Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-29


HEARD AT MEETING
ON PHONE Rates
The public utilities commission
went into session yesterday morning
at nine o'clock in a continuation of
the hearing of petitioners on tele-
phone rates between the towns of
Waterville and Fairfield. The case
was opened Monday afternoon at
ESQ o'clock. at which session a VOL
luminous amount Of testimony was
INTRODUCED by ptrons of the telephone
company residing in Fairfield. The
principal complaints sifted from the
mass had reference particularly to
condition Of service and the five cent
toll rate recently put into effect be-
tween the neighboring exchanges.
The forenoon session yesterday
was again taken up with the presen-
tation of testimony by witnesses
connected with the Fairfield ex-
change. George r. Grant as counsel
for the telephone company, examined
all witnesses.
Charles H. Park, head Of the
American Wooden Company's mill in
Fairfield. was first on the stand. He
stated that the mill MANAGEMENT
and employees residing in Water
vile We're affected by the toll charge,
and felt that the imposing of this
charge was hardly justified in view of
the fact that the business and social
relations were so closely interviewer.
Ormond Lawry, representing the
firm of Lawry Brothers of Fairfield,
I testlned that considerable amount
or the stores business came from Wa
tervllle, that he found the toll charge
IN many instances an impeachment
| restricting to a certain extent nee
essary communication between GUS
toner and merchant. He remarked
| also upon the condition of service
relative to the local exchange, saying
| 1t was not of the best.
Charles McClintox of the firm of
King and McClintox, wholesale fruit
| and produce dealers of Fairfield,
| stated that the toll rate meant con-
siderable added expense to the firm,
| also saying that the quality of SER
wee rendered was in his opinion
poor.
Herbert B. Dinsmore of the firm of
| Dinsmore and tSewart, Chevrolet
sales and service garage of Fairfield,
stated that 693 toll calls amounting
| to $34.64 had been charged against
| the firm from January first to Sep
: TENDER first of the present year.
| These calls were between the two
exchanges in question. He testified
| also against the service, saying 1t
| was nearly necessary to ring about
| three times in order to get central,
| and on one occasion he timed him
| self and found it took twenty min
| utes.
! Fred H. Neal. a druggist of Fair
| field, and owner of the building in
| which the local exchange is located,
testified that service was poor, that
1t was often necessary to ring and
ring. Had on previous occasions in
quired of girls in the exchange, and
| they said it was because the drops
did not work. He said charges in his
case had increased 100 per cent since
| tive cent toll rate became effective
| Among others to testify in the
| forenoon were w. W. Nye, merchant
| and wood dealer of Fairfield: NJ. S.
Campbell. manufacturer of awnings:
| n. w. Tozier, farmer; and William
L. Brown, clothing merchant
operating stores in both towns; John
Reed, civil engineer of Benton,
| pointing out that community life in
Benton and Winslow was closely re-
lated. and that he found the toll rate
expensive and annoying.
| The hearing was then adjourned
until P. NJ.
The afternoon session was opened
with presentation of witnesses by
| Harvey ID. Eaton, all of whom are
connected with the Waterville ex-
change.
DR.. J. Fred Hill said that he did
not object so much to the increase
of expenses caused by the toll
charge, but it was the annoyance
and irritation that bothered him
most. He did say. however that he
was not in favor of the added
charge.
Many other Waterville subscrib-
ers testified: Ora A. Meader, whole
sale fruit and produce dealer; c. H.
Goodhue, manager of the North
East Culvert Co.. living in Water
vile with his place of business in
Fairfield; Harry S. Brown of the
Emery Brown Company, whose firm
maintains a switch service in the
store on which are connected eight
| telephones; Mr.. Brown said that he
had been informed by superintend-
ent Wood of the telephone company
prior to the establishment of the
new rates, that the increase in cost
would not exceed IS per cent. He
| further stated that the service be-
| tween towns was not of the best,
and that he was frequently informed
| by central that "all lines to Fair
field were busy"
| Charles W. Wilson, deacon of a
| church in Winslow, also presented
reasons as to why he thought the
toll charge should be done away
with.
| Raymond W. Swift of the Holmes
Swift Company, wholesale grocers,
was emphatically against the toll
charge, favoring the blanket form
! or direct service charge. p. A.
Smith, legal representative of the
Fairfield petitioners, also took the
stand. pointing out instances SINH
lar in nature to those previously
| stated.
Mrs. Florence M. Wallace. secre-
tary of the local chamber of COM
merce said that an avalanche of
protests had come into her office,
many of them suggesting that the
! chamber do something in regard to
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