Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 289, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1919 — ASK INCREASE OF PHONE RATES [ARTICLE]

ASK INCREASE OF PHONE RATES

LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY APPEALS TO SERVICE COMMISSION FOR INCREASE. In appealing to the Indiana public service commission for an increase in the rates of the Jasper County Telephone company, W. L. Bott, proprietor of the utility, is simplyi 1 following in the enforced footsteps of scores of other telephone plant operators throughout the state who have found it difficult to operate their plants at the same old rates as before the war with the present high prices of materials and labor prevailing. Mr. Bott, through his attorney, has appealed to the Commission to set aside a day for the investigation of the local plant to determine and fix a reasonable rate of charge for the petitioner for the service rendered the patrons of the Jasper county lines. Mr. Bott states that he has been forced to take the above step through necessity and that he can no longer operate his plant under the same conditions that -he.- has. done in the past and still give the patrons the service which they have been used to without operating at a loss. Mr. Bott further stated that for the past several months he has kept his plant at the same standard of efficiency, although losing money, rather than to reduce the efficiency of the service. “Materials and labor have reached an almost prohibitive figure,” said Mr. Bott, “and it is useless for me to attempt to operate my plant onthe same basis as when materials, labor and everything else that goes into a plant are from four to five hundred per cent higher than they were two or three years ago. Added to this are the losses that an owner of a plant suffers through storms each winter and which he alone bears, and it can readily be seen that we are entitled to a raise in our rates. At the present time many of our employes are on the verge of quitting unless they are granted increases in their wages, and I cannot say that I blame them. During the year 1918 we operated at a loss of something over one thousand dollars, and had it not been that the government permitted us certain concessions we would have operated at a loss still larger than that. During the present year some months have found us facing a deficit and others have shown a little profit, but on the whole it has been a very unsatisfactory year. Our books are open at all times to the public and if there are any who care to investigate the conditions under which we have been operating they are welcome to do so.” “We, afe leaving it entirely to the service commission,” continued Mr.' Bott, “and have not asked for any certain stipulated per cent of increase in the rates, leaving that to the discretion of the commission board, and if they see fit to grant l us an increase under such fair conditions, then we believe that the patrons of the line will feel that they have been fairly dealt with and that they will continue to give us the same hearty support that they have in the past.” It is not known just how soon the commission will set aside a day for the hearing, but it is believed by Mr. Bott that it will not come before some time in January. The hearing will be held in this city and patrons of the company will be welcome to attend the hearing.

There will be a box social at the Aix school in Union township on Saturday, December 6. A cordial invitation is extended to all.— GLADYS OGLE.