Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-03
TELEPHONE REGULATION
important Bill that Promises Relief to
Users.

w. j. Thackston Of Greenville,
chairman of the local committee OF the
South Carolina Telephone Users asso-
ciation, gave out the following state
ment to the Greenville Piedmont yes
terday:
Failing to get relief from the un-
Just increase in telephone charges
through the State Railroad Commls-
sion, those interested appealed to the
Greenville delegation in an endeaVor
to pass a bill through the legislature
of this session which would restore
the old rates.
This move has been entirely sue
cessful, due to the active cooperation
of Captain John G. Greer, Representa-
tives Bryson, McDavid and other
members of the delegation in the
house. A bill was framed which, if
it becomes a law, will reduce the rates
back to where they stood before the
unjust increase allowed by the rail-
road commission. This bill has pass
ed the house and Is now up in the
senate for it's third reading.
1.-The South Carolina Telephone
Users association which was organiZ-
ed last year is actively behind the pas
sage of this bill through the senate,
and with a view of having somebody
on the ground, Mr.. Stephen Nettes,
who has handled the matter from its
beginning was sent to Columbia last
night to see that the bill had a proper
show and, if possible, have 1t enacted
into law.
1T has been reported to the COM
mittee. that the telephone company
last summer retained certain attor-
neys in the state who happened to ne
members of the state senate. 1t Will
be one Of the objects of hr. Nettles to
investigate these reports. and suftl-
cient influence is assured to have the
question asked on the floor of the SEN
ate. if any members of that body are
ATTORNEYS of the telephone company
and their action will be watched with
great interest and care.
ut is the opinion of those Interested
in this fight that it is not compatible
for a member of the legislature TO eX-
ercise his prerogative on the floor OF
the general assembly as a member OF
that body, where public questions
come up and the interest of the pubic
conflict with special interest that are
opposed to the public, and the commit
tee believes that this opinion is shared
certainly by all users of telephones in
this state. If the -rumor proves
groundless, the publication of the fact
If such is not the case. will remove an
imrutation that ought not to exist.
"If those who are interested in the
restoration Of the old rates will take
the trouble to drop line to their
representative or the senators within
! the next twenty-four hours, giving
them their views, such action Will be
exceedingly helpful.
Enough information has been COL
| lected effecting the general telenhon"
| situation and rates in the United
! States to convince this committee that
the method of bookkeeping adopted by
the telephone company is, to say the
| least of it, misleading and If any citl-
zen feels that this statement is unfair
to the telephone company, a perusal
! of q recent opinion Of the State Utili-
| ties commission of the state of Kan
| Sas will remove all doubt from his
mind as 10 the business Of this state
ment.
THE total increase in the city Of
| Creenville rs near as can be estimated
amounts TO 100000 per annum. The
! total increase for the state IT south
Carolina is estimated at half million
dollars year. and the committee y
lieves that these amounts are unjustly
taken away IGOlil lIle ClllHSIS VI lIlo
state, and the house of representa-
tives have agreed with the committee
in the passage of this bill. A half mil
lion dollars saved in telephone charges
could be applied to the great need OF
school funds, because that amount
would remain in the pockets of the
users of telephones TO be expended b!
such users in more effective wavs thar
rerp,itting this fund TO swell the
treasury of the American Bell Tele-
phone and Telegram company and
thus enabling it to increase its livi-
dcuds from s per cent. to per cent
whereas most other businesses arc
rtiSfed If thcv can rlaintain thC
dividend heretofore paid, and some
can't pay any.
"Thcsc general statements ave made
in order that the users of telephones
many understood what We are cndcIv'
Oring TO accomplish"