The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-15
Five Million Boost
Valuation Case Sept. 20

If the telephone company IL figur-
ing the petitioned rates upon a basis
Of $40. 600, 900 valuation. the company
has boosted its idea Of its fair valua-
ton" about S5,000,000
Rottger said the petition was filed
at this time because It Is necessary
to have copies of the document in
the hands of city attorneys Of all
places affected not less than ten days
before the Sept. % hearing.
In rural service changes in char
acter of service are provided. At
present the unlimited rural business
service charge is 81 a month and
residence So. The new schedule puts
service on a mileage basis. boosting
business rates to $3.50 and leaving
residence charges the same for a
distance Of two miles Of the bound
airy of the base rate area. For add
tional mileage, either business or
residence, a charge Of 25 cents addi-
tional for each two miles or frac-
ton thereof is made.
No change in suburban unlimited
service is made.
The company asks an increase Of
from the present Sc a month to $12
for the rental Of private branch ex-
exchange switchboards in Indianapo-
lis where there are thirty lines or
less. Boards having from thirty-one
to eighty lines would be increased
from Sc to SIS a month.
Power Charge Dropped
Under the present schedule users
of private branch exchanges pay
the company 70 cents a month for
each quarter-mile distance from the
nearest exchange for power with
which the private branch exchange
switchboard is operated. Thus If
the customer is one mile from the
phone company's exchange, he pays
SO a month for this power, called
generator service"
The charge of 81 a month for
strips of ten jacks used on private
branch exchanges has been done
away with.
Other Increases
Increases provided for a number
Of Indiana cities follow:
Alexandria, business, 1915 to $4.25;
residence, 1925 to $3.50.
Anderson, business, $3.50 to $6.25;
residence, $2.75 to So.
Brooklyn, business, So to 1925;
residence, 50 to s2.25.
Charlottesville, 81 to S5,40; rest
dence, $3.50 to $2.75.
Cumberland, So to 1925; residence,
50 to $225.
Elwood. business, SIS to $3.50; resi-
dence, $3.50 to 1855.
Frankfort. business. IS to $3.50;
residence, $3.50 to $3.50
Greenwood, business. 1915 to S4.25;
residence, $2.25 to $3.50.
Newcastle, business, S. to $3.50;
residence, $3.50 to $2.75.
Shelbyvllle, business, SIS to $3.50;
residence, $3.50 to $2.75.
Smith Valley, business, SO to S4.25;
residence, So to $3.50.
Begun 1924
Statewide investigation of all In
diana Bell properties was begun by
the public service commission Aug.
l, 1924, as a result of the decree Of
Federal Judge George w. Page.
The court held the rates ordered
by the commission in the Statewide
Investigation in 1928 to be con-
1scatory, and authorized the set Of
rates now in effect
The present investigation is to
find the property value Of the tele-
phone company and determine the
reasonableness or unreasonablenes
Of the present rates, according to
Groninger. Groninger is in charge
Of a large force Of special engineers,
accountants and legal help hired by
the commission.
While city corporation counsel in
1922 Groninger engaged in a fight
over rates when the telephone com
pany asked an increase, which was
denied. Later a small increase was
granted.
In November. 1922, a statewide in
vestigation was begun and resulted
in the order Aug. II, 1923, which
granted an increase netting about
81 100000 a year. The Bell Com
pany claimed the 1923 order con.
fiscatory and another increase of
$500, 900 was authorized.