Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1919 — REFUND OF EXCESS PHONE CHARGES IS ORDER [ARTICLE]

REFUND OF EXCESS PHONE CHARGES IS ORDER

/ Indianapolis, March 4.—The Indiana public service commission has issued an order to the effect that telephone companies in Indiana must refund to patrons of their toll and long distance service the difference between the regular authorized Indiana intra-state rates for such service aiid the higher rates ordered for such service by Postmaster General Burleson, and that they must refund also all telephone installation charges and charges for moving telephones from one place in a house to another collected since December 1 by order of the postmaster general. Commissioner John W. McCarcHe today estimated that the companies have collected more than $115,000 in' excess rates alone, and that the total amount they will be obliged to refund will be much greater when the refund of installation and moving charges is added. He said that the excess rates were costing the long distance and toll telephone users “at least $5,000 a day,” while they were in effect. He based his estimate on an excess of 13 cents a subscriber a month and arrived at that basis by taking figures from the business of six small Local telephone authorities said today that they likely will be slow to make any refunds of tolls or installation or moving fees. They said the matter is still pending in the courts and if the higher court or even the lower court should dissolve the temporary injunction keeping the rates out of Indiana no end of complications would result if the refunds were m&de in the meantime.