Public Service Railway Co. v. Board of Public Utility Commissioners
Public Service Railway Co. v. Board of Public Utility Commissioners
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This appeal is brought to review a judgment of the Supreme Court affirming an order of the board of public utility commissioners, requiring the prosecutor to pay compensation to the counties of Hudson and Essex for the use of a bridge on Clay street over the Passaic river, built at the joint expense of the two counties, the river being the boundary line.
The facts pertinent to this issue, are that the prosecutor had, for many years, used a bridge across the Passaic river for the operation of its trolley railroad along Clay street which extended from the city of Newark in Essex county, to East Newark in Pludson county, paring therefor compensation fixed by a contract between the counties and the prosecutor. It became necessary, for the safety of the public, to remove this bridge and replace it with a more substantial structure. The improvement prevented the continuous running of prosecutor’s ears across the river during construction, and this condition continued thereafter because the two counties and the prosecutor could not agree upon the terms of compensation for the use of the new bridge, to the great inconvenience and annoyance of the public entitled to transportation over prosecutor’s railway, and to remedy this the legislature in 1913 (Pamph. L., p. 777), enacted a statute providing that where a street railway company operated its line through any street in which a bridge forms a connecting link, and it has a franchise to use the street on either side of said bridge, but no authority to lay its tracks on the bridge, or its right is disputed, and the municipalities owning the bridge and the railway company cannot agree upon the terms
While the matters consented to do not appear to be within the purview of the writ, they have been stated because the prosecutor has argued questions to which they relate, claiming they are incident to the right to fix compensation.
After the consent order was made, the prosecutor proceeded to lay its rails and to operate its cars over the bridge, all parties in interest agreeing thereto.
The brief of the appellant argues, that the judgment appealed from is erroneous because, (a) the legislature has no power to require appellant to make payment for the use of the bridge in excess of its annual share of county taxes
Concerning the last proposition, it is sufficient to say, that the order for extension is not brought up by this writ, hut if it was, it was consented to- by the prosecutor and it has voluntarily complied with it, and resumed trie operation of its lines over the new bridge in the same manner as it did over the old bridge, and for which use it paid a yearly renta L
Having consented to the order to run its cars over the bridge, it is now estopped from complaining that it was compelled to do what it agreed it would, if the necessary legal permission was granted. Such permission was granted, and prosecutor has availed itself thereof, as a privilege to use the bridge and it is now too late to complain of an order to which it consented.
The second point, viz., that the amount awarded is excessive, is without merit. The order of the board of utility commissioners is amply supported on this question by the testimony taken by it, and this court will not disturb its findings unless unreasonable, or is based upon some illegal principle, or lacks evidential support.
The only other point requiring consideration is the first, which challenges the right of the county to charge prosecutor for ihe use of the bridge beyond the ordinary taxes levied to erect and maintain bridges, thus making a discrimination betwuen prosecutor and other members of the public. This proposition overlooks the fact that the use by the public generally, and that by the prosecutor, are very different in their nature, and that á more expensive and substantial structure is required to permit the operation of a street railway as a private enterprise for profit, that would answer the ordinary use by the public. This additional cost for prosecutor’s benefit is beyond that demanded for the usual convenience of the public, and there is no legal reason why, when
The case of Bangor Railway and Electric Co. v. Orono, 84 Atl. Rep. 385, is quite similar to the present case.
There being no error in this record, the judgment will be ■affirmed, with costs.
For affirmance — The- Chancellor, Chief Justice, Swayze, Parker, Bergen, Kalisch, Black, Bogeet, Vre-DENBURGH, WlIITE, JJ. 10.
For reversal—None.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PUBLIC SERVICE RAILWAY COMPANY, PROSECUTOR v. BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONERS
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published