SLANDER OVER THE PHONE important decision slon made M ade by the aua trian supreme court seldom has a algal decision so much popular excitement as tho the recent lecent ruling of the austilio Au supreme court that a ballon onor oer the he telephone la Is to be as speak lug ing in public bc beaube aube it might bo be overheard by a third party the judi judg ment waa aas folven in fit tonne cllon with one of those or slander cases which are aie ever e eraday vday oc in that country speaking through the telephone a man called the cashier ot of a bathing establishment an impudent person and ani as promptly baled up for Illren belet d ig ung and compelled to pay a fine lie ile appealed against the decision saying that the remark inas aa made in private but ma ha court ot of alponat oi b hh 1 A lt it swab wk not so because the telephone operator or some other poison might possibly have it so much antei interest eat vaa as aroused over this decision that lie che minister of commerce comme ice dr lois loiselet elit himself made a personal inspection of 0 the ho chief tele phone oace to see io what extent the telephone employed emp loyes were likely to ov over erber licar conversations con versa eions going ors oa between the ha the min ister has hag now issue issued d a gen bial order the employed emp loyes to listen to or the ches and reminding them that in ahn it Is for them honi to avoid ove hearing such talk it must bo be legardo regard cl I 1 as BO service vice secrets I 1 walh all officials and operators a jre 8 solemnly Boler only pledged to observe