, 1875-05-07
1t Must Continue Paying Mary
land Iler Percentage.
Tho Question ut Issne Docs Not Relate TO
lntcr.stato Commerce.
Circular to Stock and Bondhollors Of tho
Milwaukee, l. st. Paul.


OF Maryland aud the baltimore i Ohio Na!toal
Company wero parties, Involved notna important
questions. Tho Stale OF Maryland, ~ Ion. ngo
| az 1885, in granting charter 10 tho Company to
build branch road to Washington City. stip,,-
lated that tho Company should pay to the Slate
ono'aftl' Of tic whule amount received fur tho
transportation Of passengers ovog tho branch
| road. This tax or exactton, waB paid until 1860,
"lon tho Company refusol to pay 1t any longer.
Tho case waH tried In tho courts OF Maryland
and Judgments glven for Tho Company. Tho
Court Of Appeals Of Maryland hold Tint, wiethor
tho original agreement wna constitutional or not,
tho Company had collected tho n,ouoy as tbs
sgcnt OF tho Slate, aud was bound to pny It ovar.
Thc suoremc Court oYorrulod thls doctrine IN
lnappicablo to tho case. and holds tint lilo
money collected waa that Of tho Company alons.
and not Of tho State.
Tho BupreEno Court then examined tho consti-
tutionallsy Of tllo agroement to pay over oac-
fifth Of tlle rcocipla from pnssousors aud tho
reasoning ia 40 applicable and has such direct
bearing upon questions which cngross tho At
scnt!on Of tho pooplo OF tho Weatorn States, that
| no give tho language Of tho Court 1.self:
This unlimited r1glt Of tho Btsto to Charge, Or to
an,hos,se oers to charge toll freight. or fare for
sss fro hs .pe fae shat hsy aaa IL a
works o. eou;trnesod under itu authority. i gives
ths4 1sss Il nss Isnt IL .1,s. S
that eompsn;asion That dlscretop IL sgisI4ti1o.-
soyesclBn discretion, .n IT, ils worry nature ia in
c against any abuse Of th.4 discretion resides II, thu
fesponabil!: e ths public Of those who for tbs tins
by specific constitutional provisions md tic courts
30 long, therefore, a. i. IA eonccded a. IT aees 10
u \ mus. 1s) tha. The power 70 charge for trans
postation, and tho alount Of tho charHcs abso-
uk4Iy within tHH Cpuffu nf ttA
ter what is done with tho money whethor II goes to
thu@ have ao tho coiera Of ita treasury without ba.
private ezen. q bu to ro, an rcsersss ss for il
! see the distinction between The Two caae..
In 9sr Judgment there Is no .ud distinction. II
stipulated that should have Ill the pasaenEur money
ana tlat hs corporation a1o!t ltaye only tao freight
t"s .ho ~ e an1 tho
tte feo thins i Ia simply tue exercise by tho State
q aasols sentro! ossr s property aud
commerce 6etreen Tic B!ae. Such ~ imposition,
o ases esn,lot nuke, hoea,s Il Would 10 rsss
tion Of commerce beresn tho States in . matter in
the1efore requiring The exclusive Legislation ot Con-
1ssSt ssss cE.na' VII. r. Mt'aa1 a 42 q
tr4ssportalion aui not In sty selae co,npcusuton
hosGos o. for the franchise entoJsl by tho corpora
I !. eften a!aieui. to dr.v thu nno eesveen th.
power Of TIE State and tho prohibitions Of tho Cpna.
absons control tAo corporations Of its avn erea
t!ol, md may impose upon shcn such conditions
ways and hrig~s and may Impose .aoh ozaction. for
thelF rse ~ It sses ut, on hs other hand 1t IL eou-
oonn,ercs nor d!srri.n.ste between its own Citizens
and thoss q other sat;s rrendicany to tho hitter.
- e1 s he vM " H.
tuition of ths Unltel statest ana IL therefore para
It j. a eonsses 1ssa t. ass s
tae sates, o. 70 Discrimination against tho cit!zous
ThIa u ol.en difficult to determine. In vter bov-
wsys bean conceed to Aavo liz own tersory its
m. regard the stipulation 10 queatto ~ nmontInE 10
either " tleae uncoas!tuiona acts. II IL not within
9anse raun u 10 doos sysry 9e., Or snss. tsa
imposed oa eorrorat'ona Or Eraoa' engaged IN that
tn hs.a ,p5 s ,Ss SSarSaa ,rs ssd atte
Inc STATE a. conceded to os.ets The rowcr to tax its
eorporsi,on ~ " every sa1 pos.a oa e.r1os
pulled 10 make upon it4 customers. 60 tha Slats has
~ undonosed power to exact bonus Tor tho grant Of
that bonus wi!i necessarily .eet tv charge upon ias
public Which tho douee Of lie f1anohIte vii Gs Obliged
'aed is nothing mors nos issa lin bonus @ n sni 10
long ~ Tie ratca OF transportation anll1oy discre
HoaarJ WIN thh 6Ases. such stipulation u clearly
or tho question Will bs asked, and pertnently
ssked. has ~ paollu no remedy against otorbaut
tion? We cannot entreiy shut oyna TO tho argu.
nlcnt ao aneoaptnant lut !. may aso be askcd. has
irslatta a1.rtea By liz stsamsp lines II sos MARI
sine transportation y almost a1c!uaively opopo-
roads. In their ea4s The only re;ief found Is
in tbs exsteace fear Of competition. Tho ssn}o
kind q relief should avail In reference to laud trana.
Whistler tn addition to this Congress, under tho |
poxsr 10 establish post"Foads, to regulate commerce
h.s authority to e4.abl!sh IND i.cs;s liz means u
country. and thus 70 ooan.sracs ts apprelanded In.
padtmsnts 5sferred to, IL qae!tion which AAs s1er-
sa: .1sst e g II. es i
ooE ths Cumberland Rold aud Other similar work., II
Ia asn a H.
communication with Ito rActac' Coa4t. But il IL TO
TO hnied no s,cas!oa will arise to rail- for anY
Gsld5 u supposed M % ut tna,1Su.l stses st H.
they hsye reservel or st possess tbs power uler
ssas in.situtlons shouid econs 70 eon.qifl 4sd sn
ready srsuts, 10 .cqairs y ..oiuss sonFol o4sr to 10
transportation of the country AnI should exutciao 1t
u 10 s pss ts
reief 6onu Ut tho ssatea situated ~ 10 put II
H. thstr lowsr thst of tes transportation es, to
Of tbs commsrcs Of tho country.
Should any such syaten. Of sxactops bo established
ih tesa aAtes materially impede tho 4ssske Of
rrodaee, nstehandse or trsve! from ol!e pars q e
country 10 ApotAer, II Il hardly u he suP1ssl tlst
tls casa IL o,ui4sus Ia tbs Constitution. Conn.,
mercisl!y. hia IL hut one country, aud tnescnrao b
tnssu al IT, parts should ba FREQ due colnpensa
sio1 to ths cartes interest will aow. TLs Il dsapl
ID by tle general welfare and u dictated w tho spirit
Of tue Const!tutioa 1t !c4a Any local interfersucs
With 1t will demand 3su ths Nationai Legislature ta
exercise Of Ill tho Just powers with whlrh II II
clothed.
but whether tho power to AFFORD ro!ieg from onssous
sx&csions for transportation dosa docs exist ia
the 0euer4l auyerlAents arc bouu4 TO Ylsa!n tho
poMtta and ttethgsttses Of tho Btaes
we'll a. th1se Of the Untea States whenever tGsy
Ato brought tsforo III for sdjldcAtloa, no matter
Whist may 10 tbs oanasquences- Aud In lie cass b,-
fore of opinion that thesa PoNeks have not
beea tfanscended.
Tbs following Il The dissoptlug opinion Of Nj. Jus
tca Miller: |
~ an Of opinion that ths statute Of Maryland 10.
qliruE tho rssosd company to Into lhs Treasury
nf the Btsto ouehtth Ut the amount ssce1yeu BY It
from paaasngals tie branch at tic Euad between
baltimore aud Warrington. eoutIed ~ II H. rxcl-
st!sy to passengoEs over that Draach 0 this roa was