What follows is an opinion from the Supreme Court of the United States. Your task is to identify the federal agency involved in the administrative action that occurred prior to the onset of litigation. If the administrative action occurred in a state agency, respond "State Agency". Do not code the name of the state. The administrative activity may involve an administrative official as well as that of an agency. If two federal agencies are mentioned, consider the one whose action more directly bears on the dispute;otherwise the agency that acted more recently. If a state and federal agency are mentioned, consider the federal agency. Pay particular attention to the material which appears in the summary of the case preceding the Court's opinion and, if necessary, those portions of the prevailing opinion headed by a I or II. Action by an agency official is considered to be administrative action except when such an official acts to enforce criminal law. If an agency or agency official "denies" a "request" that action be taken, such denials are considered agency action. Exclude: a "challenge" to an unapplied agency rule, regulation, etc.; a request for an injunction or a declaratory judgment against agency action which, though anticipated, has not yet occurred; a mere request for an agency to take action when there is no evidence that the agency did so; agency or official action to enforce criminal law; the hiring and firing of political appointees or the procedures whereby public officials are appointed to office; attorney general preclearance actions pertaining to voting; filing fees or nominating petitions required for access to the ballot; actions of courts martial; land condemnation suits and quiet title actions instituted in a court; and federally funded private nonprofit organizations.

Opinion:
ALCOA STEAMSHIP CO., INC. v. UNITED STATES.
No. 271.
Argued November 16, 1949.
Decided December 19, 1949.
Melville J. France argued the cause and filed a brief for petitioner.
Samuel D. Slade argued the cause for the United States. With him on the brief were Solicitor General Perlman, Assistant Attorney General Morison and Joseph W. Bishop.
Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed by L. de Grove Potter and Clement C. Rinehart for the Waterman Steamship Corporation, and by Harold S. Deming for the Stockard Steamship Corporation.
Mr. Justice Reed
delivered the opinion of the Court.
It is a principle of American maritime law that ocean carrier freight charges are not earned unless and until the goods are delivered to destination. But contractual provisions establishing the shipper’s liability for freight regardless of actual delivery have been uniformly held valid, and have become common stipulations in carriers’ bills of lading. Shipments of government property are made subject to the conditions of the carrier’s usual contract of carriage unless the government standard form bill of lading specifically provides otherwise. At bar is the single question of contract interpretation whether a carrier’s “Goods or Vessel lost or not lost” provision survives the terms of the government standard form bill of lading. Has the government bill provided against liability for freight charges on public goods lost at sea?
On June 13, 1942, petitioner’s ship, S. S. Gunvor, shipped a cargo of lumber at Mobile, Alabama, bound for Trinidad under a government form bill of lading. On her first day out she was torpedoed by enemy submarine. Ship and cargo were a total loss. In spite of the carrier’s failure to deliver the shipment, the bill of lading was surrendered to it, and its claim for freight on the lost cargo was paid by the War Department on September 15, 1942. On audit, however, the Comptroller General disallowed the payment on the ground that the freight had not been earned, and the sum was offset against other claims admittedly owing to petitioner. Petitioner instituted this suit under the Tucker Act in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to recover the freight claimed. The case in no way concerns liability for the value of the cargo lost. Reversing the conclusion of the District Court, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found in the provisions of the standard government form bill of lading a “carefully devised plan” to pay freight charges only if the shipment actually arrives at destination. We granted certiorari because determination of the issue raised here will guide adjustment of a large body of similar claims now pending. 338 U. S. 813.
Review of existing case law and prevailing commercial usage respecting the earning of freight provides no assistance in solving the narrow problem raised by the specific contract now before us. Further, in view of our conclusion in the case, we need not decide whether we may properly consider the Government’s extensive argument regarding past administrative practice, nor rule upon its relevance or weight. As to petitioner’s citation to two instances where, allegedly, claims similar to this were honored by the Comptroller General, we agree with the court below that a case of consistent administrative practice has not been made out, if indeed such practice is a relevant consideration. We therefore deal only with the bare words of the contract.
A brief statement of the general scheme of payment of carrier charges under the government bill of lading will facilitate discussion of the niceties in the draftsmanship. The standard form bill of lading is filled out by the consignor at the time of shipment, signed by the carrier’s agent and transmitted to the consignee. The consignee, upon receipt of the goods shipped, endorses the consignee’s certificate printed on the bill and hands the bill over to the carrier. The carrier then submits to the appropriate agency the endorsed bill and a standard form government voucher in support of its claim for the freight charges. Setting forth the details of this disbursing machinery, there are printed on the reverse of the bill of lading “General Conditions and Instructions,” clearly referred to upon the face of the bill.
“Condition 2” of the government bill provides the initial basis for the controversy here:
“Unless otherwise specifically provided or otherwise stated hereon, this bill of lading is subject to the same rules and conditions as govern commercial shipments made on the usual forms provided therefor by the carrier.”
Clause 6 of petitioner’s bill of lading provides that:
“Full freight to destination . . . and all advance charges against the Goods are due and payable . . . as soon as the Goods are received for purposes of transportation; . . . Goods or Vessel lost or not lost
It is therefore conceded by all parties that under these two quoted provisions, the United States is obligated to pay freight on the lost Gunvor cargo unless the terms of the government bill “specifically” negative the carrier’s provision. With due regard to the principle of strict construction against the draftsman of a contract, we have concluded that the terms of the government bill of lading are inconsistent with petitioner’s Clause 6, and that the United States is not liable for freight on this lost public property.
Occupying first place among the “Conditions” to the bill, and central to the issue here, is the payment provision.
“1. Prepayment of charges shall in no case be demanded by carrier, nor shall collection be made from consignee. On presentation to the office indicated on the face hereof of this bill of lading, properly accomplished, attached to freight voucher prepared on the authorized Government form, payment will be made . . . .”
The simple provision against “prepayment” does not, we think, force the conclusion that freight will be paid only on delivered goods. This clause seems to us not to forbid accrual of the freight charge obligation in advance of delivery, but only to prohibit payment in advance. But it does seem clear that the second sentence of “Condition 1” expressly conditions payment upon submission of two documents, the bill of lading “properly accomplished,” and a freight voucher prepared on the authorized government form. If the carrier is put on express notice that fulfillment of either of these conditions posits actual delivery of the cargo, petitioner’s “lost or not lost” provision must be held vitiated. In fact, both specifically contemplate actual delivery.
I.
It is petitioner’s construction that the bill of lading condition has been fully satisfied. “Accomplishment” he argues to be a technical term of ancient use in the law of the sea signifying no more than surrender of the bill to the carrier by the consignee or other authorized holder. This may be conceded immediately, and indeed the government bill seems to imply this usage where the term is used alone. But in this one provision on the bill the term is not used alone. Payment is not conditioned upon submission of an “accomplished” bill of lading; the bill must be “properly accomplished.” Unless the modifier be held to mean nothing, it can only be inferred that more than bare “accomplishment” is contemplated. The requisites to a “properly accomplished” bill are specifically set forth. We italicize the pertinent words.
Reference to “Instruction 2” informs the carrier that:
“The consignee on receipt of the shipment will sign the consignee’s certificate on the original bill of lading and surrender the bill of lading to the last carrier. The bill of lading then becomes the evidence upon which settlement for the service will be made.”
This consignee’s certificate, printed on the face of the bill, is denominated a “Certificate of Delivery” and is introduced by the words:
“I have this day received . . . the public property described in this bill of lading, in apparent good order and condition, except as noted on the reverse hereof.”
“Condition 6” recites that:
“Receipt of the shipment is made subject to the ‘Report of Loss, Damage, or Shrinkage’ noted hereon.”
and “Instruction 6” calls for notation of all loss or damage before accomplishment if possible. In sum, “the” evidence upon which the carrier may rely for payment is the “accomplished,” or surrendered, bill of lading, accompanied by the “Certificate of Delivery” signed “on receipt of the shipment,” with the “receipt” subject to the loss or damage report.
The entries made in the situation at bar are those that could be anticipated from the terms of the bill. The consignee’s Certificate of Delivery is endorsed only: “s. s. ‘Gunvor’ has been lost due to enemy action. . . . For the Acting District Engineer [signature illegible] Superintendent, August 8, 1942.” The indicated spaces on the form were not filled in, nor was any entry made in the “Report of Loss, Damage, or Shrinkage.” We do not, of course, suggest that the particular entries made on this bill determine the contractual issue, but it seems inescapable that the entry was made entirely for the record in explanation of the failure of the lumber to arrive. Without receipt of the goods, the bill was not, and could not have been, filled in under the strict terms of the standard form which we have stressed, so as to be “properly accomplished” for purposes of payment to the carrier.
II.
By the terms of “Condition 1” of the bill of lading, payment is further conditioned upon submission of the authorized government form voucher, a separate document. On the reverse of this voucher form are “Instructions to Carriers,” referred to on the face of the voucher. In these voucher “Instructions” appears in unequivocal language, statement of the Government’s position that it shall not be held liable for freight on undelivered goods. “Instruction 6” reads explicitly:
“Payment for transportation charge will be made only for the quantity of stores delivered at destination . . . .”
We think of but one argument which can be advanced against the conclusiveness of this clause. “Condition 2” on the bill of lading invokes the usual commercial contract terms “unless otherwise specifically provided or otherwise stated hereon”; it is arguable that “hereon” does not mean “thereon,” and that consequently the clear provision of the voucher forbidding payment for non-delivered goods cannot be considered. But, assuming for argument that no reliance may be placed upon the further condition that the bill of lading be “properly accomplished,” this reasoning leads to the anomalous conclusion that (1) under the piece of paper labeled “bill of lading” freight is “earned” though the goods are not delivered; but (2) payment will be made only on a voucher, which expressly denies the right to payment for undelivered goods. Such a construction yields an accrued obligation, without means of collection. We think it more reasonable to accept the available alternative reading, and hold that the words in “Condition 2” “otherwise stated hereon” are satisfied by the express reference on the bill to the standard voucher and the specific conditioning of payment upon submission of that voucher.
To hold petitioner to the terms of the voucher comports with practicalities. The intent of the Government to condition payment upon delivery we think abundantly clear, and the basic question is whether the Government’s draftsmanship succeeds in giving unequivocal notice of this stipulation. The bill expressly summons attention to the voucher; the provision on the voucher is unmistakable. An experienced carrier could not have been unfamiliar with the express terms of a document which it uses regularly, a prescribed document upon which every claim against one of its largest customers must be made.
Since it seems to us that the bill of lading’s specific conditions for payment can only be satisfied upon delivery of the shipment to destination, we hold the terms of the government bill to be inconsistent with petitioner’s “Goods or Vessel lost or not lost” provision. The decision below is correct, and is
Affirmed.
Mr. Justice Frankfurter and Mr. Justice Burton dissent on the grounds expressed below in the opinion of Judge Augustus N. Hand. 175 F. 2d 661, 663.
Mr. Justice Douglas took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.
See, e. g., Brittan v. Barnaby, 21 How. 527, 533; Caze & Richaud v. Baltimore Ins. Co., 7 Cranch 358, 362; Robinson, Admiralty, § 82 (1939); Borchard, The Earning of Freight on Uncompleted Voyages, 30 Yale L. J. 362 (1921).
E. g., International Paper Co. v. The Grade D. Chambers, 248 U. S. 387; Allanwilde Transport Corp. v. Vacuum Oil Co., 248 U. S. 377.
Government Bill of Lading, Standard Form 1058, approved by the Comptroller General, August 24, 1928; 8 Comp. Gen. 698; “Condition 2” quoted p. 424 infra.
175 F. 2d 661, 663.
Also printed on the back of the bill are a series of “Administrative Directions” and a form for “Report of Loss, Damage, or Shrinkage.”
The provision was required by law. For more than a century it had been the expressed legislative will that “no advance of public money shall be made in any case whatever . . . .” 3 Stat. 723. The Government interprets a further provision of this statute that “. . . payment shall not exeed [exceed] the value of the service rendered . . .” to resolve the issue at bar in its favor. Like the court below, we find it unnecessary to pass upon this contention.
The only other use of the modifier significantly appears in the parallel provision on the reverse of the voucher. Voucher Instruction 1 reads: “Payment . . . will be made . . . upon this voucher form, accompanied by the corresponding bills of lading, properly receipted; . . . .” (Italics supplied.)
Standard Form 1068, approved by the Comptroller General, June 26, 1931; 10 Comp. Gen. 588. All claims against the Government for freight or express charges must be made upon this standard voucher.
The balance of the sentence is not relevant here. It reads: “. . . except that in case of loss of weight from natural shrinkage en route and weight shipped, as shown by the bill of lading, will be paid for, provided packages are delivered intact.” The syntax of this exception clause is destroyed by the conjunction in italics. Reference to the official copy at 10 Comp. Gen. 589 shows that “and” is a printer's error. The correct word is "the”.

Question: What is the agency involved in the administrative action?

Choices:
Army and Air Force Exchange Service
Atomic Energy Commission
Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force
Department or Secretary of Agriculture
Alien Property Custodian
Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army
Board of Immigration Appeals
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Prisons
Bonneville Power Administration
Benefits Review Board
Civil Aeronautics Board
Bureau of the Census
Central Intelligence Agency
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Department or Secretary of Commerce
Comptroller of Currency
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Civil Rights Commission
Civil Service Commission, U.S.
Customs Service or Commissioner or Collector of Customs
Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission
Drug Enforcement Agency
Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War)
Department or Secretary of Energy
Department or Secretary of the Interior
Department of Justice or Attorney General
Department or Secretary of State
Department or Secretary of Transportation
Department or Secretary of Education
U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator
Federal Aviation Agency or Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Farm Credit Administration
Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission)
Federal Credit Union Administration
Food and Drug Administration
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Energy Administration
Federal Election Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Housing Administration
Federal Home Loan Bank Board
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Federal Maritime Board
Federal Maritime Commission
Farmers Home Administration
Federal Parole Board
Federal Power Commission
Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Federal Reserve System
Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
Federal Trade Commission
Federal Works Administration, or Administrator
General Accounting Office
Comptroller General
General Services Administration
Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services
Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Administrative agency established under an interstate compact (except for the MTC)
Interstate Commerce Commission
Indian Claims Commission
Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement
Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of
Information Security Oversight Office
Department or Secretary of Labor
Loyalty Review Board
Legal Services Corporation
Merit Systems Protection Board
Multistate Tax Commission
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Navy
National Credit Union Administration
National Endowment for the Arts
National Enforcement Commission
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer
National Mediation Board
National Railroad Adjustment Board
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
National Security Agency
Office of Economic Opportunity
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator
Office of Personnel Management
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of
Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970)
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
U.S. Public Health Service
Postal Rate Commission
Provider Reimbursement Review Board
Renegotiation Board
Railroad Adjustment Board
Railroad Retirement Board
Subversive Activities Control Board
Small Business Administration
Securities and Exchange Commission
Social Security Administration or Commissioner
Selective Service System
Department or Secretary of the Treasury
Tennessee Valley Authority
United States Forest Service
United States Parole Commission
Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster
United States Sentencing Commission
Veterans' Administration or Board of Veterans' Appeals
War Production Board
Wage Stabilization Board
State Agency
Unidentifiable
Office of Thrift Supervision
Department of Homeland Security
Board of General Appraisers
Board of Tax Appeals
General Land Office or Commissioners
NO Admin Action
Processing Tax Board of Review

Answer: 16