Case ID: us-ct-cl_32/html/0611-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Chief Justice Fuller", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY v. THE UNITED STATES.
    [27 C. Cls. R., 440; 164 U. S., 190.]
    
      On the claimant’s Appeal.
    
    The only question in this case is one of law — whether the claimant is or is not a land-grant road.
    The court below decides:
    1. The proviso in the Wisconsin Land-Grant Railroad Act 1856 (11 Stat. L.j 20, § 5), “that the United States mail shall he transported ov.er said roads, under the direction of the Post-Office Department, at such price as Congress may hy law direct,” is made a part of the Land-Grant Act 1864 (13 id., in 66, § 3), hy the provision that the lands now granted are granted “ upon the same terms and conditions as are contained in the act” 1856.
    2. Canons of construction which may lead to the practical result that a public measure shall mean one thing when it is a bill before Congress and another when it is a statute before the judiciary are to be shunned. Neither should effect be given to a canon which will render a statutory condition wholly inoperative.
    3. A land-grant road, which has no option, but must transport the mails for such compensation as Congress may by law direct, can not be misled by any misinterpretation of a statute on the part of the Postmaster-General. The rule in Duval’s Case (25 C. Cls. R,, 46,59), reaffirmed.
    The decision of the court below is affirmed on the same grounds.
   Mr. Chief Justice Fuller

delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court, November 16, 1896.