Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/269/67/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 06:09:53+00:00

Document:
1. A law authorizing suits in behalf of the state for the assertion of its title to property does not impair any contract rights that a party thus proceeded against may have in the subject matter. P. 269 U. S. 68.
2. Consequently an adjudication for the state is not reviewable in this Court by the defendant on the ground that the statute authorizing the suit violated the contract clause of the Constitution. Id.
Writ of error to review 156 Ga. 409 dismissed; certiorari denied.
Error to a judgment of the Supreme Court of Georgia affirming a decree denying the claim of the Telegraph Company to an easement of way in railroad property owned by the state, and enjoining the Company to remove its wires, poles, and structures. Certiorari also was applied for, and denied.
This is a suit by the State of Georgia and the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway for a decree enjoining the Western Union Telegraph Company from occupying or using any part of the right of way of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, a road built and owned by the state and let by it to the railway company that joins with it as a plaintiff in this suit. The telegraph company claims a perpetual right of way over the state owned road by virtue of three alleged contracts. The trial court decided that the telegraph company had no right in the premises, ordered it to remove its wires, poles, and structures from the plaintiff's right of way within twelve months from the final determination of the cause, and enjoined it from occupying or using the right of way after that time. This decree was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Georgia by an equally divided court. 156 Ga. 409. The case is brought here by writ of error on the ground that the statutes warranting these proceedings impaired the obligation of the alleged contracts. There is also a petition for a writ of certiorari filed out of caution, but the only federal question is that raised by the writ of error, and therefore the petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.
"the Commission is authorized and empowered to institute and prosecute, in the name and behalf of the State of Georgia, such suits and other legal proceedings as it may deem appropriate in protection of the state's interest, or the assertion of the state's title."
Acts Ga.1916, p. 146. Under this statute, the Commission, reciting that it was advised by its counsel that the occupation of the way by the telegraph company was without lawful authority, resolved that the counsel be instructed to institute suit for the removal of the encroachment in the name of the state, provided that the lessees should join in the suit and pay the costs. Thereupon this proceeding was begun.
statutory attempts to enlarge the obligations of the railway company under a grant from the state. The difference between that case and this is plain. A mere authority to test disputed rights by a suit does not impair the obligation of a contract upon which a defendant relies. When a claim is set up under a contract, the Constitution does not forbid litigation to decide whether one was made or what it means. St. Paul Gaslight Co. v. St. Paul, 181 U. S. 142, 181 U. S. 149; Mercantile Trust & Deposit Co. v. Columbus, 203 U. S. 311, 203 U. S. 321; Des Moines v. Des Moines City R. Co., 214 U. S. 179; South Covington & Cincinnati Street R. Co. v. Newport, 259 U. S. 97, 259 U. S. 99-100.
The statutes in question are still more remote from those which, while valid on their face, are construed by the state courts to apply to a matter not subject to state control. Dahnke-Walker Milling Co. v. Boundurant, 257 U. S. 282. Here, there was no attempt to control otherwise than by the result of a suit in which the telegraph company could set up all its alleged contracts and protect all its constitutional rights. The plaintiff in error shows no law impairing the obligation of contracts, and therefore no ground for coming here. See Cross Lake Shooting & Fishing Club v. Louisiana, 224 U. S. 632, 224 U. S. 639; Tidal Oil Co. v. Flanagan, 263 U. S. 444, 263 U. S. 452.

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