”THE TELEPHONE IN CANADA.

The Canadian Parliamentary Telephone Committee recently heard the evidence of A. L. Tetu of Nashville, Tennessee, secretary of the National-Interstate Telephone Association. He testified as to the competition between the Independent and Bell systems. He did not think the time had come for government ownership of telephones and telegraphs, but did think the government should impose restrictions in franchises forbidding competing companies to sell out to one another. A local system with antiquated equipment should bring its apparatus up-to-date before being admitted to a long-distance service. He knew of any number of cases where farmers enjoyed telephone service at $15 a year. In a city of 20,000 a fair rate would be $30 for business and $18 for residence. J. B. Ware also testified as to Independent conditions in Michigan. He believed in government ownership of long-distance lines, but not of local exchanges. …”

Reference Data:

Telephony, Vol 10, by Harry B. McMeal, 1905, page 280