Case Name: JAMES H. COCHNOWER v. THE UNITED STATES
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1919-01-13
Citations: 54 Ct. Cl. 189
Docket Number: 
Parties: JAMES H. COCHNOWER v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 54
Pages: 189–189

Head Matter:
JAMES H. COCHNOWER v. THE UNITED STATES.
[51 C. Cls., 461; 248 U. S., 405.]
Judgment was rendered in favor of the defendants in the court below. On appeal the judgment was reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings. The Supreme Court decided:
Primarily, the creation of offices and the assignment of their compensation is a legislative function; and the fact and the extent of any delegation of it must clearly appear.
The act of March 4, 1909, chapter 314, 35 Statutes, 1065, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury “to increase and fix” the compensation of inspectors of customs, as he may think advisable, etc., did not empower him to decrease their salaries.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice McKenna
delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court January 13, 1919.
Order of the Supreme Coure restating judgment entered April 21, 1919, 249 U. S., 589.