Banks v. Columbia Ry., Gas & Electric Co.

Citations

• 101 S.E. 285
• 113 S.C. 99
• 1919 S.C. LEXIS 186

Syllabus

<p>1. Costs — “Necessary Expenses” oe Pubeic Service Commissioners.— • Civ. Code 1912, sec. 924, providing that members of Public Service Commission “shall each receive the sum of ten dollars a day while actually employed and necessary expenses” to be paid by party against whom complaint is made if rates are found to be unjust or excessive, did not require gas company, whose rates were found to be excessive, to pay necessary expenses of investigation; the words “necessary expenses” referring to the personal expenses of the commissioners.</p> <p>2. Statutes — Construction.-—The purpose of construction is to ascertain the legislative intent from the words used; and, if these are susceptible to any sensible meaning, the Court cannot add to them other words which would give them a different meaning without making, instead of construing, the statute.</p> <p>3. Costs — To Be Taxed Against Party Only. — Costs and expenses of actions and proceedings are allowed to be taxed against the losing party only by statute.</p> <p>4i Costs — Construction oe Statutes. — Statutes allowing costs and expenses of actions and proceedings are strictly construed.</p>