Imperial Valley press., 1923-06-11
UNITED STAGES, ORDERED TO CEASE
OPERATIONS BY R. R. COMMISSION,
DEFIANT and EXPECT TO CONTINUE

Under an order issued by the
Railroad Commission of the State of
California, effective today, the
United Stages are directed to dis
continue operation Immediately of
their stage lines between Calexico
and FL Centre, and FL Centro, I'm
perial and Brawley, the commission
having decided that the abandon
ment Of franchises in 1918 by the
respondents, hullifics their right to
resume operations, as they did in
March Of this year.
Upon being asked if his clients
would abide by the ruling of the
commission and cease operations,
Robert G. Hill, attorney for the
United Stages, composed of Messrs.
Frederick Ernsting. O. d. Hadlev.
+. c. Willis stated that operations
will be continued, as in his opinion
the, railroad commission has not the
judicial power to order. the discon-
tinuance. 3<
Mr.. Hill bases his claim on a
statement made by Judge NJ. w.
Conkling, in disposing of. the suit
of the United Stages, against the
United Stages Inc, in which the
court decreed that the plaintiffs
each had a separate operative right
to run a stage over the highways. 1t
was on the strength of this state
ment that the United Stages resum-
ed operations in March of this year,
and Attorney Hill believes that this
opinion of the superior court will
offset any contrary action by the
railroad commission
Follows Hearing
The commission 8 order follows
hearing held at Los Angeles on
April II, 1923, at which time an op-
portunity was given the United
Stages to show why they should not
be restrained from operating as q
transportation company as defined
by the California statutes.
At this hearing, Hadley testified
that he was operating common
carrier service between Imperial
and INLAND on May 1, 1917 and con.
tinued to do so until October 1918,
when he discontinued the service
without obtaining permission to do
so from the railroad commission. He
resumed operations on March "a,
1929.
Similar testimony was given by
the other respondents, all of whom
testified tht they were, on May l,
operating stage lines between I'm
perial Valley towns, Imperial Val
ley and San Diego, and Imperial
Valley and Los Angeles, but later
discontinued the service, without OBJ
tanning permission to do SO from the
railroad commission. All resumed
operations in March Of this year,
with the exception of Frank Hawk,
w. p. Updegraff, j. 0. McClung, c.
c. Willis, and j. 0. Moore.
Review Previous Decision
The respondents executed power
Of attorney in March 1917 in favor
of T. +. Morgan, authorizing him to
file their passenger fare schedules,
which documents were filed with
the commission. On December 81,
1921, the commission rendered its
decision No. $3.50 finding that no
filings were made in the names of
individual operators. "It is clear
reads the decision from the evi-
dence that d stage line was operat-
ing in good faith as transportation
company on May l, 1917 over the
routes designated by the tariffs and
time schedules on file with the com
mission on that date and that such
operations were being carried on un.
der tho name of United Stages and
under the management and super
vision Of Thomas f. Morgan.