Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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telephohe facts set FORTH BY ASSOCIATION Ihwx-.i Kut.mtoy II"-; iJl&iw Subscribers- Ablatio.. ofj c?r?iN <??* WftgA S (M I"*1"- "'"v ?? H. ?>*> ff .numerfttc# ">",lt'lulls mattei*. 11 j '?artilng telephone r*tm luofoase. j n** ****** **f bl'i:n ,,ther?d ??y 11,0 SS of the association. the statement ^ siniit' ei.ligten.uent 1* shea on the situation- ' r The statement >y ' m Wiggins, w TllHok" in, 't- i.vo.Wont* 0. S. Moulolth Lretary. mod ttw WHwrln* directors: I, ' V , ,;,-cor.<:i.ar'eslo?:tt. WW ;r . a. Oulleu Sutllvnn. Amlewon; li ll llrown, Spiirtmibui-g ; K P. inhikcuw. Camden; D. 1>. McO.ll, Hon ?,ttsvllle; W. 1?. West Columbia. The statement follows, "Xlio people Of Soull, Carolina ar" v confronted with li problem .up menace, both of wl.lcU arc serious " ' conimttixl tl-c most cuvohil StS vigorous action ot onr '"'-Tin' Mill-el. ? Ills railroad eouimis i !.f South Carolina approved a , ion ??the jjtoutbern Hell Tele Jlli, .lie n nil Telet'l-npli cmniwny for a i tnnrinl increase In .exchange rates h |his State and allowed them to pine? 1 1 ten^ininiuilty telephone jwrflce ?, a lonir .list:, hee toll basis. At the ?i.,rln? before tho railroad eommis n ho telephone company wiw rep denied hi three vice presidents. two ?f them testifying us witnesses and II... other one acting ms counsel. I hi . ,.vid,-nc-,. submitted to the com ' consisted "f the test inony of (??? vice presidents, "hero .???? , evidence submitted hy the opposji n A la rise nnss of statistical data submitted -by the telephone cone n'mv iniicli of wltleh proved to In ,sijrs;s ,-r plume company. umoru! them sevev. 1 nttonievs. hut they had no ml to offer uof ?ny opportunity tg Investigate any data bearing on the jectV in- advance. There wore no r Lis available for the employment jf <sii"inoers or accountants and t 10 nblie' and the railroad commission well, were in n position of *elPB forced to accept the statements - of a " 'more than a general denial of .he correctness of the t^tlmony ot end. The conclusion i^ that the clephone company won out on tli I.,! ,.,,, ?v default of the opposition iffthor than of the merits, of their a*-A careful study and analysis of the iv i dence submitted hy the vice pros ;l Vata of I he telephone company in Urate that mtich Sf- this _poi, to serious question. MUch addi it.aal evidence has also come to light lilt will he presented in opposition h ch ill seriously affect the cou pon of any tribunal before whom, he C ISC is carrle<l. . "The executive committee of the Wei, hone Suh^rlhers' Association or ;.!,r raroll.!. appeals to the people A the state for theU* moral and n nan Ll support in the undertaker to Ueiop and present evidence ,1 thl ft,.,. We have already secured suff lent evidence to justify ? rehcarinu ?fore the railroad commission, an I ith tie' assistance of bxpert Qn?i ?ers. accountants and counsel, we lieve the case for the people can h< few brief statements will \"tU to i he putdic n fertile field of . vesticatiou into the operations <>r ti?> lelephone company. The reali7.'? ,<Hi , ?f the full effect of fhe art ioil of |u< company on the social and oeon >? ic life of our people will arouse them the seriousness of the situation. <\,ntinuinK. the statement charges h(> telephone business in the I nited fates as being a "virtual Monopoly Jpaded by the American Telephone ? A: Kplegra pli <'o., and claims that the uthc rn Bell Telephone & Telegraph ? in South Carolina has been Ihnrirod excessive fees, commissions Id lic-en sos by the atliliated and eon 'ollintr companies and that sai< liirt'e^- are tiiKwit r rati ted hy sound iaess practices." The "statement submitted snows nr'.'ps as expensive la*<f year <>t re ir< and depreciation on their profc tv in this state to the amount of says the. stfitement. 1 Tl,Si rioimt in our opinion, enn not be st ained under ? careful analysis or > items charged to this accoun . is amounts to more than M per cent the total value of the property a tio that in onr opinion is absolutely reasonable. 'No evidence ws s' submit ted to show > rates of depreciation charged by ?m nor lias any evidence sirtnnittcd nv that depreciation for prior y^ars 1 iK-en deducted from the original ?est men t accounts. The petition of the companv stateil it it was necessary for the com I to have irx-reased rates in order Bt if could raise additional money 1h which to carry on their business this state. We have efdence that the same month the Southern Bell p pleading poverty in Smith r?ro a if bought common stock of an cr teleplione company and paid for o the ammint of $2,400,000. WV believe that the distribution income from long distance toll vice between the ftouthcrn Iphone and Telegraph company and ir parent company, the American ephono and Teicgrai?h company, is air to the Southern BelW The thern Ilell makes the connection performs the larger part of the ice. but it receives only 2?? per of gross for snch service (In no more than 30 cents per call) and American parent company re es 75 per cent. The rewult is * ction of Southern Bell income and rently small revenue from such ce*. Such arranipemeiita ai these I luado it poMiit>]e for tbe American coin imny to earu hint year more thuu 10 uer cent un it* capital stoolk, while the Southern lieil earned {^proximate ly I H-4 j#er oent on its' 'capital. A Change between the southern Hell and tin* other companies slightly more f tvorable to the Southern Bell would have resulted In a net ineomo to them of 5 t-tf to 0 i>er colli on their capital stock." "We are Informed that the Federal income taxes were C'hargod hv the Southern Hell' as n jmrt of thoir'oper. a ting ex (tense. All Inisihygs men know that such a charge QgatUSt txj come is Improper oh a ettst of oper ating. Such n tax represents cost to the stockholders rather than a cost of furnishing service, "The statement furnished by the Southern Hell to the railroad commis sion contained only three items of revenue, and nine items of expense. These lump figures wore not ex plained or analyzed and no attempt was made to show how these gross figures were arrived at. "The new rates were requited on a plant investment figure as of l>e comber .'11 of $5,368,000. Telephone company witnesses testified that, the actual value of the property \Vas probably S8 per cent more, making a total present value of approximate ly $10,000,000. Yet the company suh Knitted sworn statements to the South Carolina, tax commission that the value of their property in this state was only *3,256.00. and were as sessed by the commi.vxiOu appi'oxl mutely 42 per cent of that figure, or $1,353,000. ., In -other words. It is ap parent that they have used one set of figures, in assessing the public for revenue and another set for tax as sessment by the state. And it should bo remembered that telephone com panies are required to report 100 per cent values and that the tax commis sion assesses only 42 per cent of such velues. As one illustration of the in consistencies ojf their 'statements, it has ibeen discovered that the telephone company pays 'tax on a certain lot In this state <>n the basis of $-12. whereas the actual value of the. lot is between $1,000 and $5,000. "One <Yf the most serious changes made by the telephone company Is the discontinuance of direct inter community service formerly .furnished a nominal 'cost and the placing of this Service on a long distance ton basis. The whole economic and so cial life of South Carolina is affected by this change. Communities that were formerly in constant touch with each other are not practically cut off thy sl?w and expensive service. The whole fabric of the business life of some communities will he changed. Instead of quick aijd easy communi cation and the richest development of intercommunity life, the whole pro cess "w'U be reversed . The telephone company estimates that this change will produce an annual revenue to tliem of $1 2,000, -"and we estimate that it will cost the people of South Carp Una in t.lielr progress and development hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Will the people of South Caro lina submit to an act of any corpora tion. however powerful it may he, that will retard the progress and develop, merit of the state and our -people.?"' "The rate increase asked by tin? telephone company was not based on thfe experience of the past, but was based on their estimate of increased expenses in the future. All of us know that commodity prices have declined tremendously within the hist few months. We know that labor costs have seriously come down and must decline further. We also know that for the past year or two is no indica tion of the ability <\f a company to earn fair dividends over along period of Mme. We know further that in the ,? midst of a financial depression it is no time to increase the .load of ex pense. Our people, who have suffered Kovere losses within the past yea r? not only of income, hur of capital, are un willing to guarantee to any man or sf>t of men aii unfailing dividend thru bad ! i nics as well as good. "The telephone company has not been" fair with the people of South Carolina.' They cirrled out extensive and costly propaganda by paid agent* Jo allay popular feeling and explained in advance that the increases sought would be neglible. They slated that they were asking for less than a 5 per cent, return on their investment. And yet we find that the people of South Carolina will be forced to carry an additional financial fmrden that will easily reach a half million dol lars in a year in the near future In order that the Northern stockholders of the parent company may regularly receive their nine per rent dividends. The Southern Bell said nothing In ad vance about the discontinuance of dir ect intercommunity -service, but waited until the last night of the hearing, shortly before it adjourned, and put it ovor on the people of South Carolina. "WiH the iM'ople submit or will thev <eek to establish their rights?" "The Telephone Subscribers' Asso. eiation of South Carolina was formed by representative citizens from com munities all over South Carolina. The executive committee conslxts of a representative citizen from each of the seven congressional districts in the state. Thej* are able and determined men. All committeemen and officers are serving without pay. However, funds are needed for the employment of experts, accountants, engineers and counsel. One (foliar per telephone will pfly the cost of prosecuting this fight. Every community is urged to take im mediate action, to form local commit tees and to raise an amount that will equal one dollar per phone. Mass meetings are suggested, but protests will be In vain unless there is a finan cial backimr strong enough to carry on this work. "The executive committee sngg<*sfH thAt l&Cm I Committees <?RiK>OPt their financial campaign nt once and that nil fund** raised I*' forwarded to thr4 Liberty Trust company. Columbia, which will art ax troasurer. by Friday May 1.1. No fund* will t>e ??pcnt except under the direction and upon the ap proval of the executive commute^ In soliciting contribution* no person should be naked to eontribnte more than $10, as the fight is tor the tele phone subscribers ?h a whole and the eofKa should be b'krne by all. "A similar fitiht Is itolng ?n ia other state*. Louisiana ia raising a (fund of $60,000. New York city bat appropriated approximately the saino amouut. Wti understand that the rato JnitrMHt' in Alabama han l>oen thrown Into the court**, lit Mis&lMslppl the attorney general han secured an Ju? jo not ion ; in North t^rolina the com mission ha.s not reached a division. "The people of the South have Im*mi slow to 'realise the seriousness of this new financial load that 4ais boon Im I ?? >si 'it them. Hut they arc now arousing themselves and they will not longer submit to the dictation o| a monoj>ollstio 'billion dollar corporation. Hi'llcf may bo had through 0)0 state railroad commission 6r through the ?courts. The Interstate commerce com mission might welcome an Investiga tion or the Kwleral trade commission might be* asked to iuvestiga to this gi gantic mono|Hdy. We believe, however, that relief in South Carolina will ho quick and effective and (hut our stair railroad commission will welcome t ho evidence we con present to show that the public bus ibeen unjustly dealt with by the Hell Telephone eomimny. I'The response b.V the people to jfcl" call of their com ml ttee will deterimno our freedom #r our submission." Spray ftr.tpeK for Fruit. .?* H'lemson College, ^fciy 0. ? If you would have fine grapes in stood ?f diseased poorly developed ones, spray w i>h Hordeaux. say the horticulturist of Clemson College, Where diseases have caused serious trouble the preceding season ma ko the first application before the buds open, file second application as soon as the fruit is set, and additional application every two weeks until fruit begins to ripen. Where diseases' have not caused serious Loss in the past, three applica t i i >u> will be sufficient. In this case, the first application should be made after the fruit is set, the second three weeks later, and the third and last just before the gru.pes .begin t < ? ripen. l-se Hordeaux mixture, as follows: ?I pounds of copper sulphate (blue mi. ? ? ? ? ? ^ Aoue) . 4 pounds of quick lime, 50 igitlon.s of watar. Make aecordiujf to di root loas glv<yi below. IMrtce ttl.it* lumps of lime in a vessel and nhiko slowly l?y using small quun title* of warm water luitll the slaking process has been completed ami all of dm lumps thoroughly dissolved l>l Into to iiiakc 25 gallons 1 * i sjh ? I v e tlu* ibbiesfono by placing in a cloth sa?k ami suspending in a few galbeiis of water (one gallon of w alci per jkmiul of hlucstonc) ami dilute tu make 25 gallons. I' so only wooden or earthen vessels to ml\ or diss?kjve the blucMoue in. Make the Hordcaux mixture by Injuring together through a sack at the *a mo time equal i?arts of the llmo a nd lil nest one solution*;. For small quantities use : Wuestb.no, A ounces ; quick lime. I (imiiw ; water, .'{ gallon*. Cuts Bride's Throat ami Own. I?ym>hburg, \'a., Mhy -Lucius Hol land, a lawyer' of Minefield, West Vir ginia, who married Virginia sizer. his stenographer, here on Friday, out bis wife's throat with a razor und then cut bis own throat in a local hotel thin morning, He died instantly. His Wife died in foVty minutes. Holland had a nervous breakdown a year ago and appeared highly nervous yesterday. His Wad Caught Fire Hobo- Yes. lady, dero was a time when 1 IfHl money to burn, and worse' n <la( I did burn it. Old Lady. And what did you burn It with, my |Kmr man? Hobo With ait o\d flame o'lnlue. Mrs. llutfli Wallace, wife of the American Ambassador to France, has just taken under her protection a poor French who was arrested for stealing a valuable scarf from her, MlTTl.K FOUND GUILTY Jury Kecommeiuls Hint to Merry of Hie Court. Orangeburg, S. May 8 - A verdict of manslaughter wllh recommendation for iu o ivy wag returned l?y a Jury hi the Court of Ooner'ul $tv<*t6hs hove to day against J5i V tor klVliuK .1. II. I'ttttorsoy, of Itowosville, . last November II. The ease wen t io the jury late yesterday. Judge I. \V. JIlowniHU will jiass sen leiiee on MJttic Tuesday morning. It was announced. Should tlie sentence exceed teu years, the defeiukint'K at torne\ s v.iid they would Uppo.il fo.r a new trial. The verdict of the Jury In this Stale carries a sentence of front two to thirty yivus. On the first ballot Saturday night, after hearing arguments for more than six lucurs. tll?? Jury stood ten for a verdict of murder and two for acquit tal. The Jury wrunnled all night and at S :<>r> this morning entered the room with a compromise verdict.. Mil tie killed Patterson last N'ovem her as the latter loft ^he home of Mrs. Starr Jackson. In his statement to < lie Jury, the' defendant elviims he shot In self defense. Mlitle is said to luiye gone through a marriage ceremony with Mrs. Jackson, an employe of his hank but they were separated when her parents learned lie laid not been divorc* ed from his second wife. Patterson's attentions to the woman are said to have aroused Millie's en inityj according to the evidence. Former (J over nor Cole L. Itlease. made the closing <n'rgumcut for the defense, while Mendel 1 >. Smith Spoke last for the State. The trial attracted niu?h attention ihrouuhout the State because of the prominence of the prin cipals. Makes Flies Quit! Red Devil Lye defeats the filthy ' Hy. Flies cannot breed where it is put. .Mies won't 1 ktay where it is used. . ,1'lies carry J tilth on their feet, bringiriil disease into your home. Put Red Pevil J.ye in toilets, in privict, on garbage... wher ever .smells start. It destroys gctm*, pre vent* foul odors. Dries Filth 'Your Grocer Sells It Always ke?p ? can kandy KED DeVILIyE Sure is Strong! Wm. sgiheld MFO. CO. ?T. l.OIHH, MO.. V. ?? A. Kcpcntrd "I* ln\v tHl llic slory of a iu'^VO whet ; 1 1 > 1 1 1 i < '? I In a jwslirr ?>f I lit' pratr I ? ? ma it v 1 1 i in. No had no unMicy and oflVrcd a siring of fish ilM I In; IYm\ Al'tfr a lift ? I I'HHsrd ih?? jiidn*' I nit'l 1Im? mail a ml >a i <1 : " Well, WiHinni. I hn\v do y(?n like mnnlt'd 1 1 f * * V " "Wi>ll. sah." was Ihf n'pl.v. "1 wish it" th> l.ttrtl I f.i 1 (J i 'VI fish." i THE 17. S. KCiYAI, CORD A faooous tire ? and a famous tread. Acknowledged among motorists and dealers-alike as the world's foremost " examplo of Cord tire building. Al ways delivering the same repeated economy, tire after tire, and season after season. The stripe around the sidewall is registered as a trade-mark in t he U. S. Patent Office. ou can measure in 1921 OFTEN it's surprising the number of different tire views that come out in a chance talk at the curb or in country to another to "find a market." the leisure of a friend's garage. - Almost every day you come across the man human enough to believe he can outguess the cut-price 'tag on "job lots," "discontinued linfes" and "surplus stocks." His opposite is the hard pan car owner who sticks year in and year out to a standard brand as the only rational economy. There are 92 U.S. Ffactory Branches. Each one gets its share of U. S. Tires. There is a broad, constant, even dis tribution of U. S. Tires always going on from these Branches to the dealer. Buy a U. S. Tire anywhere ? in a community of 500 people or even less ? and you get a fresh, live tire of current i production ? with all the orig inal service and mileage the factory put into it. The owner of a medium or light - weight car stands on equal ground with every other car owner. " Any U. S. TV'r# is a t mi vttraal fu 1 1 ? money '9 worth. " Many will remember the scarcity of U. S. Tires last year. A hardship at the time, but a bene fit now. There are no U. S. Tires to be worked off ? no accumulations ? no forced selling of any U. S. brand ? no shipping of tires from one part of the Any United States Tire is a uni versal full money's worth ? backed up with a leadership policy of equal quality, buying convenience and price for everybody . "T/>* di/Tarent tiro vievra that come out in a cftsnoa t+Jk. " United States Tires United States Rubber Company CAROLINA MOTOR CO., Inc. Camden, S. C. G. B. KING & SON Bethune, S. C.