Source: http://supreme.nolo.com/us/312/86/case.html
Timestamp: 2019-06-15 23:18:21
Document Index: 333144076

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 35', '§ 35', '§ 9', '§ 35', '§ 35', '§ 35']

UNITED STATES V. GILLILAND, 312 U. S. 86 - Volume 312 - 1941 - Full Text - US Supreme Court Center - USSC Cases - Nolo
US Supreme Court Center > Volume 312 > UNITED STATES V. GILLILAND, 312 U. S. 86 (1941) > Full Text
UNITED STATES V. GILLILAND, 312 U. S. 86 (1941)
"make or use or cause to be made or used any false bill, receipt,
Page 312 U. S. 90
voucher, roll, account, claim, certificate, affidavit, or deposition, knowing the same to contain any fraudulent or fictitious statement of entry in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States."
If the provision of § 35, under which the indictment is laid, be construed according to its literal and natural import, it is manifest that the statute covers the offenses
Page 312 U. S. 91
charged in the substantive counts. The affidavits and reports, as described in the indictment, containing statements alleged to be false and fraudulent, were made and used in a matter within the jurisdiction of a department and agency of the United States. Nor can the statute be deemed to be invalid because of indefiniteness. The affidavits and reports required had been sufficiently described, and the duty enjoined had been adequately defined. Any one presenting the required affidavits and reports to the Board set up under the pertinent regulations was suitably charged with notice of the consequence of knowingly and willfully including therein any false and fraudulent statements.
Before the amendment of 1934, § 35, after referring to the presentation of claims against the government which were known to be false or fraudulent, provided:
Page 312 U. S. 92
"or whoever shall knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal or cover up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or make or cause to be made any false or
Page 312 U. S. 93
fraudulent statements or representations, or make or use or cause to be made or used any false bill, receipt, voucher, roll, account, claim, certificate, affidavit, or deposition, knowing the same to contain any fraudulent or fictitious statement or entry, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States or of any corporation in which the United States of America is a stockholder; . . . shall be fined"
If the language of the amended section could be deemed ambiguous, the legislative history of the amendment would dispel any doubt as to the congressional purpose. Legislation had been sought by the Secretary
Page 312 U. S. 94
of the Interior to aid the enforcement of laws relating to the functions of the Department of the Interior and, in particular, to the enforcement of regulations under § 9(c) of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 [Footnote 7] with respect to the transportation of "hot oil." The Secretary's effort was due, as he stated, to the lack of a law under which prosecutions might be had "for the presentation of false papers." [Footnote 8] The bill which was passed by Congress, however, was amended in its final stages so as to require "intent to defraud the United States." [Footnote 9] This bill was returned by the President without his approval for the reason that the offense as defined was covered by existing law which provided for more severe punishment than that proposed by the bill. [Footnote 10] Another measure was then proposed by the Secretary of the Interior which would obviate these objections and accomplish the purpose of reaching the presentation of false papers in relation to "hot oil." A bill was then passed and approved which included, with other amendments of § 35, the provision now before us, omitting the limiting words which had been deemed to make the former provision applicable only to cases where pecuniary or property loss to the government had been caused. [Footnote 11] The report of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate stated that the amendment in question had been proposed by the Department of the Interior with the purpose "of reaching a large number of cases involving the shipment of "hot"
Page 312 U. S. 95
oil where false papers are presented in connection therewith." [Footnote 12]
Similarly lacking in merit is the contention that the Act of February 22, 1935, operated to repeal § 35 as amended in 1934, so far as the latter applied to affidavits, documents, etc., presented in relation to "hot oil." There was no express repeal, and there was no repugnancy in the subject matter of the two statutes which would justify an implication of repeal. The Act of 1934, with its provision as to false and fraudulent papers, has its place as a fitting complement to the Act of 1935, as well as to other statutes under which, in connection with the authorized
Page 312 U. S. 96
action of governmental departments or agencies, the presentation of affidavits, documents, etc., is required. There is no indication of an intent to make the Act of 1935 a substitute for any part of the provision in § 35. See Posadas v. National City Bank, 296 U. S. 497, 296 U. S. 503-504; United States v. Borden Company, 308 U. S. 188, 308 U. S. 198-199.
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