Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-16
CITY JOINS STATE
IN WAG|NC FIGHT
ON PHONE RAISE:
Aldermen Ask City Attor-
ney to Ascertain Actions
Legal Status.
CORPORATION COMMISSION
MOVES TO PROTECT STATE
lnstructs Counsel to Make Com
mon Cause With Kansas in
Supreme Court Suit.
QUESTION OF CONTRACT HERE;
Telephone Rates, FIXED by Law. Not
Subject to Overnight Change,
Says Alderman NunnaUy.
QUESTION OF CONTRACT HERE
Telephone Rates, FIXED by Law. Not
Subject to Overnight Change,
Says alderman NunnalJy.

Both the state of Virginia and the
Guy OF Richmond arc preparing 20
20 into the courts TO fight against
existing and prospective increases in
telephone rates.
Almost simultaneously with the an
nouuccmcnt that Richmond telephone
users would bc required to pay u
hisitci rate Tor this service, 1t became
known yesterday that The State Cor
porat!on commission had entered an
order directing .A,torncy-Gencral John
X. Saunders and oscar l.. Shcwmakc,
counaei 10 the commission, 10 prepare
Tor Il legal light III the United states
supreme Court asains; the alleged
usurpation OF authority by Post
mastcr-Gencra! Burlcson.
The State ol Virginia will make APP
rl!cation ~ Tile bin in equity, amicus
curiac, with the state Of Kansas. Pro-
ceed'nss, viii be brought in the namo
telephones and a victim Of the rates
which, under Federal control il iinds
Itself forced TO pay.
knnsnn ifnn Similar pien.
In Kansas. the Identical plea Of
which viii bc used by this state tn..
proceedings have begun at tho instance
of the Public Utilities Commission.
whicl brings the charge that post-
The authority presumed TO have been
given him under tho Federal statute
bringing certain public utilities under
the control of the government at Wash
.nEtoE.
The Supreme Court. according 10 au-
horities here, has original jurisdiction
ne lead OF Virginia and Kansas will
2e followed By many states OF the
mon whish b, object t9 the Increased
The increase in rates going into ef-
lie, city about 1iso,oeo a year, 1t is
ec,ion under The general franchise
cake and fo,omas Telephone Com :
amy Of Virginia. Telephone authori-
les. since these utilities came under
'cdcral control, do not even deem it
Necessary TO ile the new rates with
lie state Corporation Commission.
board OF Aldermen Acts.
! q, the meeting of tho Board of Al
ermcn OF Richmond last night rc3o
ut!on WAS adopted calling upon the
lily Attorney TO find out il the Chcsa-
,cakc and Potomac Telephone Com
any hau the right 20 raise telephone
atcs in Ricnnond and II IL did not
ave. ,hcn 10 institute lcsal action 70
rcycnt such proposed rates from be-
ominG effective
Tho resolution Was introduced by
Ndcrmen Nunnaiiy and Powers and
cnsion OF the rules.
Natc Matter of Contract.
Alderman Nunnafy, who is an at
orncy. stated last night that he could
OF imagine what legal authority the
4icphouc company had to back IL IL
{ contemplated action. He declared
,at whatever might be the situStion
other places the rates here existed
:. matter. OF contract between .hc
- ana the telephone company and
ere not subject 10 change at the
him OF the latter no matter what
,ance. might have taken place IN its
= jalrol or method OF management.