Majority
Headnote
Railroads — power of Legislature to authorize railroad to cross street or highway without consent of local authorities — municipal corporations — power of city of New York to fix fares as condition of consent to railroad to cross streets — limit of authority in giving such consent — right of railroad where improper conditions imposed — estoppel — when railroad operating within city not street railroad •—-giving consent to cross streets as exercise of police power — accepted ordinance giving consent and fixing fares as contract within Federal Constitution—power of Legislature to regulate fares — Public Service Commission, jurisdiction to regulate fares.I am of opinion that the Commission had jurisdiction by virtue of the provisions of sections 29 and 49 of the Public Service Commissions Law (as amd. by Laws of 1911, chap. 546; Laws of 1914, chap. 240, and Laws of 1917, chap. 805) to authorize the relator to charge a higher rate of fare than that prescribed by the ordinance provided the rate so prescribed was found by the Commission to be insufficient to give to the relator reasonable compensation for the service rendered and that the Commission was authorized to fix a just and reasonable rate of fare to be charged by the relator.
The relator is a railroad corporation organized under the General Railroad Law of the State, which authorized it to acquire a private right of way by purchase or condemnation and to construct and operate its railroad thereon; and to construct its road across, along or upon public highways (See section 8 of the Railroad Law, being chapter 49 of the Consolidated Laws [Laws of 1910, chap. 481, as amd. by Laws of 1918, chap. 166], which is a re-enactment of section 4 of the Railroad Law of 1890, as amended by chapter 676 of the Laws of 1892 and by section 1 of chapter 504 of the Laws of 1902, which re-enacted section 28 of chapter 140 of the Laws of 1850, as amended by chapter 724 of the Laws of 1887), subject only to its obtaining a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission acting for the Legislature (Section 9 of the Railroad Law, formerly section 59 of the Railroad Law of 1890, added by chapter 676 of the Laws of 1892 and amended by section 1 of chapter 545 of the Laws of 1895) and subject to its obtaining the assent of a city where its road is to be constructed in, upon or across any street "of the city (Section 21 of the Railroad Law, formerly section 11 of the Railroad Law' of 1890 and theretofore subdivision 5 of section 28 of chapter 140 of the Laws of 1850, as amended by chapter 724 of the Laws of 1887) and subject also to its obtaining the permission and approval of the proper Public Service Commission to the construction of its railroad, or any extension thereof, and the exercise of its franchise (Section 53 of the Public Service Commissions Law, formerly section 53 of the Public Service Commissions Law of 1907). With respect to such a railroad the Legislature itself
It follows, therefore, that the determination of the Public Service Commission should be annulled, with fifty dollars costs and disbursements, and that the matter should be referred back to the Commission to determine the reasonableness of. the fare of seven cents proposed to be charged by the relator by the schedule of passenger rates so filed by it.
Clarke, P. J., Dowling, Page and Merrell, JJ., concur.
Writ sustained and determination annulled, with fifty dollars costs and disbursements, and the matter referred back to the Commission to determine the reasonableness of the fare proposed to be charged by the relator by the schedule filed by it. Settle order on notice.
Cases cited
- In re New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Co. 193 N. Y. 72 p. 448
- Ghee v. Northern Union Gas Co. 158 N. Y. 510 p. 452
- Potter v. Collis 19 App. Div. 392 p. 452
- Delaware v. City of Buffalo 158 N. Y. 266 p. 453
- City of Buffalo v. New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad 152 N. Y. 276 p. 453
- People ex rel. South Shore Traction Co. v. Willcox 196 N. Y. 212 p. 453, p. 455
- People ex rel. Bridge Operating Co. v. Public Service Commission 153 App. Div. 129 p. 453
- People ex rel. Eastern Parkway Co. v. Kennedy 97 App. Div. 103 p. 453
- Rochester Telephone Co. v. Ross 195 N. Y. 429 p. 453
- Quinby v. Public Service Commission 223 N. Y. 244 p. 454
- Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. v. Railroad Commission 238 U. S. 174 p. 455
- People ex rel. Ulster & Delaware Railroad v. Public Service Commission for the Second District 218 N. Y. 643 p. 457