Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-09-05
RULES AGAINST JITNEYS.
Public Utilities Commission Turns
Down Request for License.

The public utilities commission
has just rendered a decision on pc
tition for license for operation of
jitneys between Portland and Old
Orchard, in competition with cleo
trio and steam road. The commits
sion refuses the license, taking the
ground that it must protect estab-
lished public utilities. The decision
is of wide interest in view of the
rapid increase of iitney lines all over
the State, and is being discussed both
favorably and unfavorably. The de-
cision in full follows:
THE applicants state in their appli-
cations that in rendering the pro-
posed service they will be in competi-
ton with the Boston & Maine Rail-
road, steam railroad operating be-
tween Portland and Old Orchard, and
with the Cumberland County Power Il
Light Co.. lessees of the Portland Rail
road Co., Il street railroad operating
between the same points" says the de-
cision of the Public Utilities commits
sion.
THE problem is squarely presented
WIltlitl VI nv q iVS uie'ii y ~ = "i''N0N
and operated street railway service
conducting the business for seven days
week and for twelve months of the
year under the control of this commits
sion and the duty imposed by our state
law that it's service shall be reason
able. adequate and safe, shall be pro-
tec1ed from a competition that exists
only during the summer months, ana
which ceases when the traffic dimin-
ishes by the passing from our border
of the numerous tourists who make
our community their homes during the
summer months.
1--WE do not place our decision on
the basis that railroads are obliged to
operate and maintain expensive rights
of way while these motor vehicles
pass along the state highways proVld-
ed by common contribution from the
people of our state because the high
WAYS of the state are made the COM
mon property OF all our citizens, ana
the rights OF the operators of these
motor vehicles must not be abridged
for that purpose except by the legisla-
ture itself We must not be unmind-
lul OIL me liCl llflI iiiS'AiJ ~ 49,
zens have invested their money in
these street railroad systems and that
investors will not entrust their money
to any public utilities if such utilities
having been constructed may be de-
stroyed at wiz by those whose compe-
tition with them is transitory in char
acter, but fatal in its effect.
"Competition which aids LIE ana
force and incentive to ordinary in
dustry cannot truthfully be said to be
desirable in the conduct of public util-
tiles which in their nature, although
owned by private individuals, are
dedicated to the use of all. of the cltl-
zens of the community. Public utlh-
ties must of necessity be limited IN
number in any given community IN
order to be at all remuneratlVe ana
hence able to attract capital for mann
tenance and developments This mas
been recognized as the policy OIL TINS
state since the enactment OF the pup
lie utility law in 1914, when the state
assumed to regulate the rate OF return
which such utilities may earn upon
the property devoted to the service OF
the public,
There may be exigencies when COM
petition must be the exceptions TO the
rule, for industry must not Wlther by
the slothfuI management OF those
controlling existing utilities. Our
decision to refuse to issue petitions to
the applicants in this case is IN me
with the economic thought of those IN
other states charged with the respon-
sibility for solving this same propleh