Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Towers, 245 U.S. 6 (1917)

Pennsylvania Railroad Company v. Towers

No. 31

Argued April 25, 26, 1917
Decided October 15, 1917
245 U.S. 6

ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND

Syllabus

Whether the statutes of Maryland intend to authorize the Public Service Commission to revise intrastate commutation rates when such rates have already been established by voluntary action of the railroad company, is a question of state law concerning which the conclusion of the Court of Appeals of Maryland binds this Court upon a writ of error to review its judgment.

State regulation, through a public service commission, requiring a carrier to maintain commutation service between points within the state and fixing rates therefor which are less than the intrastate rate lawfully established for one-way intrastate travel in general, does not deprive the carrier of due process of law when the service so regulated was established by the carrier voluntarily and the rates fixed by the state are reasonable. Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Ry. Co. v. Smith, 173 U.S. 684, is distinguished, and the views expressed in that case which are inconsistent with the decision in this one are disapproved.

126 Md. 59 affirmed.

The case is stated in the opinion.