Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1919 — TOLL AND LONG DISTANCE RATE [ARTICLE]

TOLL AND LONG DISTANCE RATE

TELEPHONE SCHEDULE PROVIDED BY BURLESON BECOMES EFFECTIVE Washington, Dec. 20.—New toll and long distance telephone rates as provided by Postmaster General Burleson will become effective at midnight tonight, except in those states where re ? tr& i n ™l? orders against the companies have been issued by the courts. This announcement was made tonight by W. H. Lamar, solicitor of the postoffice department and a member of the federal wire control committee. Mr. Lamar had said during the day that the rates would become effective despite efforts of state regulatory bodies to suspend or modify them. So far as the postoffice department had been advised tonight he said restraining orders have been isued in only two states —Indiana and Mississippi. He said he had not been informed that the courts in Illinois had taken ■ BxtnilA.lt 1 kdtlon. . . The federal courts at Pensacola, Florida, is the only court in the United States that has held full hearings and rendered a decision on an application for an injunction, Mr. Lamar said, and its decision today denied the restraining order. He adder that the court at Lincoln, Neb., also has held a hearing, but has not yet rendered a decision. Under the new rates as announced by Mr. Burleson there will be a basic charge of 6 % mills a mile airline mileage with half the day rate for night service up to midnight and onefourth of the day rate between that hour and 4:30 o’clock in the morning. The new charges were recommendedin the first report of the committee on rate standardization and Mr. Burleson said their effect would be to equalize toll and long distance charges over the country. In many instances rates in certain localities will be increased and this fact led to efforts of some state egulatory bodies to prevent the new schedule from being put into effect. Generally however, there will 'be a reduction in rates, according to the postmaster general.