Document: 350 U.S. 415 76 S.Ct. 522 100 L.Ed. 494 UNITED STATES of America, Appellant,v. Jack GREEN and General Laborers' Local No. 397 Granite City, Illinois, etc. 54. Argued Feb. 27, 1956. Decided March 26, Mr. Oscar H. Davis, Washington, D.C., for appellant. A. M. Fitzgerald, Springfield, Ill., appellees. Justice REED delivered the opinion Court. 1 An indictment was found in Southern District Illinois against appellees Green a local union. The jury adjudged them guilty under counts one two thereof. court sustained their separate motions arrest judgment, setting out its order that action 'solely' on following grounds: 2 '2. This is without jurisdiction offense. 3 '(b) facts alleged Indictment failed to set forth an offense United States such as give this Court jurisdiction. 4 '(c) A proper construction statute question clearly indicates it does not cover type activity charged indictment; interpret Act covering extend power Congress beyond Constitutional limits.' 5 Appeal taken by directly 18 U.S.C. § 3731, U.S.C.A. 3731.1 We noted probate 813, 44. 6 were based upon violations 1951, popularly known Hobbs Act. pertinent statutory provisions are subsections (a) (b)(2) thereof, reading follows: 7 '(a) Whoever any way or degree obstructs, delays, affects commerce movement article commodity commerce, robbery extortion attempts conspires so do, commits threatens physical violence person property furtherance plan purpose do anything violation section shall be fined more than $10,000 imprisoned twenty years, both. 8 * 9 '(2) term 'extortion' means obtaining from another, with his consent, induced wrongful use actual threatened force, violence, fear, color official right.' 10 Each acts 1951 directed different employer. extortions consisted obtain particular employer 11 'his money, form wages paid imposed, unwanted, superfluous fictitious services laborers commonly swampers, connection operation machinery equipment then being used operated said (employer) execution contract maintenance work levee, attempted aforesaid intended accomplished consent (employer), obtained use, wit, purposes aforesaid, fear made employees agents there being: Section Title 18, Code.' 12 Appellees each filed acquittal alternative new trial. These trial specifically denied. court, 135 F. Supp. 162, says nothing failure evidence support allegations indictment, errors. Instead relied absence criminality charged, therefore logical deny trial.2 thought persuasive our recent cases which held union efforts secure 'made work' members unfair labor practices.3 From view defined covers only taking another extortioner's personal advantage, necessity judgment followed. Rule 34, Fed.Rules Crim.Proc., 13 agree interpretation section. passed after had construed Federal Anti-Racketeering 1934, 48 Stat. 979, v. 807, 315 521, 62 642, 86 1004. Subsection barred, respect interstate exaction valuable considerations coercion, 'not including, however, payment bona-fide employee'. 807 exception covered city truck drivers' offering drive arriving trucks destination intent, if owners refused offer, exact violence.4 In Act, 60 420, carried forward amended exclusion clause involved decision dropped. legislative history makes clear meant eliminate grounds future judicial conclusions did intend employer-employee relationship.5 words avoid misunderstanding. 14 II provides affect Clayton §§ 20, 38 731, 738, 15 17, 29 52; Norris-LaGuardia 47 70, 101 et seq.; Railway Labor 44 577, 45 151 National Relations 49 449, seq.6 There those Acts, protection unions officials get through threats force violence. Those legitimate improving conditions.7 If references Wagner Acts indicate exception, we doubt, error. Apparently what expressed statement, last paragraph note above, would criminal they benefit agent, case Green. latter holding also erroneous. truckers similarly trying jobs pay out-of-state stop just conduct. And no depends having direct conferred who obtains property. It stated below 'extend Court, F.Supp. at page 162. same language order. Since legislation injury extortion, court's wrong. racketeering affecting within federal control. 536, 648. Cf. Cleveland States, 329 14, 19, 67 13, 15, 91 12; Mitchell C. W. Vollmer & Co., 349 427, 75 860, 99 1196. 16 On appeal record contain acted. charges interference Act's definition crime. rule hold fall terms reversed cause remanded 17 ordered. DOUGLAS, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE BLACK concur, dissenting. 19 Government has right 'was placed solely invalidity statute'. Wayne Pump 317 200, 208, 63 191, 196, 87 184. (Italics added.) presence additional independent ground Court's fatal review here. I am convinced case. evident district judge's memorandum opinion, granting rested least part insufficiency conviction. He considered e.g., contractors community customarily agreed employment allegedly demanded appellees, trouble job caused disagreement between contractor labor, attempt extort. dismiss Government's appeal. 'An may behalf courts Supreme all instances: 'From arresting conviction information, where information founded.' states: 'It now contended state meaning above usual case, extorter money own benefit. hand, conclude Green's original 'attempting Arthur Terry, Jr., laborers' charge seriously controverted, itself statute, rights responsibilities Union representative, prohibited statute. '* Community wise extort either Defendant Green, contract.' pages 163, 164. See American Newspaper Publishers Association Board, 345 100, 73 552, 97 852; Board Gamble Enterprises, 117, 560, 864. permeate entire At 527, U.S., 644, 2. Beginning soon series bills introduced looking toward amendment 1934. S. 2347, 77th Cong., 2d Sess.; H.R. 6872, 7067, 653, 78th 1st 32, 79th Sess. these bills, supra, enacted became 793. House Committee Judiciary, report stated: intention committee title III (enacted II) interpreted authorizing unlawful acts, particularly amounting extortion. need emphasized (315 521 (62 642)).' H.R.Rep. 238, Sess., p. 10. S.Rep. 1516, prior purpose—amending change brought about result reached 2176, 66, see Cong.Rec. 11842, 11843, 11909, 11911, 11919, 11920. Management 1947, 141 seq. Ryan, 299, 400; Construction Workers Laburnum Corp., 347 656, 74 833, 98 1025; Allen-Bradley 1111, Wisconsin 740, 820, 1154; Fansteel Metallurigical 306 240, 59 490, 83 627; Kemble, Cir., 198 F.2d 889.

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