§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the National Telephone Company insists on changing the telephone number of any subscriber who applies to have his line transferred to the message rate system; and whether, in view of the expense in printing and 941 postage to which subscribers would thus be put, steps will be taken to continue the present telephone numbers of present subscribers.
§ THE SECRETARY TOTHE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) (for the POSTMASTER GENERAL) Worcestershire, E.The assignment of numbers to the subscribers of the National Telephone Company is a matter which must necessarily be within the discretion of the company and outside the Postmaster General's control.