Chap. 298.—An ACT to require railroad companies under certain conditions
to maintain telephones in their public offices.

Approved March 17, 1906.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be
the duty of every railroad company having a ticket office or freight office
in any city or town of this Commonwealth where there are, at the time,
one or more public telephone exchanges, or at any place where telephone
connection may be had, on reasonably moderate terms, with one or more
telephone exchanges not more than twenty-five miles distant from such
place, to constantly maintain in each of such offices, direct telephone con-
nection with each of such exchanges; but nothing herein contained shall
be construed to require such railroad company to build a telephone line,
it being intended to require such company to put telephones in its offices
where it can obtain them as they may be obtained for other business offices
in the same vicinity; such railroad company shall cause to be promptly
answered all calls made over such telephone connection during business
hours. Through such telephone connection, such railroad company shall
cause prompt and correct replies to be made to all reasonable and proper
inquiries received over such connection during business hours, concern-
ing the passenger or freight service of such road.

2. The term business hours as used in this act shall be construed to
mean such times as the office or depot may be open, with an officer or
agent of the railroad company in charge, for the transaction of business.

3. The State corporation commission shall by proper orders and re-
quirements, and by the infliction of suitable penalties, enforce the per-
formance of the foregoing duties by each railroad company doing busi-
ness in this State: provided, that the State corporation commission may
on the application of any railroad company after such notice as the said
commission may direct, excuse such company from placing a telephone
in any office, depot, or place where, in the opinion of the commission, the
public convenience does not require it.