New Britain herald., 1926-08-19
NO CIkCH ID RUN
 TELEPHONE PLANT
I. P. HCAuIiffe Explains Prob
 lens to Rotary Club

More than so million conHersa- ton tracks are required 10 handle the talk of New Britain, according to T. P. McAuliffe, district manager of the Southern New England Tele- phone Co. who spoke al q meeting of the Rotary club today. In the absence Of President A. r. Corbin, Vice President A. H. Scott presided.
 Following out the custom of hav- ing some member tell a true" story each week, D. w. Perry was called upon today to tell a fish story. He did Dr. Elmer r. Abbe ot Hartford then demonstrated that Hartford men also can tell stories.
 Fred Patience of the Hartfcrd club invite I the members 10 attend an inter-club outing at the Sequin golf club on August 30. There will be golf loits, bridge, dinner, enter tainment and dancing.
 The outing planned for next week has been postponed until further mo- tice.
 In his addres. MT. McAuliffe took as his subject Points of Difference" pointing out wherein public utilities corporations differ from other lines of business.
 When President Corbin asked me to prepare a paper to read to you I was somewhat reluctant, but he reminded me that a good Ro- tarian does what he is told. so l got busy trying to find something that I believed would interest you. There is no use trying to find some new or novel way, for lord knows you fellows have listened to about every theme under the sun, l asked myself what would 1 like to hear from you fellows. and I think you will agree with me that the most interesting thing about the other fellows business is wherein does it differ from mine."
 "The point of difference l am go ing to refer to are in a general way the difference between the private corporation and problems peculiar to all public utilities but particularly as they affect the tele- phone business.
 ITO a great many, the most im- portant difference, in fact the only difference, is the absence of compe- tition. More than once l have had it said to me What a cinch you fellows must have-no competition to worry about There is no argu- ment that we have no competition but we have problems which the fellow with competition never has to worry over. In ordinary lines Of business the price or the cost of the commodity is regulated by the pro- cess of competition. If for instance a man had the only gas station iD town and was charging exhorbitant prices and making more than a reasonable or necessary profit some one else would be sure to open another station and the competition between the two would ultimately assure the puDllC bl Dtlll5 dblt No buy at reasonable prices. Since the State of Connecticut has exercised it's power 10 regulate the rates Of public utilities, it is no longer nee essary 10 rely on competition for that purpose. In fact competition has been gradually eliminated as matter of public interest by order or authority of various state com missions.
 Where this is the case and the local company has a monopoly Of the business, it imposes upon us ob- legations and responsibilities which are entirely unknown to you busi- ness men. You fellows analyze your particular advantages and endeavor to select your customers. Just as far as possible you go after the cream of the business. You have q