Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-06-30
MARTNsBURe. VIVA, FRIDAY JUNE 80. 1911
That Telephone Charge.

The people of this and Jefferson
county are not done with the matter
OF the encroachment of the G. Il r.
Telephone Company on their patrons
( by charging toll fee for talking with
/ Shepherdstown. The leople ATE giving
vent TO lot of righteous indignation
in which they are fully Unsuitable.
/ The Martinsburg city council and
1 the county court have both taken ac-
ton in the matter and have passed
strong resolutions.
| The council passed the following:
Resolved by the Council of the City
of Marlinshurg. We condemn the ac-
! ton of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company in making such
4 a charge and change from the custom
existing since the establishment of
their line and request said company
TO Immediately re.instate the former
] free radius and give to the subscribers
the service agreed upon with them at
the time of taking contracts for service
from them.
Resolved further, That the question
OF the franchise under which the Ches-
apeake and Potomac Telephone Com.
pany operates in the City of Martins
/ burg be referred to the ordinance
committee who, together with the city
attorney, shall examine and report 10
the next regular meeting of Coureil
wehter or not the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company has a
/ franchise in the City of Martinsburg,
| If NOT to so report; and if so, whea
such franchise was gotten. the terms
and conditions thereof and everything
pertaining thereto together with the
present status of the law regarding
franchises, extensions aud the right of
the city TO charge license taxes upon
their property and their right TO do
business aud the right of the city TO
fix charges so their service.
The county court passed the follow :
ing:
! Whereas, the Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company enjoys GER
tain franchises aud rights from the
County Court of Berkeley County
which gives the company the right 10
operate and do business in this coun :
ty;
"And whereas, the business in
which said company is engaged is TO r
the benefit of the general public and
consequently the public is directly
and intensely Interested in every
move and action of the company, pa r
ticuiarly subscribers;
"And whereas, il is brought to the
attention of the court by a resolution
adopted by the Martlnsburg Board OF
Trade that the chesapeake and Poto :
mac Telephone Company has placed
charge upon local messages from sub
scribers phones to Shepherdstown in
jefferson County making Il impossl :
BILE for the country districts TO transact
business with the town Of MartIns-
burg from transacting business with
subscribers OF the company or adjacent
to and connected with the Shepherds
town exchange;
"And whereas, such charge partlcu :
larly in the country districts prevent
ueighDors from using their phone
without payiLg toll charge ana III
many cases will require subscribers TO
pay 10 talk to their doctor ormerchanti
"Now, therefore, be it resolved py
the County Court of Berkeley Goun-
ty: That we condemn the action
OF the Chesapeake and Potomac Iele'
phone Company for attempting 10 eS-
act toll charge from their subscribers
to whom they agreed to give ana dio
give since the es ablishmen. OF the
line, unlimited service TO ana from
and between these points; ana we re-
quest the said company to relhsta te
the former service enjoyed by theli
subscribers, at once.
"Resoived further: That copy o
this resolution be, at once forwarueo
to the Chesapeake and Potomac lei
ephone Company as the expression OIL
the County Court of Berkeley county