Bowman v. Commonwealth ( 1924 )

Sims, P.,

after making the foregoing statement, delivered the following opinion of the court: .

In the view we take of the proper construction of the statute involved, the disposition of only one of the questions presented by the assignments of error is decisive of the case. That question is as follows:

1. Did the Commission err in revoking its first two orders on the ground that while he, as a proprietor, was actually operating two cars, in good faith, over the route involved, on February 28, 1923, and in all other respects was entitled to be granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the operation of such cars, he was not entitled to such certificate to be issued to him,, for the reason that it appeared to the satisfaction of the Commission, upon the evidence before it on the rehearings, that the applicant was not alone in operating, as aforesaid; on February 28, 1923, and that such operation was conducted by him and a partner of his at the time, namely, one Charles H. Sites?

The question must be answered in the affirmative.

It appears from the record that the Commission entered its first two orders, granting the certificates of public convenience and necessity for the operation of two motor vehicles to the applicant “as a matter of right,” because of the finding of fact by the Commission that it appeared to it, from the evidence before it at the times such certificates were granted, that the applicant was operating in good faith over the route covered by the certificates two cars on February 28, 1923. On the latter subject the evidence was conflicting, but there was sufficient evidence to sustain this finding of fact of the Commission, and it is unnecessary to say anything more as to the correctness of that finding, because, for the reasons we shall set forth below, we do not think that the orders of the Commission complained of were entered because of any change by the Commission in such finding of fact.

On the rehearings, the evidence was practically the same as upon the first hearings, except that on the rehearings there was before the Commission a new piece of evidence not previously considered by the Commission, bearing on the question of whether the operation in question was conducted on February 28, 1923, by the applicant alone, or by him and one Charles H. Sites, as partners. On the first hearings there was a good deal of evidence on both sides of this question, other than the new piece of evidence referred to. But that evidence consisted of an application in writing, signed by the said Brent Bowman and Charles M. Sites, dated April 16, 1923, addressed to “Hon. R. T. Wilson, Secretary, State Corporation Commission, Richmond, Virginia,” and, so far as material to be stated, contained the following:

“The undersigned hereby apply for a certificate to operate a motor vehicle carrier for transportation of persons and property for compensation on the improved public highway extending from Staunton, Virginia, to Winchester, Virginia * *. The undersigned respectfully show that since the 1st day of February, 1923, they have been engaged as motor vehicle carriers in the transportation of persons and property over said route and are of opinion that on that portion, of the route extending from Harrisonburg to Staunton they are now transporting at least two-thirds of the passengers travel-^ ing thereover. *

(It is a geographical fact that the route from Staunton to Winchester is by way of Harrisonburg.)

We are satisfied from the record before us that this new evidence turned the scales in favor of the conclusion of fact that the applicants, Brent Bowman and Charles H. Sites, as partners, were conducting the aforesaid operation as a motor vehicle carrier, with two cars, on February 28, 1923, and not Brent Bowman alone; and that it was on this ground that the Commission entered the two orders complained of revoking the'first two orders aforesaid.

That our conclusion that the Commission erred in that action is correct, results, as we think, from the following considerations:

In view of'what we held in the cases of Holmes L. Gruber v. Commonwealth, post, p. 312, 125 S. E. 427; Carroll & Echard v. Commonwealth, post, p. 305, 125 S. E. 433, and J. E. Sheets Taxicab Co. v. Commonwealth, post, p. 325, 125 S. E. 431 (opinions in which are this day handed down), and for the reasons stated in such opinions on the subject of the scope and purposes of the statute involved, we are of opinion that the same construction of the statute applied in the Carroll & Echard Case is applicable to the instant ease. The situation in the two cases is not precisely the same, but the principle, nevertheless, is the same. In the Carroll & Echard Case, what the Commission did was to deny the certificate to the partnership of Carroll & Echard because Echard alone was conducting the operation in question on February 28, 1923; upon the theory, which we think erroneous, that the statute authorizes the granting of the certificate “as a matter of right” to “such person, firm or corporation” only, as was operating on such date. In the instant case what the Commission finally did, upon the same erroneous theory, was to deny the certificate to Bowman, because not Bowman alone, but the partnership of Bowman & Sites was conducting the operation in question on February 28, 1923. The Commission, indeed, applied the same principle to both cases; but it, as we think, applied the wrong principle. As stated in the opinion in the Carroll & Echard Case, so far as needs to be here set out as applicable to the instant case, “we are of opinion that the proper interpretation of the language of the statute, above specifically referred to, is that it directs the certificate to be granted to ‘such person, firm or corporation’ as was operating as designated in the statute, or to such of them as shall apply therefor, if more than one person, firm or corporation was conducting the operation on February 28, 1923, * * the number and capacity of the vehicles to be operated under such certificate, however, being limited by the statute * * to the number and capacity of the vehicles which were, on such date, actually operated in good faith over the route by those conducting such operation.”

That is to say, in our view of the purposes of the statute, it is immaterial to the State whether all of those who were engaged in the business in question on the date mentioned in the statute should continue in the business after such date; the provisions of the statute in other particulars being sufficient to accomplish all of its purposes. And with respect to that portion of the statute which saves to those who were engaged in the business on the date mentioned, in good faith, the right to continue therein, if they apply for. that privilege, as prescribed by the statute, that • provision is satisfied if the ■ privilege be granted to those 'of them who. do so apply, although all of them may not do so-.

The casé, therefore, will be reversed, the aforesaid orders entered on the rehearings, of .dates August 15th and September 20, 1923, will be set aside and annulled, and the ease will be remanded ..to the-Commission; with direction, to grant the certificates to the ap.pliéant in. accordance with the aforesaid first two orders of the Commission, of dates July-7th and July .26, 1923.

Rever sed. and remanded.