The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
I HARRISON SENDS IN
 CITY REQUEST FOR CUT
 IN TELEPHONE RATES
Col. Bare Claims Company Costs Have Witnessed No
 Reduction

Revision of telephone rates in Ala bama may be made during the course of the next few months, following announcement Friday by Commis- sioner w. L. Harrlson that he had written a letter to A. G. Patterson, president of the Alabama public serv- ice commission, asking the commits ion to go into the matter of toll charges and offer what relief was necessary. Several new conferences were forecast between members ot the commission and officials of the telephone comp,any, two having been held. one in Atlanta and the other in Montgomery. at which time the gem eral situation in Alabama has been discussed.
 In the letter to the commission MT. Harrison pointed out that 'the people of Birmingham were aggrieved at the excessive rates which have been in effect since 1921. and that the tele- phone company had been granted an increase of 25 per cent by the gov ernment when operating the lines during the war. He also brought out that Immediately after the war, when commodity prices were drop ping, the telephone company made application to the service commission for an increase which amounted to practically 50 per cent. In grantinc the last raise. which, MT. Harrison stated, amounted to approximately $400,000, no valuation was made of the company's property. "The citi- zens of Birmingham felt outraged at the last raise granted, as at that time they should have been lowered, as they were most excessive and burden some" ne stated.
 Col. Walter E. Bare, Alabama man. ager of the telephone company stated Friday that since the first raise that had been granted the com pany during the war, salaries which were put into effect during that time had not been lowered and the com. pany had no intention of cutting them. He also brought out the fact that the company uses more cable and poles than any other equipment and since the war there has been no reduction in the prices. Telephone la bor is costing the same as during the war. and the company has kept these men working, renderingf as nearly perfect service as humanly possible.
 After the Postmaster General a1- | lowed us a 25 per cent increase in rates, it was necessary for the com pany to go before the service com mission for another increase. as the revenues gained were not sufficient to meet expenses and to pay fair re- turn on the eompany's Investments said Colonel Bare. We have been maintaining the same wage scale that was stated, but it was expected that nave no intention of lowering 1t. At the present time we are handling about 600 calls each way from Besse- mer and Birmingham. and so far as I know othere have been no com plaints as to the service or toll charges"
 Commissioner Harrison wrote the letter upon learning that the service commission was investigating tele- phone charges in the state and of fered his assistance in gathering any data and assuring them of the CO., operation of the city and the citizens.
 No date has been set for hearing between the telephone company of ficials and the service commission, it was stated. but it was expected taht such conference will take place in tho near future.