New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad v. Deister

The plaintiff operates a railroad between Boston and Brockton through the intermediate municipalities of Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Randolph, Holbrook and Avon under a valid franchise conferred by this Commonwealth. It has a large amount of property invested in this enterprise, on which it pays a considerable annual tax. It *180has complied with all controlling laws and in the exercise of its franchise operates trains as a common carrier of passengers for hire. The defendant operates motor vehicles known as "motor buses or coaches” for the carriage of passengers for hire on public highways…