Case ID: us-ct-cl_62/html/0770-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice SUTHERLAND", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MISSOURI PACIFIC R. R. CO. v. UNITED STATES
    [59 C. Cls. 524; 60 id. 183; 271 U. S. 603]
    Judgment was rendered in favor of the United States in the court below. On appeal the judgment was affirmed, the Supreme Court deciding:
    1. The act of July 28, 1916, authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission to determine on a space basis the compensation to be paid railroads for transportation of mails in railway post-office cars and for the service connected therewith, and to allow land-grant roads only 80% of this compensation although part of the space in such cars by which such compensation is gauged is not occupied for mail matter but is used for the distribution of mail on the trains.
    2. The obligation of land-grant railroads, as expressed in granting acts passed in 1S52 and 1853, to transport the mails at all times “under the direction of the Post Office Department, at such price as Congress may direct,” looked to the future and includes the furnishing of space in railway post-office cars for distribution purposes as required in this case by the department pursuant to the act of July 28, 1916.
   Mr. Justice SUTHERLAND

delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court June 7, 1926.