Document: 369 U.S. 134 82 S.Ct. 676 7 L.Ed.2d 623 UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY, Appellant,v.IDEAL CEMENT COMPANY et al. No. 61. Argued Dec. 13, 1961. Decided March 19, 1962. E. Dixie Beggs, Pensacola, Fla., for appellant. James Lawrence White, New York City, appellee, Ideal Cement Company. Submitted on brief by Mr. S. P. Gaillard, Jr., Mobile, Ala., and Hardy B. Smith, Scott Paper Charles Rhyne, Washington, D.C., City of Alabama, as amicus curiae, special leave Court. PER CURIAM. 1 This is an appeal from the Court Appeals' reversal a summary judgment entered appellant in United States District Southern Alabama. The suit, based diversity citizenship, sought contractual reimbursement taxes paid to Mobile relative sales natural gas appellees. They defended ground that contracts contemplated only valid tax payments, License Code § 1, par. 193 (1955), under which was exacted paid, invalid Commerce Clause Constitution. Appeals sustained this contention, interpreting both primary enforcement provisions its surrounding state legislation operating not separable local portion interstate commerce but means licensing appellant's right entry into without State. 282 F.2d 574, 580. We postponed determination our jurisdiction consideration merits, 366 916, 81 1093, 6 240 now find case properly here 28 U.S.C. 1254(2), U.S.C.A. 1254(2). 2 interpretation law Appeals, opinion Alabama member, rendered advance construction courts State, alone, course, can define authoritative meaning. ought not, certainly record, either accept or, independent consideration, reject what Supreme may later definitively approve. availability appropriate declaratory-judgment proceedings Ala.Code, Tit. 7, §§ 156—168 (1940), avoids unsatisfactory dilemma. Wise judicial administration counsels decision federal question be deferred until potentially controlling state-law issue authoritatively put rest. See Leiter Minerals, Inc., v. States, 352 220, 228—229, 77 287, 267. Accordingly, vacated permit so far relevant litigation, with every expedition courts. It ordered. 3 Judgment vacated. 4 Justice WHITTAKER took no part disposition case. 5 DOUGLAS. should disposed here; long-drawn-out litigation* foisted parties needless. No matter how ordinance construed constitutional. Congress Natural Gas Act, amended, 15 717 seq., would have authority prevent pipelines delivering any industrial use. Federal Power Comm. Transcontinental Pipe Line Corp., 365 435, 377. Yet once movement commences, line between permissible impermissible regulation longer puzzle. 8 pipeline company brings supplies it distributor, Gas. delivers at three stations resale, delivery appellees gas, when delivered Gas, lower pressure than enters When customers involved, still pressure. therefore all fours East Ohio Co. Tax Comm., 283 465, 51 499, 75 L.Ed. 1171. In speaking reduced within carrier, said then 9 'divided many thousand relatively tiny streams enter small service lines connecting such mains pipes consumers' premises. So segregated remains readiness or moves forward serve needed. treatment division large compressed volume like breaking original package, after shipment commerce, order contents treated, prepared sale, sold retail. * follows furnishing consumers municipalities distribution plants supply suitably intended business purely concern exclusively state.' Id., 471, 501. 10 Here too package broken intrastate 11 matters calls levied 'license tax.' Interstate Oil Stone, 337 662, 69 1264, 93 1613, Mississippi 'privilege' gross receipts bringing oil fields loading racks where pumped railroad cars out state. 12 Rutledge, himself others, said: 13 'Since activities upon imposed are carried Mississippi, there due process objection tax. does discriminate against favor competing character. nature subject taxation makes apportionment unnecessary; attempt activity outside Mississippi's borders. other repeat For these reasons clause invalidate 667 668, 1266. 14 Burton, who also joined judgment, approved following reason: 'I concur solely State privilege pipe transporting that, such, 1267. Corp. 301 148, 57 696, 970, made deliveries distributors one user. These were held local, nondiscriminatory franchise could levied. Panhandle Eastern Public Service 332 507, 514, 68 190, 196, 92 128, direct (as distinguished distributing companies resale) regulation. Speaking we 16 'Congress, true, occupied field. But meticulous take territory had states reach. That area did include consumer sales, whether uses. Those been regulated repeatedly sustained. instance reaching stricken down.' 519, 196. 17 tax' present case, if wholly activity, wit—the distributor consumers. 18 conclusion more tradition cases Michigan 341 329, 71 777, 95 993, allowed exact certificate public convenience necessity make 'the sale transaction 'essentially local' 'subject infringement Clause.' 333, 779. proposed directly users. first goes turn reduces customers. apparent less complicated 19 I reverse below hold valid. 20 HARLAN, dissenting. 21 my none considerations underlying doctrine abstention (see Harrison N.A.A.C.P., 360 167, 176—177, 79 1025, 1152) call application here. There reasonable likelihood prior change complexion constitutional avoid eventual adjudication 22 Even enactment require license pre-condition engaging itself ordain answer question. 696; 1171; see Illinois Central Pub. Serv. Co., 314 498, 506, 62 384, 86 371. Cf. Northwestern Portland Minnesota, 358 450, 357, 421. Nor illumine United's Mobile. 23 As view matters, nothing useful accomplished remitting courts, adjudicate now. practice sue court administrative remedy (see, e.g., Pennsylvania R. 363 202, 80 1131, 1165) those (Clay Sun Insurance Office, 207, 1222, 1170; Clark, Procedural Reform States' Rights, 40 Tex.L.Rev. 211) places financial burden litigants, afforded cost deduction get through increased rates. end years litigating $7,000 (approx.) claim starting court, being shunted agency, ending different supra. Gardner, Administrative Process, Legal Institutions Today Tomorrow (1959), pp. 139—140, 'Anyone considers review agency action must allow about year he has access appeals two file district carry controversy appeals. If certiorari develop warrant review, another added. result further proceedings, yet Except litigant advantages delay, issues investment time this. probably majority circumstances, sounder adjust go there, rather endure several uncertainty try improve result. 'The expense closely related delay. possible precise, surely polite mention money. discuss realistically unless recognizes average complexity cannot adequately except will range upward $5,000.' Landis, Report Regulatory Agencies President-Elect (1960), 5—13. printing records $3.80 page.

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