Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-16
WILL NOT INTERRUPT
TELEPHONE SERVICE
Chesapeake and Potomac Company
Prepared to Operate System
on Sunday.
ONE ARREST EXPECTED HERE
AS Corporation Operates Throughout
State. Expected by Vicc-Presidcnt
Crews That Only Prosecution Will
Re Conducted in Richmond.

Telephone service in Richmond will
not be interrupted on Sunday by the
proposed test arrest which the author
tiles have determined upon to bring
before the courts the question of me
rcsSity" OF this form of public service.
When it was Mt first proposed that all
operators and employees found work
Ing 1T their trade or calling OH the
sabbath hc arrested. the telephone
company planned To shut down service
for ,wenty-four hours. condition
which has not obtained in Virginia
since the first telephone switchboard
was Installed.
When asked for definite statement
~ the Company'S attitude yesterday.
]. W. Crews. vicc-prcsident of the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company of Virginia. which operate
local ami long distance lines In most
Of the principal cities OF this State.
said:
The Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company 81 Virginia, conducts
;hc teicphon" business in many OF the
cities, towns and counties of Virginia
Moreover by use OF it's lines. together
with those Of connecting companies. its
patrons can he placed in direct COM
muntcation. no, only with all parts
Of Nirc inia. but also with all import
ant points in this country. In the city
Of Richmond alone this company has
more than 90 600 telephones in daily
use,
REGARDS SYSTEMS WORK
AS ONE or NECESSITY
The Sunday law is not confined to
sny one city. but is state statute
and applies III all parts of Virginia
Imagine. II possible. what it would
mean Il all telephone service in Vir-
Einia must cease for twenty four hours
every week. If, from midnight every
saturday TO midnight every Sunday. no
person in Virginia can communicate
hy telephone with any other person.
either in the same city or at any point
in Virginia. or at any place In the
United states During such period. the
telephone would no longer enable any
one 20 communicate with the Fire De-
par'ment. or with police stations;
scriou. illness and accidents will oc-
cur, hut no physician or drug store
can be reached by telephone: anxious
relatives and friends will be unable
70 receive or communicate by telephone
any Information. however. urgent Re-
saTH!esS Of what may occur no com
inun!cation whatever could be received
or transmitted by telephone in Virginia
during such prohibited period. Aside
from other considerations il is need
less 20 do more than imagine if We
can the suffering. both physical and
mental that would necessarily result.
The Sunday law expressly excerpts
! from its prohibitions any work OF ne
c"ss!ty. 1t Is hardly necessary to saw
iha' this company has every desire -.
coev The Law. If the Law prohibits n
from rendering telephone service on
sunday. then. of course. 1t must ceas.
10 render such Service on that day
Sax this company cannot, for n moment
believe that It's service is not a work
OF necessity 1t would seem obvious
that. beyond all question. II is most
grave necessity.
ENPECT PROSECUTION
ONLY IN RICHMOND
This sunday law has been in force
ever since the telephone business was
! commenced: and. nevertheless, it has
not heretofore been contended that IL
prohibited telephone service. However
the authorities of the city of Rich
mond have just announced that this
company Will be prosecuted If 1t rend-
ers service next Sunday. Entertaining
the views above indicated. and having
every desire 10 prevent. If possible. the
serious results that would necessarily
De produced b. n suspension of tele-
phone service throughout Virginia, one
! day in every seven. this company has
/ decided THAI II viii not suspend. but
Viii continue it's service next Sunday.
1t is understood that the authorities
( OF the city Of Richmond will Institute
/ only one prosecution against the COM
( pany In order TO make up a test case.
and have the court decide promptly
whether or not this law does prohibit
! telephone service on Sunday
las the question will be tested here
In Richmond, II is hoped that the COM
! pany Will not be prosecuted at an,
/ other point in Virginia. until the test
case in Richmond is disposed OF. The
| Richmond case will not he delayed
and. surely. il would he most unrea-
| sonabic, and great hardship, IL the
company Is. at the same time. prose
cuieh IN number OF Cities and towns.