Source: http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/320/685/case.html
Timestamp: 2013-12-10 12:48:26
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City of Yonkers v. United States - 320 U.S. 685 (1944) :: Justia US Supreme Court Center
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Case	U.S. Supreme CourtCity of Yonkers v. United States, 320 U.S. 685 (1944)City of Yonkers v. United StatesNo. 109Argued December 13, 14, 1943Decided January 3, 1944320 U.S. 685APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
1. In a proceeding before the Interstate Commerce Commission upon the application of a carrier, under § 1(18)-(20) of the Interstate Commerce Act, for a certificate authorizing abandonment of part of it lines, the jurisdiction of the Commission being challenged under § 1(22) of the Act -- which provides that the authority of the Commission to permit abandonment of line "shall not extend" to "street, suburban, or interurban electric railways, which are not operated as a part or parts of a general steam railroad system of transportation" -- the Commission should make jurisdictional findings; and, in the absence of such findings, an order granting the certificate should, on review, be set aide. P. 320 U. S. 689.
2. A proper regard for local interests in the management of local transportation facilities requires that federal power be exercised only where the statutory authority affirmatively appears. P. 320 U. S. 691.
The Interstate Commerce Act confers upon the Interstate Commerce Commission authority to issue certificates Page 320 U. S. 686 of public convenience and necessity allowing any carrier subject to the Act to abandon "all or any portion" of its line of railroad. Sec. 1(18), (19), (20), 49 U.S.C. § 1 (18), (19), (20), 24 Stat. 379, 41 Stat. 477, 478. But the Act also provides that that authority of the Commission "shall not extend" to the abandonment "of street, suburban, or interurban electric railways, which are not operated as a part or parts of a general steam railroad system of transportation." Sec. 1(22), 49 U.S.C. § 1(22).
The New York Central Railroad Co. filed an application with the Commission for a certificate under § 1(18-20) of the Act authorizing it to abandon an electric branch line extending 3.1 miles from Van Cortlandt Park Junction, New York City, to Getty Square, Yonkers, New York. This line was constructed in 1888 by a predecessor company for the purpose of developing suburban business between Yonkers and New York City. The line was electrified in 1926 with the hope that the suburban business would increase. It is now a physical part of the New York Central's Putnam Division, with which it connects at Van Cortlandt Park Junction. The Putnam Division, in turn, connects with the Hudson Division, which is part of the main line of the New York Central from New York City to Chicago. The Hudson Division follows the east bank of the Hudson River through Yonkers to Albany. The Putnam Division extends north from Sedgwick Avenue and West 161st Street, New York City, through Yonkers to Brewster, New York. The Putnam Division lies east of, and is roughly parallel with, the Hudson Division. In the City of Yonkers, the two divisions are about a mile apart. The electric line in question is between the Hudson and Putnam Divisions. Getty Square, its terminal in Yonkers, is .3 mile east of the Yonkers station on the Hudson Division. The New York Central system is, for the most part, operated by steam. Some portions of its lines are electrified, including the Hudson Division between Page 320 U. S. 687 New York City and Harmon, New York, and Harlem Division so far as White Plains, New York, the Putnam Division between Sedgwick Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park Junction, and the Yonkers line in question. With the exception noted, no part of the Putnam Division is electrified, its trains being operated by steam.
The Commission, though adverting to a number of the facts which we have mentioned, did not address itself to Page 320 U. S. 688 the question whether this electric branch line was or was not "operated as a part or parts of a general steam railroad system of transportation" within the meaning of § 1(22). The Commission did not undertake to review the evidence relevant to that issue. It made no findings respecting it. It authorized the abandonment on the grounds that continued operation would impose "an undue and unnecessary burden" upon the New York Central and upon interstate commerce. [Footnote 1] The Commission says that the question of its jurisdiction under § 1(22) was neither presented