Case Name: H. KEMPNER, Galveston Cotton Company and Texas Cotton Industries, Petitioners, v. FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION (formerly Federal Maritime Board) and United States of America, Respondents, Gulf/Mediterranean Ports Conference et al., The Common Carriers by Water, Members of the Far East Conference, Intervenors
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1963-01-10
Citations: 313 F.2d 586
Docket Number: No. 16658
Parties: H. KEMPNER, Galveston Cotton Company and Texas Cotton Industries, Petitioners, v. FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION (formerly Federal Maritime Board) and United States of America, Respondents, Gulf/Mediterranean Ports Conference et al., The Common Carriers by Water, Members of the Far East Conference, Intervenors.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 313
Pages: 586–588

Head Matter:
H. KEMPNER, Galveston Cotton Company and Texas Cotton Industries, Petitioners, v. FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION (formerly Federal Maritime Board) and United States of America, Respondents, Gulf/Mediterranean Ports Conference et al., The Common Carriers by Water, Members of the Far East Conference, Intervenors.
No. 16658.
United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit.
Argued Sept. 26, 1962.
Decided Jan. 10, 1963.
Petition of Intervenors Gulf/Mediterranean Ports Conference, et al. for Rehearing En Banc Denied En Banc on Feb. 15, 1963.
Petition of Intervenor Members of the Far East Conference for Rehearing En Banc Denied En Bane on Feb. 26, 1963.
Mr. Shelby Fitze, Washington, D. C., with whom Messrs. Delmar W. Holloman and James T. Welch, Washington, D. C., were on the brief, for petitioners.
Mr. Paul D. Page, Jr., Atty., Federal Maritime Commission, with whom Mr. James L. Pimper, Gen. Counsel, Federal Maritime Commission, was on the brief, for respondent Federal Maritime Commission. Messrs. Robert E. Mitchell, Deputy Gen. Counsel, Federal Maritime Commission, and Thomas D. Wilcox, Atty., Federal Maritime Commission, also entered appearances for respondent Federal Maritime Commission.
Mr. Joel E. Hoffman, Atty., Dept, of Justice, of the bar of the Court of Appeals of New York, pro hac vice, by special leave of court, with whom Mr. Irwin A. Seibel, Atty., Dept. of Justice, was on the brief, for respondent United States.
Mr. Edward S. Bagley, New Orleans, La., of the bar of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, pro hac vice, by special leave of court, for intervenors Gulf/Mediterranean Ports Conference and others. Mr. Joseph M. Rault, New Orleans, La., was on the brief for intervenors Gulf/Mediterranean Ports Conference and others.
Mr. Elkan Turk, Jr., New York City, with whom Mr. Elkan Turk, New York City, was on the brief, for intervenors The Common Carriers by Water, Members of the Far East Conference.
Before Wilbur K. Miller, Danaher and Wright, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The Federal Maritime Board denied reparations sought by the petitioners because of the imposition of dual rates said to have been unlawful. It held that, since it had not disapproved the rates, it had in effect approved them; and that, in any event, the so-called Moratorium Act protected the carriers from liability which accrued before its passage.
The discriminatory rates here involved were not approved by the regulatory agency merely because it was silent concerning them, and the rates were therefore illegal. We think, too, that the Moratorium Act is prospective only and so does not relieve an offender from liability for reparations arising from a violation which occurred prior to its enactment.
Reversed and remanded to the Commission for assessment of reparations.
. The agency has gone through a succession of names. Since 1961 it has been called the Federal Maritime Commission.
. The Moratorium Act, 72 Stat. 574, amended Section 14 of the Shipping Act of 1916, 39 Stat. 733, 46 U.S.C. § 812.