Evening journal., 1918-09-07
new phones ONLY
Fur WAR BUSINESS
nurleson Order Curtails In
stallations for Nom
Essentials
HITS ALL THE.
APARTMENT HOUSES

In order 10 curtail the number Of un-
necessary telephone calls and thus clear
the wires as far as possible for the
Transmission OF war messages, Postmas-
ter General Burleson, now in charge OF
the nations wire systems. has issued
an order prohibiting the installation Of
new telephones or the extension OF old
services save where such installation
or extension is imperative ito meet war
requirements and the vital commercial
needs Of the country"
The order, which went into effect
September 1. probably will cause the
most inconvenience TO dwellers in
apartment houses and private resi-
dences, some OF whom undoubtedly
will find themselves without telephones
during The coming year and perhaps
for the duration OF the war. But new
corporations and business enterprises
also will be handicapped unless they
can prove that they come within the
governments definition OF an essential
industry. Doctors OF course, will be
exempted from the order.
Just how widely the effect will be
felt in the business world will depend
largely Of course on the liberallty with
which the term non-essential Is con-
strued. Omcials OF the Bell Company
do not know as yet whether the def
ntion will follow along the general
lines laid down in Provost Marshal Cen
eral CgoYder's recent list Of non-essen-
tial industries, issued after the promul-
cation Of the work or fight order. No
matter what standards are used. how
ever. these officials say there will al
ways be cases requiring individual judg-
ment.
1T is obvious" said one Of them yes
terday, that service for shipyards, mu-
milton plants. Federal, State and mu-
nicipal government Offices fan within tn.
classes which are 20 receive service
without question. New service for in
dustries listed by the governmnt as
nOn-essential and for residences is
barred. There Will be certain border
line cases which will have 10 be con-
sidercd on their merits as they arise"
or course no telephones already in
stalled will be taken out nor will any
existing contracts he abrOgated. but
the full weight OF the order will fall
upon dwellers in new apartments or
new residences and upon those who
cancelled their telephone contracts or
allowed them 10 lapse, and neglected 10
renew them before September !.
4 man who builds new house for
himself will have % forego the con-
Venience OF a telephone unless he had
one in his former residence which ne
can transfer. or unless he can persuade
the officials that his connection with
the government or with some vitality es-
sential industry makes IL imperative
for him 10 have the connection IN his
house. The same will also hold good
with a man who buys a house. Unless
he has a telephone In his name TO trans
fer TO his new abode, he will not be
able TO buy the service installed for the
previous owner.
CONTRACTS for telephone service" an
Official Of the telephone company point
ed out, are between individuals and
the company. and the company could
not, In any circumstances. recognize
any private transaction between indi-
viduals 10 transfer service from one TO
another"
Thus il an apartment house were TO
change owners the seher would have
TO terminate his contract or take his
service with him, and the tenants
would have 10 do without telephones
unless the buyer happened 10 have a
contract with the company which he
was willing TO transfer TO his new
property.