State ex rel. Utilities Commission v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

A railroad or other public utility corporation is engaged in the operation of a privately owned business. By virtue of the nature of the services it undertakes to render, certain exceptional duties are imposed upon it by the common law and by statute, and the Utilities Commission is authorized by statute to regulate its activities. In other respects, the company has the same freedom as does any other corporation in the management of its properties and in the employment and assignment of the duties of its employees.

The Utilities Commission has no authority to regulate, or impose duties upon, a…