The San Francisco call., 1899-01-02
BETRAYAL OF A TRUST.

L expose the
company was not pleasing task but it became
duty and was performed That corporation
whose chief hold upon the public is based upon the
understanding that it will keep faith, to betray the
1t passes beyond simple breach of trust. 1t dis
honorable, dishonest and despicable
When message is put the telephone wires it IS
always with the idea that it will go from sender to
ceiver without being diverted to the listening of
wiretapper. That man connected with the Exam
liner should have conceived the plan of breaking into
the confidence of people conversing matters in
way his concern, is not surprising That he should
have desired to pry into private affairs and the
stolen information for his own benefit creates feel
ing akin to amazement.
The startling phase of the situation is that in all
this skuduggery he seems to have enjoyed the sane
ton of the company and the active cooperation OF
employees To him were revealed the communications
passing between husband and wife, between business
partners, between associates in politics. By the
scheme of tapping the wires he was able to know
many things he had right to know, and which a
of principle would have scorned to have acquired
But the blame does not rest with the individual
solely The telephone company must share it. 1t
has forfeited its claim to public confidence 1t has
grossly abused those who have paid toll Not only
has the fact become manifest that messages go awr
but it has been learned that messages are put in writ
ing and placed on file Why? That the company
has no right no good purpose in doing this is clear.
1t is at best piece OF impertinence. 1t IS, in the
light of revelations, grevous and impudent wrong,
placing every subscriber the mercy Of corpora
ton When word cannot be sent the telephone
wire without being sidetracked, switched to the ample
ear of the medder it is time for the wires to be per-
mitted to rust and the hello girls be sent where
they cannot interfere.
Letters and kilograms are saeguarded hedged
about with restrictions OF honor and poy, but the
message given to the telephone company is the COM
mon property of the company itself and OF every
eavesdropper who chooses to buy his way into the
fellowship OF that concern Of any OF its numerous
employees However, it is fitting that the expose
should have come through the partnership of the
Examiner in the iniquty.
Now question arises as to what method OF pro-
lection the public has To fortfy itself against spies
is difficult operation At least it must have from
the corporation assurance of reform, it will be
obliged to withdraw its patronage from institution
which demonstrated facts show to be unworthy which
will not shield it against the approach of sneak, and
which, for fee to its servants exposes secrets to the
world There have seldom been stories more shame
ul than that told in The Call yesterday morning The
telephone company is cupabe. 1t has been exposed
and its disgrace is open. What have its representa-
tves to say?
They will probably say nothing. But the Legsla-
ture is about to convene and this abuse is one to be
regulated by statutory enactment The patron Of a
telephone company entitled to the protection
afforded the patron OF telegraph company or of a
postoffice Such derelction as has been laid bare
should be corrected through the enactment of law
making it felony.