public interest

the Commission must at least warrant, as it were, that competition would serve some beneficial purpose such as maintaining good service and improving it. … it is not too much to ask that there be ground for reasonable expectation that competition may have some beneficial effect. Merely to assume that competition is bound to be of advantage, in an industry so regulated and so largely closed as is this one, is not enough.

If by public permission one is making use of public property and he chances to be the only one with whom the public can deal with respect to the use of that property, his business is affected with a public interest which requires him to deal with the public on reasonable terms; Cooley, Const. Lim. 746. Business affected with a public interest: 1. Where the business is one, the following of which is not of right but is permitted by the state as a privilege or franchise. 2. Where the state on public grounds renders to the business a special assistance by taxation or otherwise. 3. Where for the accommodation of a business special use is allowed to be made of public property or of a public easement. 4. Where special privileges are granted in consideration of some special return to be made to the public; id. It brings it within the police power, but does not place it beyond the taxing power; Flint v. Stone Tracy Co., 220 U. S. 140, 31 Sup. Ct. 342, 55 L. Ed. 389, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 1312. See Rates. As to the publication of matter of public interest, see Libel; Privileged Communication.