Case Name: THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY v. THE UNITED STATES
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1896-11-16
Citations: 32 Ct. Cl. 611
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 32
Pages: 611–611

Head Matter:
THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY v. THE UNITED STATES.
[27 C. Cls. R., 440; 164 U. S., 190.]
On the claimant’s Appeal.
The only question in this case is one of law — whether the claimant is or is not a land-grant road.
The court below decides:
1. The proviso in the Wisconsin Land-Grant Railroad Act 1856 (11 Stat. L.j 20, § 5), “that the United States mail shall he transported ov.er said roads, under the direction of the Post-Office Department, at such price as Congress may hy law direct,” is made a part of the Land-Grant Act 1864 (13 id., in 66, § 3), hy the provision that the lands now granted are granted “ upon the same terms and conditions as are contained in the act” 1856.
2. Canons of construction which may lead to the practical result that a public measure shall mean one thing when it is a bill before Congress and another when it is a statute before the judiciary are to be shunned. Neither should effect be given to a canon which will render a statutory condition wholly inoperative.
3. A land-grant road, which has no option, but must transport the mails for such compensation as Congress may by law direct, can not be misled by any misinterpretation of a statute on the part of the Postmaster-General. The rule in Duval’s Case (25 C. Cls. R,, 46,59), reaffirmed.
The decision of the court below is affirmed on the same grounds.

Opinion:
Mr. Chief Justice Fuller
delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court, November 16, 1896.