State Highway Commission v. Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co.

The opinion of the court was delivered by Burch, J.:

In a petition for rehearing the pipe-line company undertakes to limit an admission in its answer in such a way that, as against a motion for judgment on the pleadings, a question of fact would be raised by the general denial contained in the answer.

The motion for the writ alleged the highway commission was engaged in highway construction and improvement, had for the purpose procured rights of way, and the highway changes were necessary for public safety and convenience. The answer admitted “necessity for the construction of such highways, as alleged.”

The motion for the writ alleged plans and specifications for the highway improvement had been adopted, and the highways would intersect pipe-line rights of way. The motion described the specific pipe-line changes “necessary to be made.” The motion also contained the following allegation:

“It is necessary and in the interest of public safety that at such points of intersection the pipe lines and telephone lines of the pipe-line company be changed, lowered, encased or moved, all in accordance with the plans and specifications adopted and approved by the highway commission for the eomr pletion of said highway improvement.”

The answer admitted adoption of the plans and specifications, and admitted “such changes should be made if said new highways are constructed and opened to the public.” The answer also contained the following:

“Admits the necessity of changing, lowering, encasing or moving of defendant’s pipe lines and telephone lines, as alleged by plaintiff, if new highways are constructed and opened for the use of the public at the locations mentioned and described.”

*850 The answer then proceeded to enumerate reasons why the pipeline company should not be required to make'the changes at its own expense. It is now said the last-quoted admission went only to necessity, and not to necessity in the interest of public safety. The admission was of necessity “as alleged,” and the allegation was of necessity plus interest of public safety. The pleadings are not to be considered as ancient common-law pleadings in a criminal case, but according to their fair import. The point now made was not presented in the pipe-line company’s brief as one bearing on the subject of exercise of the police power of the state by the highway commission, is evidently an afterthought, and is not well taken.

Besides what has been said, when unqualified necessity for the pipe-line changes as a feature of highway construction was ex.pressly admitted, basis for exercise of the police power was admitted, and the pipe-line company would be in the same situation if its point on the pleadings were well taken.

The petition for rehearing contains nothing of substance which is new, and it is denied.