Case Name: LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD COMPANY v. CENTRAL STOCK YARDS COMPANY
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1909-01-25
Citations: 212 U.S. 132
Docket Number: No. 51
Parties: LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD COMPANY v. CENTRAL STOCK YARDS COMPANY.
Judges: I am authorized to say that Mr. Justice Harlan and Mr. Justice Moody concur in this dissent.
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 212
Pages: 132–152

Head Matter:
LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD COMPANY v. CENTRAL STOCK YARDS COMPANY.
ERROR TO THE COURT OP APPEALS OF THE STATE OP KENTUCKY..
No. 51.
Argued December 10, 11, 1908.
Decided January 25, 1909.
A provision in the constitution of a State that a carrier must deliver its cars to connecting carriers without providing adequate protection for their return, or compensation for their use, amounts to a taking of property without due process of law within the meaning of the Four teenth Amendment; and so held as to §§ 213, 214 of the constitution of Kentucky.
The law must save the rights of parties and not leave them to the discretion of the courts as such.
Where a general provision in the constitution of a State is void as taking property without due process or compensation, and compensation has not been provided by statute, the defect cannot be cured by the courts inserting provisions for compensation in judgments under such constitutional provision.
The duty of a carrier to accept goods tendered at its station does not require it to accept cars offered by competing roads at arbitrary points near its terminus for the purpose of úsing its terminal station. A law requiring the carrier so to do is unconstitutional as taking property without due process of law.
97 S. W. Rep. 778, reversed.
• The facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. Helm Bruce, with whom Mr. Henry L. Stone, Mr. James P. Helm and Mr. Kennedy Helm were on the brief, for plaintiff in error:
So far as concerns interstate shipments of live stock, the whole matter is concluded by the judgment of the Federal court in the former litigation in Central Stock Yards Co. v. Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co., 192 U. S. 568, and that judgment is a bar to the relief sought in this case as to such interstate shipments. Dupasseur v. Rocherau, 21 Wall. 130; Embry v. Palmer, 107 U. S. 3; Crescent City Live Stock Co. v. Butchers’ Union Slaughter House Co., 120 U. S. 141; Deposit Bank v. Frankfort, 191 U. S. 499; Cromwell v. Sac County, 94 U. S. 353; Smith v. Auld, 31 Kansas, 262.
Sec. 213, Kentucky constitution, as construed, by the highest state court, in so far' as it attempts to control interstate shipments, is void as attempting to regulate interstate- commerce. Central Stock Yards Co. v. Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co., 118 Fed. Rep. 120, and cases there cited; McNeil v. Southern Ry., 202 U. S. 543; Central of Georgia v. Murphy, 196 U. S. 194; Houston &c. Ry. Co. v. Mayes, 201 U. S. 321.
Sec. 213, as so construed, in requiring plaintiff in error to deliver up possession of its cars to another railroad company, deprives the former of its .property without due process of law. McGehee on Due Process of Law, 291; Mo. Pac. Ry. Co. v. Nebraska, 164 U. S. 403; Minnesota v. Chicago &c. R. Co., 36 Minnesota, 402; Chicago, Burlington &c. Ry. Co. v. Chicago, 166 U. S. 266; Lankford v. County of Ramsay, 16 Minnesota, 373, 375. The following cases, cited in opinion of court below, discussed and distinguished: Peoria &c. Ry. Co. v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 109 Illinois, 135; S. C., 50 Am. Rep. 605; Burlington &c. Ry. Co. v. Dey, 82 Iowa, 312; S. C., 12 L. R. A. 436; S. C., 31 Am. St. Rep. 477; Jacobson v. Wisconsin Ry. Co., 71 Minnesota, 519; S. C., 70 Am. Rep. 358.
Sec. 213, as so construed, in requiring plaintiff in error to devote its terminals in Louisville to'the use of other railroads and to mere local transfers not connected with the traffic of plaintiff in error, deprives it of its property without due process of law. Atlantic Coast Line Ry. Co. v. North Carolina Corporation Commission, 206 U. S. 1; Wisconsin &c. R. R. Co. v. Jacobson, 179 U. S. 287; Martin v. District of Columbia, 205 U. S. 135.
Mr. Joseph C. Dodd, with whom Mr. John L. Dodd was on the brief, for defendant in error:
The provisions of §§ 213, 214, Kentucky constitution, and §§ 818, 819, Kentucky General Statutes, as construed by the highest court of that State, do not deny the plaintiff in error any Federal right or privilege. L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Central Stock Yards Co., 30 Ky. Law Rep. 18, 39; Lake Shore &c. R. R. Co. v. Smith, 173 U. S. 697; Minn. & St. L. Ry. Co. v. Minn. R. R. & Warehouse Co., 186 U. S. 261; Penn. R. R. Co. v. Miller, 132 U. S. 75; Louisville Water Co. v. Clark, 143 U. S. 1; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Kentucky, 161 U. S. 677; S. C., 183 U. S. 513; M., K. & T. Ry. Co. v. Hughes, 169 U. S. 613; Penn. R. R. Co. v. Hughes, 191 U. S. 489; Houston & Tex. Cent. R. R. Co. v. Mayes, 201 U. S. 321; Chicago, Milwaukee &c. Ry. Co. v. Solan, 169 U. S. 137, 138; Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co. v. Becker, 32 Fed. Rep. 849; Iowa v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co., 33 Fed. Rep. 391, 395; Charter of Louisville Railway Transfer Company, Appendix, Part III, see § 5.
There is also a contract between the city- of Louisville, the Louisville Railway Transfer Co. and the plaintiff in error. Sherlock v. Alling, 92 U. S. 99; Nashville, C. & St. L. R. R. Co. v. Alabama, 128 U. S. 96; Hennington v. Georgia, 163 U. S. 299; N. Y., N. H. & H. Ry. Co. v. New York, 165 U. S. 628.
The police power of the State cannot be bargained away.-or. contracted against and when, within such power, a dyty .of .a. common carrier -is required by constitutipnal or statutory provision the question of inconvenience or expense.is immaterial. 4 Debates of Kentucky Const. Convention, 5118-5162; Butchers’ & Drovers’ Stock Yards Co. v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 67 Fed. Rep. 36; Covington Stock Yards Co. v. Keith, 139 U. S. 128; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Kentucky, 108 Kentucky, 628; S. C., 26 Ky. Law Rep. 597; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Pittsburgh & Kanawha Coal Co., 111 Kentucky, 960; S. C., 23 Ky. Law Rep. 1318; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Williams, 95 Kentucky, 199; S. C., 15 Ky. Law Rep. 548; Burlington, C. R. & N. R. R. Co. v. Dey, 82 Iowa, 336; Peoria & P. N. Ry. Co. v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 109 Illinois, 139; Jacobson v. Wisconsin, Minn. & P. R. R. Co., 71 Minnesota, 532; Michigan C. R. R. Co. v. Smithson, 45 Michigan, 221; McCoy v. C., I., St. L. & C. R. R. Co., 13 Fed. Rep. 3; Coe v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 3 Fed. Rep. 778; Interstate Stock Yards Co. v. Railroad Companies, 99 Fed. Rep. 472; L., E. & St. L. Consolidated Ry. Co., v. Wilson, 18 L. R. A. 105; Railroad Company v. Goodridge, 149 U. S. 680; Inman v. St. L. S. W. Railway Co., 37 S. W. Rep. 37; T. & S. F. R. R. Co. v. Denver & N. O. R. R. Co., 110 U. S. 667; State v. Wabash, St. L. & P. R. Co., 83 Missouri, 144; Mo. Pac. Railway Co. v. Wichita Grocery Co., 40 Pac. Rep.. 899; S. C., 2 Elliott on Railroads, §§ 1432, 1440; Penna. R. R. Co. v. Jones, 155 U. S. 333; Daner v. N. Y. &c. R. R. Co., 50 How. 428; Little Miami R. R. Co. v. Washburn, 22 Ohio, 330; Parker v. C. S. B. Q. R. R. Co., 56 Connecticut, 137; Bosworth v. Chicago Ry. Co., 37 Fed. Rep. 72; Railroad Co. v. Manufacturing Co., 16 Wall. 318; Vincent v. C. & A. R. R. Co., 49 Illinois, 41; Coe v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 3 Fed. Rep. 778; In re Patterson, 3 Fed. Rep. 89; North v. Transportation Co., 146 Massachusetts, 315; M. S. & I. R. R. Co. v. Day, 20 Illinois, 375; Beers v. Wabash, St. L. & P. R. R. Co., 34 Fed. Rep. 244; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Odell, 33 S. W. Rep. 611; Seasongood &c. Co. v. Tenn. & Ohio Transp. Co., 21 Ky. Law Rep. 1144; McNeill v. Southern Ry. Co., 202 U. S. 445; Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Co. v. North Carolina Corp. Com., 206 U. S. 1.
Sec. 4 of the contract of plaintiff in error with the Bourbon Stock Yards to deliver to it all live stock brought over plaintiff in error’s lines to Louisville, is in contravention of the laws of Kentucky, against public policy and void, and in' ao event relieves plaintiff in error of the duty imposed by law to receive, switch, and deliver such stock, destined to the Central Stock Yards, to connecting carriers for delivery at said-Central Stock Yards. L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Central Stock Yards Co., 30 Ky. Law Rep. 18, 39; Bedford-Bowling Green Stone Co. &c. v. Oman &c., 115 Kentucky, 369; S. C., 24 Ky. Law Rep. 2274; L. & N R. R. Co. v. Pittsburgh & Kanawha Coal Co., 111 Kentucky, 960; McCoy v. C. & I., St. L. C. R. R. Co., 13 Fed. Rep. 5; Munn v. Illinois, 94 U. S. 139; Commonwealth v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 27 Ky. Law Rep. 497; Anderson v. Jett, 89 Kentucky, 375; S. C., 11 Ky. Law Rep. 570; Peoria & R. I. R. R. Co. v. C. V. M. Co., 68 Illinois, 489; Inter Ocean Co. v. Associated Press, 184 Illinois, 448; Chicago & N. M. Ry. Co. v. People, 56 Illinois, 365; Sanford v. Railroad Co., 24 Pa. St. 382; State v. Hartford & N. H. Ry. Co., 29 Connecticut, 538; Coe v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 3 Fed. Rep. 778.
The shipper and owner of property, even after the delivery thereof to a common carrier, and after the bill of lading has been signed and delivered, or after the. goods have passedirom the possession- of the initial carrier into that -of a succeeding one, may either stop the same in transit or change the destination thereof. Hutchinson on Common Carriers (2d ed.), §§ 134, 337; Sutherland v. Second National Bank of Peoria, 78 Kentucky, 250; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Hartwell, 99 Kentucky, 436; Strahorn v. Union Stock Yards & Transfer Co., 43 Illinois, 424; Benjamin on Sales, § 830; Smith’s Mercantile Law, Pomeroy’s ed., § 634; Michigan Southern & Northern Ind. Ry. Co. v. Day, 20 Illinois, 375; Lewis v. Galena & Chicago U. R. R. Co., 40 Illinois, 281; London & N. W. Ry. Co. v. Bartles, 7 Hurlston & Norman Reps. 400; Scothorn v. Railway Co., 8 Exch. Rep. 345; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Kentucky, 183 U. S. 513; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Williams, 95 Kentucky, 199; Minn, & St. Louis Ry. Co. v. Minn. R. & W. Co., 186 U. S. 261; Munn v. Illinois, 94 U. S. 113; Davidson v. New Orleans, 96 U. S. 97; Railroad Commission Cases, 116 U. S. 307; Mobile County v. Kimball, 102 U. S. 691; Gibbons v. Ogden, 9 Wheat. 1; Cooley v. Board of Wardens of Port of Philadelphia, 12 How. 299; Lake Shore & N. S. R. Co. v. Ohio, 173 U. S. 285; Hennington v. Georgia, 163 U. S. 299; Livingston & Fulton v. Van Ingen, 9 Johns. 507; Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Texas, 105 U. S. 460; Robbins v. Shelby Tax District, 120 U. S. 489; Hopkins v. United States, 171 U. S. 578; N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. v. New York, 165 U. S. 628; N. Y., L. E. & W. Ry. Co. v. Pennsylvania, 158 U. S. 431; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Kentucky, 161 U. S. 677; S. C., 183 U. S. 503; Henderson Bridge Co. v. Kentucky, 166 U. S. 150; S. C., 183 U. S. 517; Penna. R. R. Co. v. Miller, 132 U. S. 75; Louisville Water Co. v. Clark, 143 U. S. 1; Jones v. Brim, 165 U. S. 180; Sherlock v. Alling, 93 U. S. 99; Morgan’s L. & T. R. & S. S. Co. v. Louisiana State Board of Health, 118 U. S. 455; Smith v. Alabama, 124 U. S. 465; Nashville, C. & St. L. R. Co. v. Alabama, 128 U. S. 96; Mo., K. & T. Ry. Co. v. Haber, 169 U. S. 613.
The decisions in.the cases of Central Stock Yards Co. v. Louisville and Nashville R. R. Co., 192 U. S. 568; S. C., 118 Fed. Rep. 113, are not conclusive of the rights of-the parties hereto. Smith v. Auld, 31 Kansas, 262; Black on Judgments (2d ed.), § 733; Cromwell v. Sac County, 94 U. S. 351; Fairfield v. Gallatin County, 100 U. S. 47; Polk’s Lessee v. Wendess, 9 Cranch, 87; Nesmith v. Sheldon, 7 How. 812; Walker v. State Harbor Commission, 17 Wall. 648; Elmdorf v. Taylor, 10 Wheat. 152; Green v. Neal’s Lessee, 6 Pet. 291; Leffingwell v. Warren, 2 Black, 599; Sumner v. Hicks, 2 Black, 532; Olcott v. The Supervisors, 16 Wall. 678; State Railroad Tax Cases, 92 U. S. 575; Rowan &c. v. Runnels, 5 How. 134; Suydam v. Williamson, 24 How. 427; In re Duncan, 139 U. S. 499; Leeper v. Texas, 139 U. S. 462; Bucher v. Railroad Co., 125 U. S. 555; Louisville &c. Ry. Co. v. Mississippi, 133 U. S. 587; Beauregard v. New Orleans, 18 How. 499; Western Union Tel. Co. v. James, 162 U. S. 650; Wisconsin &c. Ry. Co. v. Jacobson, 179 U. S. 287; Lake Shore &c. Ry. Co. v. Ohio, 173 U. S. 285; Smith v. Alabama, 124 U. S. 465; Sherlock v. Alling, 93 U. S. 99; Minneapolis &c. Ry. Co. v. Minn. R. R. & W. Co., 186 U. S. 257; Chicago &c. R. R. Co. v. Solan, 169 U. S. 133.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Holmes
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is a proceeding in equity prosecuted in the courts of Kentucky, similar in the main to one in the United States courts between the same parties,.that was decided by the Circuit Court of Appeals in 118 Fed. Rep. 113, and by this court in 192 U. S. 568. The latter was brought by the Central Stock Yards Company, a Delaware corporation, against the Railroad Company,., a Kentucky corporation, to compel it to receive live stock tendered to it outside the State of Kentucky for the Central Stock Yards station, and to deliver the same at a point of physical connection between its road and the Southern Railway, for ultimate delivery to or at the Central Stock Yards. The Central Stock Yards station is at the Central Stock Yards, just outside the boundary line of Louisville, Kentucky, on the Southern Railway Company's line, and by agreement between the two companies the Central Stock Yards were the live stock depot for the purpose of handling live stock to and from Louisville on the Southern Railway. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad, by a similar arrangement, had made the . Bourbon Stock Yards its live stock depot for Louisville, and declined to receive live stock billed to the Central Stock Yards, or to deliver live stock destined to Louisville elsewhere than at the Bourbon Yards. There were physical connections between the Louisville and Nashville and the Southern tracks at a point between the two stock yards which was passed by the greater portion of the live stock carried by the Louisville and Nashville Company, and at another point that would be more convenient for delivery, a little further to the northward. In order to deliver as prayed the Louisville and Nashville would have been compelled either to build chutes or to hand over, its cars to the Southern Railway. The right was' claimed under the Interstate Commerce Act of February 4, 1887, c. 104, § 3,24 Stat. 379, and the constitution of Kentucky, especially § 213, p. 147, Ky. Stats. Carroll, 1903. The Circuit Court of Appeals and this court agreed that the right was not conferred by the former act. As to the constitution of Kentucky, .the Circuit Court of Appeals held that if it could be given any such construction as to make it purport to give the plaintiff a right to the relief sought, it would be making a void attempt to regulate interstate commerce. This court, on the general principle that a construction was to be adopted, if possible, that would save the instrument from constitutional objections, followed the suggestion of the Circuit Court of Appeals, read the section as not requiring the railroad to deliver its own cars, and affirmed a decree dismissing .the bill.
The material sections of the constitution of Kentucky are as follows:
"Sec. 213. All railroad, transfer, belt lines and railway', bridge companies, organized .under the laws of Kentucky, or operating, maintaining or controlling any railroad, transfer, belt lines or bridges,' or doing a railway business in this State, shall receive, transfer, deliver and switch empty or loaded cars, and shall move, transport, receive, load or unload all the freight in ear loads or less quantities, coming to or going from any railroad, transfer, belt line, bridge or siding thenon," with equal promptnéss and despatch, and without any discrimination as to charges, preference, drawback or rebate in favor of any person, corporation, consignee or consignor, in any matter as to payment, transportation, handling or delivery; and shall so receive, deliver, transfer and transport all freight as above set forth, from and to any point where there is a physical connection between the tracks of said companies. But this section shall not be construed as requiring any such common carrier to allow the use of its tracks for the trains of another engaged in like business.
"Sec. 214. No' railway, transfer, belt line or railway bridge company shall make any exclusive or preferential contract or arrangement with any individual, association or corporation, for the receipt, transfer, delivery, transportation, handling, care or custody of any freight, or for the conduct of any business'as a common carrier."
The present case was begun by the defendant in error earlier than the one just stated, and sought similar relief without regard to the place where the stock was received. A preliminary injunction was issued, and soon led to proceedings for contempt on the charge that it had been disobeyed. The court of first instance held that the injunction applied to an interstate shipment when the owner had sought to bill it to the Southern Railway at Louisville for delivery to the Central Stock Yards and had been refused, and thereafter, at the.break-up yards, so called, of the Louisville and Nashville road, by giving notice to change the destination, had- attempted to bring about the desired result. This decision was reversed by the Court of Appeals, Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co. v. Miller, 112 Kentucky, 464, and thereupon the beforementioned bill in the United States court was brought, to deal with interstate shipments, with a prayer, also, that the railroad be required to recognize changes of destination; while the present proceeding was kept on foot to cover all that it lawfully might. At a later date the petition, as it is called, in this case, was amended so as to pray that the plaintiff in error might be required', Upon tender by the Southern Railway, to receive, at a point of physical connection with the Southern Railway, live stock from the Central Stock Yards, and to deliver the same to the consignee at the Bourbon Stock Yards or any depot on its line.
After the decision in the other case the Railroad Company asked leave to plead the decree as a bar tp so much of the relief in the present action as relates to stock shipped or desired to -be shipped from points outside of Kentucky to.points within Kentucky. The trial court, being of opinion that the decree would not be a bar, refused leave, but ordered the proposed amendment to be made part of the record for the purpose of' appeal. After final hearing a judgment was entered for the plaintiff, the defendant in error, granting all the prayers of the bill. The Railroad Company was ordered (1) to receive at its stations in Kentucky, and " to bill, transport, transfer, switch and deliver in the customary way," at some point of physical connection with the tracks of the Southern Railway, and particularly at one described, all live stock or other freight consigned to the Central Stock Yards or to persons doing business, there. (2-) It was ordered further, to transfer, switch and deliver to the Southern Railway at the said point of connection, "any and all live stock or other freight coming over its lines in Kentucky consigned" to the Central Stock Yards or persons doing business there. (3) It was ordered further, to receive at the same point and to "transfer, switch, transport and deliver all live stock" consigned to any one at the Bourbon Stock Yards, "the shipment of which originates at the Central Stock Yards;" with proviso requiring pay or tender of proper charges for its services, whenever demanded, at the time such live stock or other freight is offered. (4). Finally the Railroad Company was required, whenever requested by the consignor, consignee, or owner of the stock, " at any of the stations, and particularly at its break-up yards in. South Louisville, Kentucky," to recognize their right to change the destination, and upon payment of the full Louisville freight rate and proper presentation of the bill of lading duly indorsed, the railroad was required to change the destination and deliver at a point of connection with the' Southern Railway tracks for delivery by the latter to the Central Stock Yards. This judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeals' whereupon this writ of error was brought. The points relied upon are that due credit was denied to the decree by the United States court; that if the constitution of Kentucky purports to authorize the requirement in the judgment as to delivery of shipments from outside the State, it attempts to regulate commerce among the States; that if the same instrument authorizes the requirement in the judgment that the Railroad Company, should give up possession of its cars -to the Southern Railway Company it attempts to deprive the railroad of its property without due process of law; and that the. same constitutional objection applies to the attempt to make the railroad do switching work over its terminal property in Louisville between two points in the city when the shipment was neither coming into the city nor going out of the city over the lines of the plaintiff in error's road.
The Court of Appeals found itself unable to pass over the bridge laid by this court in its construction of the state constitution, § 213. It held that that section did purport to require the plaintiff in error to deliver its own cars, under the circumstances of the case, to the extent of the judgment that it affirmed. It declined to follow the decision of this court that for the purposes of the case before it, the two stock yards stood on the same footing as if they were the stations of two railroads placed side by side. It decided that the state.constitution as construed by it did not attempt to regulate commerce among the States, and, no doubt for that reason, disregarded the former decree between the same parties, thinking, we presume, that, as' the former bill dealt only with interstate commerce, the decree could have no binding effect as against a judgment which it •deemed to affect only matters within the control of the State.
We are surprised that the Court of Appeals' should have decided that the judgment appealed from did_not deal with commerce among the States. The portion that we have numbered (2) ordered a delivery to the Southern.Railway of all live stock and freight coming over its lines consigned to the Central Stock Yards, and this includes, of course, that coining from other' States. The same is to be said of the requirement in (4) as to change of destination. When the live stock reached the point of connection or the break-up yards the carriage was not at an end, as appears by the very intent of the judgment, and as was decided in McNeill v. Southern Ry. Co., 202 U. S. 543, 559. Moreover, that decision cited and approved the language of the Circuit Court of Appeals, to which we have referred already, in the case between these parties, to the effect that if the Kentucky constitution could be construed as the state Court of Appeals has construed it, it would be attempting what it could not do. Ibid., 562. We think discussion of this part of the case unnecessary, and we should have to'hold the provision of the state constitution void as applied, if we followed the construction given to it by the state court; but we are relieved of that necessity by the fact that those portions of the judgment of which we are speaking are invalid by reason of the previous adjudication of the United States .court.
As we have indicated, the decree was pleaded as a bar only "to so much of the claim for relief as relates to stock shipped or transported, or desired to be shipped or transported from points outside of Kentucky to points within Kentucky." It was not argued that a decision that certain words in a constitution have a certain meaning, in a suit founded upon them, is conclusive as between the same parties in another suit upon the same words, for the same purpose, except that one is to enforce them with regard to matters outside the control of the State, and the other to enforce them with regard to matters within its control. Therefore we express no opinion upon the point. It was argued, howéver, that the requirement that the plaintiff in error should deliver its own cars to another road was void under the Fourteenth Amendment as an unlawful taking of its property. In view of the well known and necessary prac-. tice of connecting roads, we are far from saying that a valid law could not be passed to prevent the cost and loss of time entailed by needless transshipment or breaking bulk, in .case of an unreasonable refusal by a carrier to interchange cars with another for through traffic. We do not pass upon the question. It is enough to observe that such a law perhaps ought to be so limited as to respect the paramount needs of the carrier concerned, and at least could be sustained only with full and adequate regulations for his protection from the loss or undue detention of cars, and for securing due compensation for their use. The constitution of Kentucky is simply a universal undiscriminating requirement, with no adequate provisions such as we have described. The want cannot be cured by inserting them in judgments under it. The law itself must save the parties' rights, and not leave them to the discretion of the courts as such. See Security Trust & Safety Vault Co. v. Lexington, 203 U. S. 323, 333; Roller v. Holly, 176 U. S. 398, 409; Connecticut River R. R. Co. v. County Commissioners, 127 Massachusetts, 50, 57; Ash v. Cummings, 50 N. H. 591; Moody v. Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West R. R. Co., 20 Florida, 597; Ex parte Martin, 13 Arkansas, 198; St. Louis v. Hill, 116 Missouri, 527. It follows that the requirement of the state constitution cannot stand alone under the Fourteenth Amendment, and that the judgment in this respect also, being based upon it, must fall. We do not mean, however, that the silence of the constitution might not be remedied by an act of legislature or a regulation by a duly authorized subordinate body if such legislation should be held consistent with the state constitution by the state court. We should add that the requirement in the first part of the judgment, which we have been discussing, is open to the objections mentioned in the former decision so far as it practically requires.the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to deliver cars at Louisville elsewhere than at its own terminus. 192 U. S. 570, 571. .
There remains for consideration only the third division of the judgment, which requires the plaintiff in error to receive at the cofmecting point, and to switch, transport and deliver all live stock consigned from the Central Stock Yards to any one at the Bourbon Stock Yards. This also is based upon the sec tions of the constitution that have been quoted. If the principle is sound, every road into Louisville, by making a physical connection with the Louisville and Nashville, can get the use of.its costly terminals and make it do the switching necessary to that end, upon simply paying for the service of carriage. The duty of a carrier to accept goods tendered at its station does not extend to the acceptance of cars offered to it at an arbitrary point near its terminus by a competing road, for the purpose of reaching and using its terminal station. To require such an acceptance from a railroad is to take its property in a very effective sense, and cannot be justified, unless the railroad' holds that property subject to greater liabilities than those incident to its calling alone. • The Court of Appeals did not put its decision upon any supposed special liability, but upon the broad ground that the state constitution requires it and lawfully may require it of a common carrier by rail. Therefore the judgment must be reversed.
. Judgment reversed.