The Topeka state journal., 1922-02-27
General Hearing on Toll
Charges Before P. U. C.
All Long Distance Companies
in Kansas Are Affected.
MUST FURNISH MASS OF DATA
VIII Investigate Present Sys-
tenn of Making Report Charge.
Many Other Cases Will Be
Heard During March.

A general hearing on the reason.
ableness of toll charges OF Kansas
telephone companies is scheduled 10
begin here Tuesday before the public
utilities commission. The investiga-
ton was ordered by the commission
several months ago but was postponed
from time to time because of delays
in gathering the required information
and because of the illness of Comrnis-
sioner Jesse W. Greenleaf. who Is su-
pervisor of telephone utilities
The hearing affects all long distance
telephone companies in the state Cited
to appear are the Kansas City Long
Distance Telephone company United
Telephone company. Consolidated
I Telephone company, Southwest Long
Distance Telephone company. Norton.
Eastern Kansas Telephone company,
Hiawatha; Emporia Telephone COM
pany, and the Southwestern Bell Tele-
phone company.
The cost of long distance service has
an important bearing on rates for local
service. the utilities commission has
contended because under the present
system the local service in many In
stances is bearing more than its fair
share of joint operation expense. It is
alleged that some of the subsidiary
parent organizations an undue portion
of revenues from messages originating
in this state. thus requiring Iocalsreve-
nues to cover virtually the entire cost
of opernelon.
To Furnish Much Data.
The defendant companies have been
requested to furnish a mass of data
about their wire traffic. valuations.
revenues and operating expenses. They
are to furnish figures, for instance. to
show the average number of state
messages handled monthly. the num-
ber of interstate messages originating
in Kansas, the number of interstate
RI essages terminating in Kansas. and
the number of long distance messages
originating and terminating outside OF
Kansas but passing over state wires
The companies are asked to state
what portion of their property is used
exclusively for long distance purposes
and what percentage Of labor and
other operating costs is to be charged
to this branch of the service. 49,
To Investigate "RepOrt Charge
The utilities commission also pro-
poses to investigate the present sys-
TEN of making a report charge
where long distance calls are put thru
to destination but the party desired
is not available. The Kansas COM
paries are now allowed to charge one
fourth of the regular toll rate. not to
exceed 25 cents. Complaints have
been filed with the commission
against lIlS CndFES by pd-GOAAo WHO
desire its elimination.
The Calendar.
Several important telephone rate
cases, including Kansas City, Kan,
Ottawa and Lawrence, are scheduled
| for hearing in March.
The calendar follows:
March 3. Baldwin-City OF baldwin
ard Baker university to lay pipes ard
use local gas. so as to obtain lower
rate.
March 4, Wichita-Santa Fe to
change certain freight service be-
tween Wichita and Pratt; Missouri
Pacific to cancel specific rates as pub
lished from Wichita to Kingman.
March 6. Topeka-M.. K. g. T. for
interlocking plant at crossing of Fris-
co at Mound Valley.
March s, Bonner Springs-Wyan-
dotte County Telephone company TO
increase rates and discontinue certain
free service.
March z. OttswaECity of Ottawa
for reduction of telephone rates
March 8. Lawrence-City Of Law
renee for investigation of telephone
rates and service.
March 10, Kansas City-Kansas
rates at Kansas City. Kan, and Rose
dale.
March 81, PaoIa-city Of Paola for
discontinuance of monthly service
charge for gas.
March 22, Parsons-Kansas Gas
and Electric company for approval OF
schedule l..
March %. Rosalla-Rosalia Mutual
Telephone company to increase rates
at Rosalia.
March %. Rock-Rock Rural Tele-
phone company to increase rates at
Rock.
March %. Neoshc Rapids-Hart-
ford Power and Light company for
the approval of schedule rates for
electricity at Neosho Rapids.