Document: 373 U.S. 405 83 S.Ct. 1370 10 L.Ed.2d 444 UNITED STATES, Appellant,v.Jerry BRAVERMAN. No. 506. Argued April 22, 1963. Decided May 27, Frank I. Goodman, Beverly Hills, Cal., for appellant, pro hac vice, by special leave of Court. No appearance appellee. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion 1 Appellee, Jerry Braverman, was transportation manager Burbank, California, distribution office Andrew Jergens Company, which ships goods in interstate commerce. In June 1962 he indicted a United States District Court and charged with having violated § Elkins Act1 knowingly solicited from freight forwarder concessions rebates respecting motor carrier shipments Jergens' so that, had been granted, would have shipped at lower rate than that named applicable tariffs filed Interstate Commerce Commission. The indictment did not allege, all parties agreed Government intend to prove, rebate benefit shipper. district judge, believing Act applies only where some 'advantage or discrimination is practiced favor shipper,' ruled charge an offense under statute therefore must be dismissed. case properly here on appeal 18 U.S.C. 3731. 2 We concluded outlaws solicitations any person whatever, no matter whose sought, erred dismissing indictment. Section aims unmistakable language preserving published inviolate. That section, first, makes it misdemeanor fail 'strictly observe' and, second, goes right make unlawful 'for person, persons, corporation offer, grant, give, solicit, accept, receive rebate, concession, discrimination' as property 'whereby such shall device whatever transported less * *.' More unequivocal hard imagine. It strikes every kind whom given. Nowhere does section say imply are if they given whomever given, statutory proscribes. 3 legislative history bears out conclusion Congress intended prevent departure rates end outlawed rebates, without requiring showing original Act,2 passed 1887, made either more specified its schedule rates.3 But Commission, after decade experience Act, recounted Annual Reports between 1897 1902 secrecy were cloaked, impossibility enforcing when prove but also one shipper received another, pressing need invoke penalties simply upon rate.4 4 These urgings led passage Act. A Committee House Representatives, hearings several bills proposing amendments told Chairman Commission existing law '(i)n important respects practically unworkable.' particular, reported virtual resulted 'actual among shippers member 'any departure' should offense.5 favorable report bill became observed 'practically impossible show recommended proposal making 'a penal whether there not.'6 5 This has already held sanctions restricted carriers person' used means person.'7 recognized order ensure efficiency, maintained unimpaired allow third persons tamper scheme themselves do so. And analogous situation, this railroad employees who passengers established punishable even though acted their own gain party conduct.8 6 considered before us light salutary rule criminal statutes interpretation expanded beyond plain language.9 neither can we interpret narrowly defeat obvious intent.10 Congress, public concerned certain once tariff published, deviations take place. find support suggestion departures checked while others allowed. ignore express economic ills gave rise passage, objects framers mind, subsequent judicial enforcement limited operation kinds people wanted honored. stopped. fitting accomplish end. hold states charges common commerce shipper's property, alleged 7 Reversed remanded. 49 41(1). 24 Stat. 379. 381. Reports, Dec. 6, 1897, pp. 46—48, 24, 1900, p. 10, Jan. 17, 1902, 8. Hearings H.R. 146, 273, 2040, 5775, 8337, 10930 Foreign 197 199 (1902). H.R.Rep. 3765, 57th Cong., 2d Sess. (1903). vote 250 36 Cong.Rec. 2159 (1903), Senate, 1633—1634 Union Pac. R. Co. v. States, 313 450, 463, 61 1064, 1072, 85 L.Ed. 1453 (1941). courts soon rejected argument reached immaterial paid someone other E.g., Milwaukee Refrigerator Transit Co., 145 F. 1007, 1012 (C.C.E.D.Wis.1906); Delaware, L. & W.R. 152 269, 273 (C.C.S.D.N.Y.1907). 8 Howitt 328 189, 66 923, 90 1162 (1946). 9 See Resnick, 299 207, 209—210, 57 126, 127, 81 127 (1936). Raynor, 302 540, 552, 58 353, 358, 82 413 (1938).

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