free service they have
been giving in these three Yer
mont counties is d discrimination.
The free service has been in cX-
islencc so long that it has had the
effect Of impairing the quality of
the toll service because the lines
became congested and poor ser
vice resulted. The company be-
lilvcs that it has never had any
f9irer method than local service
with local rates and toll service
at toll rates. Such a method gives
to each subscriber the service they
really need.
If it can be demonstrated that
subscribers are getting adequate
local service and also have ade-
Quate toll service we fell sure
that they will get better service
ali around Our revenues must
come from somewhere and they
come from the local rentals and
toll service. We expect to show
that the majority of our patrons
are not injured by the proposed
change in toll rates and that they
will get better service besides. We
shall show that in the counties of
Caledonia, Orleans and Essex the
New England Company has been
operating at a deficit of $4,000
a year and that by the elimination
OF free tolls we can save approx
imatcly $4,000 a year, thus re-
ducing our deficit to $4,000 a
year.
Asked by Lawyer Porter if th2
company was not discriminating
il its charges in town like Bar
net where there were 1S0 subscrib-
cr& as against St, JohnSbuly
where there were 1000, Mr.. Grant
said that St. Johnsbury paid d
higher rate than the Barnet
subscriber and he didn't consider
this discrimination.
Asked by Lawyer Porter if he
thought the service had been i'm
proved by aboljshing free toll
calls, Nj. Grant said that the
elimination Of free toll calls inn
proved the service because it al
lowed d quicker service and relca5-
Ell tn toll lines for business calls.
The elimination of those long
conversations have left the line
free for business use.
Asked by Lawyer Porter if the
New England Company really
needed the money when they
created sinking fund Of $28,OO0,-
O00 and added $4,00O,000 to the
fund the past year, Mr.. Grant
said there were others present
who could tell Of the company's fl
nancial condition and that he was
only connected with the legal
branch of the corporation.
Lawyer Porter then introduced
number of witnesses, mostly
farmers in the towns adjacent to
81. Johnsbury, who testified brief
ly in regard to their use of their
phones and the free call privileges.
J. X. Moore of Barnet said mis-
telephone on 6-party line cost
HIM $3.1l Il month. He said he
Still had some toll calls in the for
mcr free toll territory. On cross
examination he said he always
used up his free service as long
as it lasted and that his present
Continued on page four)