1926-11-24-sc-p13-grange-requests-telephone-rate-probe
November 24, 1926 Spokane Daily Chronicle Page 13:
MAY PROBE RATES ON RURAL PHONES
State Investigation Likely at Reardan Station— Grange Makes Kick.
Investigation by the department of public works of the Reardan station rural telephone rates charged by the Interstate Utilities company seemed apparent today as a result of a protest entered against the rates by members of the Mondovi grange, who charge they are being discriminated against by a rural telephone rate of $24 per year.
Members of the East Spokane grange last night joined with the Pomona grange, when it passed a resolution "supporting the contention of the Mondovi grange for more equitable rural rates."
Clarence Hartigan, sales manager for the Interstate Utilities company, stated today he has been in conference with the protestants, and is prepared to appear before the public works department in support of his firm's contention that the charge is not excessive.
Was Operated at Less.
"Where we operate and maintain rural lines we have a standard real of $2 per month or $24 a year," said Mr. Hartigan. "When we purchased the Reardan station it was being operated at less than cost, and we raised our rates to standard with the approval of the department. The increase to the users was 50 cents a month."
Harry A. Smith of Mondovi, master of the Mondovi grange, stated in his communication to the East Spokane grange that the present rate is discriminatory, He cited that the municipally owned line at Almira is operated at a cost of $7 a year to the users. He indicated that rural users of the Reardan station could not pay more than $12 a year.
