The common council of the city is authorized and empowered to restrict the number of buses licensed, to the end that there shall be no undue traffic congestion or other hazards at any point within the city that might be caused by an excessive number of buses operating over and upon any of the streets of said city, and to the end that competition between owners shall not endanger the maintenance and continuation of adequate mass transportation within said city. The common council shall grant such licenses to owners of buses complying with provisions hereof, as shall in the opinion of the council best protect the public health and safety and tend to insure to the city an adequate and continuous mass transportation system. (Ord. 2179 §3, 1946).