Opinion ID: 303595
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Specific Language of Section 15.

Text: 21 The language of Section 15 is concerned with the implementation of agreements, which definitely includes understandings, conferences, and other arrangements, among common carriers by water. The first six categories specified in Section 15 refer to agreements which of necessity imply the continued existence of the parties and their participation in such agreements over time (e. g., fixing or regulating rates; pooling or apportioning earnings, losses, or traffic; allotting ports or restricting sailings between ports, etc.). In the case at bar, however, Oceanic is eliminated from the North American Pacific Coast-Australasian trade (as well as any others), at least until it decides to reenter the trade by acquiring vessels and related personnel and equipment. The seventh category is intended merely to summarize the type of agreements covered-those in any manner providing for an exclusive, preferential, or cooperative working arrangement; 4 and not to include those of an entirely different nature, such as involved here-the acquisition of all the assets of one common carrier by water by another-which can hardly be considered mere working arrangements. 22 This view is supported by the language in the second and third paragraph, immediately following paragraph one, in Section 15. The second paragraph authorizes the Commission to disapprove, cancel or modify any agreement whether or not previously approved by it which it finds to be unjustly discriminatory. The third paragraph in Section 15 declares existing agreements lawful until disapproved by the Commission. Both of these paragraphs of Section 15 undeniably envision agreements which are amenable to continuing Commission supervision. If changing conditions warrant it, the Commission may find a working arrangement hitherto not considered unfair to be unjustly discriminatory, and thus order its dissolution or modification. In the case of arrangements of a more permanent nature such as here involved, the sale of all the assets of one common carrier by water to another, subsequent Commission cancellation or modification of such a previously approved arrangement would be very difficult if not impossible to implement. The whole structure of Section 15, not only the first paragraph listing the type agreement covered, shows an intent to grant the Commission authority to deal with agreements of a continuing nature. 5 23