Taylor Borough v. Postal Telegraph Cable Co.

Citations

• 202 Pa. 583
• 52 A. 128
• 1902 Pa. LEXIS 568

Syllabus

<p>Borough — License tax on telegraph poles and wires — Police power. A borough may impose a reasonable license tax upon telegraph poles erected in and telegraph wires running through the borough where it appears that the company owning the poles and wires was engaged both in intrastate and interstate business, although having no office in the borough itself.</p> <p>The reasonableness of the fee is a question for the court and not for the jury, and the elements which enter into it are the necessary or probable expenses incident to the issuing of the license and the probable expense of inspection, regulation and police surveillance, and the possible liability of the city for accidents caused by the negligent care of the poles and wires. The measure of the reasonableness of the charge is not the amount actually expended by the borough in a particular year.</p>