State ex rel. North Carolina Corp. Commission v. Southern Railway Co.
State ex rel. North Carolina Corp. Commission v. Southern Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
after stating the facts: The Court is of opinion that there was no appealable order made in this cause by the Corporation Commission, and, this being true, we are not in a position to make authoritative deliverance on the important and interesting questions indicated in the record and which were so learnedly argued by counsel. As to the Supreme and Superior Courts, the proceedings -are coram non judice, whether the Legislature may or may not have the constitutional right to confer on the Commission jurisdiction of questions strictly judicial in their nature. A perusal of the act creating the Commission clearly shows that this legislation nowhere confers upon the Commission the power to enforce its orders .and decrees by final process issuing directly from themselves. They are given in general terms power to supervise and control the quasi public corporations of the State to an extent necessary to carry into effect the provisions of the law, and may establish reasonable rules and regulations in furtherance of this purpose. They may institute investigations with a view of ascertaining if t-he valid orders, rules and regulations made by them are being complied with, and in carrying out this duty they have the power to compel the attendance of Avitnesses, require the examination of parties and other persons and compel the production of books, papers, etc. But for the enforcement of their orders by final process resort must be had to the ordinary courts of the State, either by independent proceedings or by process issued in causes carried before such courts by appeal.
Thus, in section 1080, Revisal 1905, the right to a mandamus to enforce a valid order is given in causes which hai^e been carried to the Superior Court by appeal. In section
This is the view held by the Commission itself, as shown by the terms of their order, as follows: “While the Corporation Commission has no power to render a judgment for the payment of money, etc., it is their duty to enforce their rules and orders, and the power to do so is given in section 1086, Ee-visal 1905,” etc. And the learned Judge who presided at the hearing in the Superior Court held the same view, as indicated by the issues submitted and the judgment rendered. And this being the correct position, there is nothing contained in this order from which an appeal could lie. True, the terms of the statute giving the right of appeal are very broad (Eevisal, sec. 1074): “Erom all decisions or determinations made by the Corporation Commission any party affected thereby shall be entitled to an appeal.” But this, we think,
Their position in reference to this suit could derive no additional force from the fact that they ordered that their rules be observed. This had already been made pursuant to section 1100 and penalty imposed for disobedience. The statute itself requires obedience to these lawful rules. The right to
Tbe appeal will be dismissed and tbe opinion certified that tbe same order shall be entered in reference to tbe proceedings on appeal before tbe Superior Court.
Appeal Dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE ex rel. NORTH CAROLINA CORPORATION COMMISSION and HART-WARD HARDWARE COMPANY v. SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published