Brundige

This is an application for a writ of mandate to compel the Railroad Commission to assume jurisdiction of a complaint against the Southern California Telephone Company, filed by petitioner herein.

The complaint lodged with the commission showed substantially the following facts: Petitioner is a private corporation which is and for several years has been doing business in the city of Los Angeles. The Southern California Telephone Company is a “telephone corporation,” within the definition thereof given in the Public Utilities Act, and is a “public utility,” within the terms of said act. (Stats. 1919, pp. 491, 493.) The telephone company operates a telephone line in the city of Los Angeles, and in connection with its telephone business in that city, and to facilitate telephonic communication by such of the public as wish to use its telephones, it annually issues to and distributes among its subscribers telephone directories. In these directories are listed the names and telephone numbers of its subscribers. For some years past the telephone company has permitted a large number of persons who are among the number of its subscribers, including the petitioner here, to insert…