Pottsville Union Traction Co. v. Public Service Commission

Citations

• 67 Pa. Super. 301
• 1917 Pa. Super. LEXIS 389

Syllabus

<p>Public Service Commission — Certificate of public convenience— Auto-bus line — Street railway company.</p> <p>The Public Service Commission is justified in allowing a certificate of public convenience, for the operation of two large autobusses, although the allowance of the certificate is opposed by a street railway company, where the evidence shows that the auto-bus line was between the same termini as the street railway line; . that the highway used by the auto-bus line was practically parallel with the street car line; that at rush time the street cars were overcrowded; that not sufficient seats were provided to accommodate the passengers who were compelled to stand on both platforms for a long distance; and that the running of the auto-busses would hot seriously affect the street railway company’s finances.</p> <p>The primary object of the public service laws is not to establish a monopoly, or to guarantee the security of investment to public service corporations, but first and at all times, in the just exercise of its powers to serve the interest of the public.</p> <p>Unrestricted competition is ordinarily to be avoided not because in the first place it injures the corporation against which it is directed, but that ultimately the losses ensuing are visited upon the public. ,</p>