The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1939-06-01
through
Hazel
Eyes
BY
Hazel Brannon

Beginning today the Telephone
will charge ten cents. for the
second ten minutes OF any converse
ton or any fraction thereof in com
munication between towns in Holmes
County. The first ten minute con
v~ersation is free, az for the past 6O
years.
But after you talk ten minute that
10 cent charge goes on. And for
each additional 10 minutes or any
fraction thereof an additional 10
cent charge will be made.
The free service we enjoy In Hol-
mes county is the result, we under
stand, Of a stipulation In the con-
tract OF the persons owning the lines
in this county when they sold out IT,
Southern Bell Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.
VIZ think that In the interest OF
fair play the Telephone Company
should be allowed to regulate the
number of minutes n person can
hold the line. That Is to insure the
best possible service to everyone us
ing the telephone. 1t Is not fair that
anyone should hog" the lines be-
tween any two points. We appreci-
ate and understand their attitude In
trying to give the best possible service
to everyone.
1t is true that most any converse
ton should be able to be finished
xy;t hin ten minutes
But there are some concerns who
actually nave business to ransac'
that takes more than ten minutes
to complete.
The time limit on conversation uT
until now has been generally under
stood to be from three to five min
utes.
Now since the free conversatioy
has been placed at ten minutes i
is expected that a customer will fee
perfectly free to talk the full ter
minutes.
Thus 1t seems to us that this new
ruling will slow up service instead
of speed 1t up.
AS a matter Of fact we doubt seri
ously that the Telephone Company
really has the authority legally tt
make and enforce this rule.
That contract made to private cit
liens in Holmes county abou 81
years ago when they sold their In
terests to Southern Bell provided fol
free service for 80 years.
Free service is free service and
ne don't believe that the contract
could now be interpreted as "free
service for ten minutes" after these
90 years.
II the Telephone Company il nj
bowed to enforce this rule then /
y possible that they can later chang
It from ten to five minutes free con
~versation and gradually get 1t dow
to where the customer will have t
pay for everything except his frs
minute conversation.
We hate to say such a thing abcu
the Telephone Company, especial
when we have such a nice manage
here In Durant in Mr.. W.. G.. Martin
and such a grand person like M,
A. M Boroughs, Greenwood, as dis
trict manager, both personal friend
of ours. and when we get such gran,
9 service personally from the entir,
{ crew of Durant operators-but W,
believe it is to the interest of GU,
readers that the free service renal,
free and not just free service foI
ten minutes"
Let he Company regulate the con
~verAafion even to five minu6es n
they wish. Let everybody have {
chance at the lines. But ait leasI
make IL possible for customers havins
more legitimate business than other,
to enjoy the same free service. JUS
let them resign themselves to get
ting the line only five minutes at q
time and break up their 80 minute
conversations. Scatter them through
out the day.
The customer who stays on the
line more. perhaps, than his share
also pays a much bigger telephone
bill In THE way Of long distance
service, let 1t be remembered. He |.
entitled to some consideration.
Robin Weaver of the Neshoba Dem,
ocrat tells a story about a man and
woman riding in an automobile up in
Nebraska. They had a wreck. The
woman sued him for injuries.
A few months afterwards she with
drew the suit.
Reason: She had married the driv
er of the car.
Moral: If you have a wreck, couri
the girl before she courts" you.
Roger Babson, business analyst
says: Certainly if / were a young
man I would come down south IL
seek my fortune" WE need more
trained men here. Why stay in
New York, Philadelphia Or Boston
and stare when you can come dowr
here where you can live comfort
ably and where you are really need
ed? Today, for instance, 9 of the II
sfafes rated as excellent business ter