Document: 333 U.S. 472 68 S.Ct. 624 92 L.Ed. 815 WOODS, Housing Expediter,v.STONE. No. 392. Argued Feb. 4, 1948. Decided March 15, Mr. Stanley M. Silverberg, of Washington, D.C., for petitioner. James F. Brennan, San Francisco, Cal., respondent. Justice JACKSON delivered the opinion Court. 1 Respondent Stone owned a house in Mooresville, Indiana which he rented to one Locke $75 per month begining on or about August 1, 1944. As this was first rental premises, applicable law1 and regulations2 imposed owner duty file registration statement within thirty days. 2 The respondent failed register property. He sold it April 1945 by new brought notice Area Rent Director respondent's prior renting property without complying with requirement. On June 28, 1945, Director, pursuant regulations reduced from $45 month, effective rental, ordered excess refunded days thereafter. refund, tenant did not sue action instituted Price Administrator. District Court Appeals, among other things, held that one-year statute limitations ran dates payment rentals. 6 Cir., 163 F.2d 393. This conflicted holding Appeals Fourth Circuit which, under similar circumstances, limitation period started upon default refunding after refund order. Creedon v. Babcock, 480. We granted certiorari limited question. Stone, 332 835, 218. 3 No question is raised, none could have been raised proceeding, as validity relevant order, either ground retroactivity otherwise, because any challenge would go Emergency Appeals. 50 U.S.C.App., Supp. V, § 924, U.S.C.A.Appendix, 924; Bowles Willingham, 321 503, 64 641, 88 892. See also Woods Cloyd W. Miller Company, 138, 421. Taking legislation, order be valid exercises governmental power, we are thus required do, only before us when do excessive collections landlord begin enjoy shelter limitations? 4 Under system rent control established, accommodations they devoted use. brings authority premises its official responsibility provides data quick, if tentative, determination whether exacted exceeds level permitted policy Congress set out statute. 5 But when, case, does comply requirement, there likelihood that, happened here, his transaction will overlooked some time perhaps escape scrutiny entirely. allowed profit own disobedience law. If keep retarding preventing contract, gain an advantage over all landlords who complied Act well tenants whose necessity too pressing admit bargaining price. plan therefore despite failure register, may continue collect unapproved price, but condition subject revision public anything then found excessive.3 issued applied case. His operations escaped authorities until fortuitously disclosed. collected had right readjustment, fixed himself inquiry exceed 66-2/3% what fair value excess. now contends can upwards year commenced, runs,4 date obeying each collection rental. 7 cannot sustain contention. made rentals tentative unlawful. Until contingency readjustment occurred, no cause recovery part landlord. rest upon, hence from, mere collection. created measured breached disobeyed. It unusual, say least, statutory scheme were construed include during commenced become barred. United States Wurts, 303 414, 58 637, 82 932. think such reu lt expressed intended. violation occurred obeyed run. Cf. Rawlings Ray, 312 96, 61 473, 85 605; Fisher Whiton, 317 217, 602, 63 175, 87 223; Cope Anderson, 331 461, 67 1340. 8 suggested based irrespective validity. pointed out, regulation conclusive here. 'order * prescribing maximum (rent) *.' command treated thing apart, must taken setting integral necessary fixing rent. strange situation make legal obligation pay it. clear obedience requirement gives rise sued herein. 9 applies law retroactively. Quite apart fact objection itself rather than time, suggestion merit. case reaching backwards payments illegal free infirmity made. By legislation force made, landlord's registering rendered these conditional, refund. Readjustment conditions said retroactive making. 10 hold began run breached, point reverse judgment court below. 11 Reversed. 12 FRANKFURTER, concurring. 13 I supposed rule judicial administration better settled should restrict questions presented petition certiorari. especially true where, 'limited writ, transferred summary docket.' exceptions rare, where jurisdiction lower courts plainly wanting, patent error favorem vitae noted. In event, them. exclusive provisions Control preclude our consideration 'retroactive order.' since issue pertaining has dealt with, like add few words Jackson's opinion, inasmuch immoderate restraint lay bare 'merits' controversy. 14 crux matter rents housing but, disobeys regulatory fails statement, chooses fixed, so contingently. Administrator catch up him fix proper amount beginning. refunded. 15 There nothing novel whereby violate denied thereby. consistently upheld 150 East 47th Street Corp. Creedon, Em.App., 162 206; see Senderowitz Clark, 912, 917, cf. Easley Fleming, 159 422. When provided 2(g) 'may contain deems prevent circumvention evasion te reof,' 56 Stat. 23, 27, U.S.C. 902(g), authorized administrative remedies dealing evasion. 16 termed 'retroactive,' comes Court's recent ruling 'such balanced against mischief producing result contrary design equitable principles. greater ill effect application standard, type condemned law.' Securities & Exchange Commission Chenery Corp., 194, 203, 1575, 1581. 17 DOUGLAS, dissenting. 18 plain 'refund order' more ceiling. stretch call such, view aversion creation liabilities. finds fairness special circumstances Yet recognizes those administer That written into through addition 19 at lawfully collect. At ceiling prevailing.1 Almost later reduced—from reduction government treble so-called overcharge. 20 anyone collects prescribed price 205(e).2 overcharges contained 205(e) defines presently concerned.3 described runs 'from occurrence violation.' relate thereto violation. Such interpretation rewrites creates violating changes section. obtain return money paid normally turns existing paid. usually starts time. Certainly makes legality turn unpredictable future exercise discretion determines enter field purposes 205(e). 21 here commodities prevailing unlawful; lawful. construction violence policy. For expands penalize yesterday's transactions permitted. Any use construe most doubtful ever adopted meaning given conclude course unambiguous terms. reads s find reference liabilities orders' vain. And violations orders section give 22 said, however, concerning considered dispute view. 892; Yakus States, 660, 834. 203 204 procedure testing provision 'regulation, schedule,' constitutionality sustained. Lockerty Phillips, 319 182, 1019, 1339; supra. concerned power Our different involves turning What decide schedule price' step determining measured. 23 short, statute, regulations. interpretation; determine authorizes regulations, suit. 1942, amended Stabilization Extension 1944, 632, 901 et seq., seq. Section 7, Regulations Housing, Fed.Reg. 14663, 3436, providing follows: Registration—(a) Registration statement.—On specified Schedule A regulation, 30 rented, whichever later, every offered shall triplicate write n form therefor known statement. identify dwelling unit specify information require. original remain copy copy, stamped indicate correct original, returned Maximum rents—(e) First date.—For (1) newly constructed priority rating (2) changed effectv e increase decrease number units accomodations, (3) two months ending nor between date, change be, event September 22, 1942. Within 7. 5(c). (except filed October 1943), received commencing 1943, 5(c)(1). issuance *. Acts, amended, 925(e), provides: 'If person selling commodity violates prices, buys consumption trade business may, violation, except hereinafter provided, bring seller account receipt defense-area deemed buying commodity, buyer institute subsection entitled reason action, behalf period. *' functions subsequently Expediter appears petitioner involved viz., month. Regulation 4(e)(3), F.R. 3436. provides, far material, be; word 'overcharge' mean price.' (Italics added.) compel compliance 205(a). Porter Warne Co., 328 395, 66 1087, 90 1332. arising Thus 4(e) states: 'The foregoing thereunder affect civil criminal liability 7.' need canvass possibilities supplies basis petitioner's

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