Document: 343 U.S. 549 72 S.Ct. 978 96 L.Ed. 1134 THOMPSONv.UNITED STATES et al. No. 513. Argued and Submitted April 23, 1952. Decided June 2, Mr. Toll R. Ware, St. Louis, Mo., for appellant. Samuel Howell, Washington, D.C., appellee Federal Communications Commission. G. M. Rebman, Omaha Grain Exchange. Messrs. Philip B. Perlman, Sol. Gen., H. Morison Ralph S. Spritzer, United States. Chief Justice VINSON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The sole question before Court in this case concerns content term 'through route' as used Interstate Commerce Act.1 2 arises out a controversy to shipment grain market from points Kansas on Central Branch Missouri Pacific Railroad. From Lenora, Kansas, typical origin point, may be shipped eastward City over lines via Atchison, at rate 19 cents per hundred pounds. also provides service Lenora Omaha, Nebraska, 25.5 cents. Midway between Concordia, connects with line Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad running northeasterly direction Omaha. Concordia is listed by carriers point interchange traffic there evidence that offer through transportation short But no any has ever been made or have offered route, although haul approximately same length Pacific. 3 Exchange complained Commission rates published appellant, Trustee Pacific, other origins are unreasonable discriminate against violation Sections Act.2 In complaint it was contended route Bulington 'is practicable provided Section 15 Act, should greater than City.' 4 15(3) Act that— 5 'The may, shall whenever deemed necessary desirable public interest, after full hearing upon its own initiative without complaint, establish routes, joint classifications, rates, fares, charges, applicable passengers property subject part, * *.' 54 Stat. 911, 49 U.S.C. § 15(3), U.S.C.A. 15(3). 6 Commission's power routes limited provision 15(4), quoted margin,3 such action would require carrier itself. Under Section, required itself only where makes existing 'unreasonably long compared another which could otherwise established', special findings proposed needed order provide adequate, more efficient economic, transportation'.4 Establishment new Burlington, compel permit use Lenora-Concordia portion competition Pacific's Atchison. As result, establishment requested admittedly invokes restriction hauling 15(4). 7 parties dispute whether, record case, sufficient basis making (4) route. We do not reach because attempt make inquiry 15, finding already existence and, therefore, did 'established.' granted relief complainant sum local appellant (totaling 30 pounds) an 'unreasonable' Burlington. Appellant ordered Lenor exceeding charged Miss ouri like (19 cents). consider reasonableness nor either discriminatory. 278 I.C.C. 519, affirming Division 272 368. 8 sued District enjoin enforcement ground erred result order, effect, establishes complying requirements Act. A three-judge Court, one judge dissenting, sustained dismissed appellant's complaint. concluded 'evidence physical connection plus established some combination Omaha,' furnished evidentiary 101 F.Supp. 48, 52. here direct appeal. 28 U.S.C.(Supp. IV) 1253, 1253. 9 must reasonable but additional duty 'to carriers, just thereto'.5 Through be, ordinarily are, voluntary connecting carriers. Since 1906, year, Congress authorized 'provided satisfactory exists'.6 1910, first empowered alternate restricted adding forerunner present 15(4) prevent establishing requiring unless unreasonably route.7 10 effort limit construction impact short-hauling rejected States v. Co., 1929, 269, 133, 73 322. Following decision, asked delete completely restriction.8 Transportation 1940, refused eliminate hauling, adopted compromise under retained exception amended 15(4).9 11 Confronted consistent legislative refusal justifies existence. If correctly applied 'establish' relevant case. statutory route,' throughout Act,10 defined follows: 12 'A arrangement, express implied, railroads continuous carriage goods originating destination another. implies rate.' This rate' necessarily 'joint It merely aggregation separate fixed independently several forming route'; 'the locals' lower separately them transportation. Routes Rates, 163, 166.'11 13 decision cited summarized follows 21st Annual Report Congress: 14 railway formed Existence determined incidents circumstances shipment, billing, transfer another, collection division proportional junction basing points. These named regarded exclusive others tend carrier's course business respect shipments.'12 short, test whether participating hold themselves offering service. whatever form 16 servicehas Burlington.13 carriers' negatives sroute. fact does aid proving since presupposes connection. And showing publishes proves each complies publish lines.14 17 remaining urged support exists Omaha.15 1(4) Act,16 routes. conformity furnishes Atchison serve offers conjunction cannot we compliance causes lose right lines, guaranteed reject argument unwarranted distortion pattern. 18 States, having joined defense motion affirm filed memorandum conceding exist. continues logical conclusion theory advanced exist all country wherever rail connections available. never divert two ordering reduction Acceptance mean Congress' insistence protecting being evaded ommission chose alter order.17 Com mission, using employed weak solely assist meet financial needs, thereby evading prohibition Great Northern Ry. 562, 985. acceptance acts 1906 granting carefully unnecessary surplusage. efforts inconsistent meaning Act.18 question, accepted tests determining Accordingly, judgment dismissing reversed. Reversed seq., seq. See §§ 1(5)(a), 3(1), 1(5), 3(1). 'In (except section 3, except water line) railroad, consent, embrace substantially less entire railroad intermediate operated common management control therewith, lies termini (a) inclusion established, (b) finds transportation: Provided, however, That prescribing shall, so far foregoing limitations clauses (b), give preference originates traffic. ' 911—912, provisions discussed Pennsylvania Co. 1945, 323 588, 65 543, 544, 89 478. 1(4), 1(4). 34 584, 590. 216 538, 417, 608, held restrictions were judicially enforceable. 36 539, 552. S.Rep.No.355, 61st Cong., 2d Sess. 9—10 (1910). adopt narrow supra. Ann.Rep.I.C.C. (1929) 89; id. (1930) 97; (1931) 83—84, 121; (1932) 102. When Coordinator recommended eliminated, S.Doc.No.152, 73d 92—94 (1934), follow Coordinator's recommendation. (1937) 106; (1938) 122. 74th Congress, S.1636 H.R. 5364 introduced enact recommendatin, Senate bill reported favorably, S.Rep.No.1970, (1936), further taken. 75th similar bills introduced, S.1261 H.R.4341, S.Rep.No.404, 1st (1937), passed Senate, 81 Cong.Rec. 8603 76th again S.1085 H.R.3400. At time, extensive revision became 1940 considered. S.2009. Committee included over-all 'through-routes advocated Commission,' S.Rep.No.433, 6, 21—22 (1939), amended, Senate. House change emerged 10(b) 1940. 898, 911—912. Conference Reports: H.R.Rep.No.2016, 3d 64—65 (1940); H.R.Rep.No.2832, 70—71 (1940). 6(1), 15(3, 4, 8), 8); (Supp.IV) 5b(4), 5b(4). Louis Southwestern 1917, 245 136, 139, note 38 49, 50, 62 199. D.C.Del.1948, 921, 924, affirmed, 1949, 336 933, 69 750, 93 1093. 75—76 (1907). Compare Beaman Elevator Chicago N.W.R. 155 313 (1929), proof lading certain show representative business. 6(1). sec. indicated states up rates. need pause conflict routes' implied carriage, dependent charged. 11, supra, -, For example, Memphis westward Ft. Smith, Arkansas, beyond. Subiaco R.I.R. desirous obtaining traffic, Smith Rock Island Railroad, level then Smith. invalid infringing rights correct accomplished forbidden altering order—i.e., instead assumed Island, identical Virginia 1926, 658, 47 222, 71 463, inapposite found commercially closed discriminatory Similarly, T. S.F.R. 279 768, 494, 947, facts 3(1) cause protection substance discriminatory, much effect.

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