ate, but under state control they became demoralized. They accepted subscriptions or levied demands for them, and then let months elapse before attempting to install the apparatus. When the apparatus was put together the subscriber had to wait until the electrical expert had come and reported, and all was well. When the installation was in working order the telephone exchange girls seemed transformed from ordinary young persons of intelligence to hoity-toity and impracticable people who dwelt on one notion only-the conviction that no one could discharge them. When complaints were lodged the complainant became the victim for a campaign of studied annoyance and retaliation. And it has taken a continued hurricane of complaints to bring the system to its senses and clear the air by dismissals and reductions of the worst offenders. "Here is the considered verdict of one of our merchant princes, a man of wide business experience. He withholds his name for fear of being visited with the petty resentment of our telephone officials for what he has to say here, and this attitude alone is significant. He says: "There is no case on record that I know of which more positively proves the rule that government, state, city or nation, should not undertake to conduct business, than the telephone system in England. Its telephone system under the previous and proprietary company was none too good; but it was conducted with a certain amount of business energy and ability. The very day that it went into the hands of the permanent officials of the government it dropped in efficiency and for this there is very good reason. "The employe of the state or the city is responsible to no individual; neither is he encouraged by any individual when he does well. His salary is largely fixed, whether he does well or poorly, and it takes a remarkable man or one very rarely met with among government employes who retains his energy, his enthusiasm and his originality without any of those encouraging features. No one can dismiss these permanent officials, and the result is that they become, to say the least, extremely human, independent and indifferent to criticism. ¶ One way to reduce expenses-think before buying. Diamond Crystal Salt Co., St. Clair, Mich. INDUSTRIAL SAVINGS SOCIETY IS PAYING ITS DEPOSITORS 42% or 5% according to the plan of investment. It affords every privilege and facility Organized in 1892, it has a record of over twenty-one years of successful business. Is this not worth investigating? Send your address and further information will be mailed to you. THE INDUSTRIAL SAVINGS SOCIETY 219 Hammond Bldg., DETROIT, MICH. A MAGAZINE of thE TIMES The C. & C. Cooper Company The Neal MT. VERNON, OHIO. BULDERS OF COOPER CORLISS ENGINES All Types and Sizes Complete Steam Plants a Specialty 3 Day Cure The Neal Way is to receive you like a gentleman; treat you like you would be treated at home or club and let you go in a few days with a clear mind and with a loathing for liquor instead of a desire. The Neal treatment steals away the nightmare of those drinking days and puts you on your feet so that you can stay there. Have you a friend or relative or business associate that needs our help? If so, send his address to us. All information strictly confidential. Call. Write or Phone |