State ex rel. Railroad Commissioners v. South Georgia Railway Co.
State ex rel. Railroad Commissioners v. South Georgia Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
The alternative writ of mandamus herein commands the respondent “to re-establish, reinstate
A motion of relators for a peremptory writ on the answer was denied. Replications were filed alleging that the respondent has never filed with the Railroad Commissioners of the State “any petition or request for the permanent discontinuance of the train service sought to be re-established.” Respondents demurred to the replication.
As it appears the trains Nos. 3 and 4 were, as operated, interstate trains, the respondents did not have to apply to the State Railroad Commissioners for their discontinuance. The alternative writ commands the respondent “to re-establish, reinstate and operate passenger trains Nos. 3 and 4” between points in this State. Even if this is not on the facts shown, in effect an order to' reinstate an interstate train, not within the authority of the State Commission, the circumstances shown as the local condi
This holding does not conflict with the decision in Missouri Pac. R. Co. v. State of Kansas ex rel. Railroad Com'rs, 216 U. S. 262, 30 Sup. Ct. Rep. 330, where the local conditions, the service being rendered, the public necessity and convenience and the burden to the carrier being essentially different from this case, justified the enforcement of an order for one passenger train to be operated to the State line instead of a mixed passenger and freight train, such order not requiring the “re-establishment” of a train that had been operated as an interstate train.
The decision of this case does not ignore the principles announced in Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. North Carolina Corp. Com., 206 U. S. 1, 27 Sup. Ct. Rep. 585; Wisconsin, M. & P. R. Co. v. Jacobson, 179, U. S. 287, 21 Sup. Ct. Rep. 115; State ex rel. Railroad Com’rs v. Louisville & N. R. Co., 62 Fla. 315, 57 South. Rep. 175; State ex rel. Railroad Com’rs. v. Louisville & N. R. Co., 63 Fla. 274, 57 South. Rep. 673, and other like, cases. In .this case principles are applied that are recognized in, but held to be not applicable to the cited cases.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Florida ex rel., Railroad Commissioners, Relators v. South Georgia Railway Company, a Corporation
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- An order of the Railroad Commissioners commanding a railroad company “to re-establish, reinstate and operate” between points in this State, one of the points being near the State line, two passenger trains that had been operated as interstate trains, but had been discontinued on account of inability. to get coal for engine fuel, will not be enforced by mandamus, since even if on the facts shown the order is not in effect to reinstate an interstate train, not within, the authority of the Commissioners, the circumstances shown as to local conditions, the service being rendered by other trains, the meagernes of the public necessity and convenience to be served by added trains, the large expense to the carrier and its destructive effect upon the carrier’s property rights, clearly show that the order is not “reasonable and just and such as ought to have been made in the premises,” within the meaning of the statute under which the authority is exerted; the facts and circumstances of the case not making applicable here the principles applied in Missouri Pac. R. Co. v. State of Kansas ex rel. Railroad Com’rs, 216 TJ. S. 262, 30 Sup. Ct. Rep. 330.