Document: 339 U.S. 816 70 S.Ct. 843 94 L.Ed. 1302 HENDERSONv.UNITED STATES et al. No. 25. Argued April 3, 1950. Decided June 5, Messrs. J. Howard McGrath, Attorney General, Philip B. Perlman, Sol. Gen., Washington, D.C., for appellee The United States. Belford V. Lawson, Jr., Jawn Sandifer, New York City, appellant. Mr. Allen Crenshaw, Interstate Commerce Commission. Charles Clark, appellee, Southern Ry. Co. Sam Hobbs, by special leave of court, a member the Committee on Judiciary House Representatives, argued cause and filed brief, as amicus curiae, urging affirmance. [Argument Counsel from page 817 intentionally omitted] Justice BURTON delivered opinion Court. 1 question here is whether rules practices Railway Company, which divide each dining car so to allot ten tables exclusively white passengers one table Negro passengers, call curtain or partition between that others, violate § 3(1) Act. That section makes it unlawful railroad in interstate commerce 'to subject any particular person, * undue unreasonable prejudice disadvantage respect whatsoever: *.' 54 Stat. 902, 49 U.S.C. 3(1), U.S.C.A. 3(1). We hold those do 2 This issue grows out an incident occurred May 17, 1942. On date appellant, Elmer W. Henderson, passenger, was traveling first-class ticket Sourthern Atlanta, Georgia, en route Birmingham, Alabama, course his duties employee train left Washington at p.m. At about 5:30 p.m., while Virginia,1 first dinner announced he went promptly car. In accordance with practice then effect, two end nearest kitchen were conditionally reserved Negroes. meal be initially Negroes and, when occupied Negroes, curtains drawn them rest If other before presented themselves diner also available not seated use passengers.2 When appellant reached diner, partly but least seat unoccupied. dining-car steward declined offered serve him, without additional charge, Pullman seat. offer agreed send him word space available. No sent served although twice returned detached 9 3 October, 1942, complaint Commission alleging especially foregoing conduct violated Act.3 Division found had been subjected disadvantage, occurrence casual brought bad judgment employee. enter order future practices. 258 I.C.C. 413. A three-judge States District Court Maryland, however, held railroad's general practice, evidenced its instructions August 6, violation Accordingly, February 18, 1946, remanded case further proceedings. 63 F.Supp. 906. Effective March 1, company modified are now effect. They provide reservation tables, four seats each, unconditionally table, seats, passengers. Between this others during meal.4 4 remand, full Commission, members dissenting participating, Act no necessary.5 269 73. instituted present proceeding Court, constituted same three before, seeking have Commission's set aside cease desist issued. 28 §§ 41(28), 43—48; 17(9), 17(9); see also, (Supp. III) 1336, 1398, 2284, 2321, 2325, 2325. With dissenting, court sustained ground accommodations adequate average number 'proportionately fair.' 80 32, 39. direct appeal. 1253, 2101(b), 2101(b). brief orally support 5 It clear has standing bring these He aggrieved party, free travel again Railway. Having below Act, may challenge current regulations they permit recurrence comparable violations. Mitchell v. States, 313 80, 92—93, 61 873, 875—876, 85 1201. 6 material language statute since adoption 1887. 24 380. From beginning, recognized application discriminations Councill Western & Atlantic R. Co., 339;6 Heard Georgia 428; 111; Edwards Nashville, C. St. L.R. 12 247; Cozart 16 226; Gaines Seaboard Air Line 471; Crosby Louis-San Francisco 112 239. recently applied supra. 7 decision largely controlled case. There passenger holding denied seat, such unoccupied would if white. allotted limited amount space, consisting compartments drawing rooms, because occupied, complainant excluded required ride second-class coach. thereby 3(1).7 8 similarity inescapable. vacant under existing rules, white.8 us, case, find do. right belongs, person. Where tickets entitling it, equally entitled facilities reasonable regulations. denial service us subjects prohibited disadvantage. Under only time Other who compelled await vacancy there many vacancies elsewhere diner. thus refuses extent facilities. impose like deprivation upon whenever more than 40 seek vacant. 10 need multiply instances sanction discriminations. curtains, partitions signs emphasize artificiality difference treatment serves attention racial classification identical using public facility. Cf. McLaurin Oklahoma State Regents, 637, 851. 11 Our directed nothing removes allocations statutory condemnation 'undue demand justifies But answer place that, average, persons served. As pointed 97, 878, 1201, 'the comparative volume traffic cannot justify fundamental equality treatment, specifically safeguarded provisions Act.' McCabe Atchison, T. S.F.R. 235 151, 35 69, 59 169; Missouri ex rel. Canada, 305 337, 232, 83 208. proportion their numbers, disadvantages similar imposed requirements Discriminations operate groups less condemned impact broader affected. Shelley Kraemer, 334 22, 68 836, 846, 92 1161, A.L.R.2d 441. 13 Since invalidates we reach constitutional issues suggested. 14 reversed directions dismissed original remand proceedings conformity opinion. ordered. Reversed directions. 15 DOUGLAS concurs result. CLARK took part consideration reliance placed action state. Rule Company issued July 1941, effect 1942: 'Dining Car Regulations 'Meals should different races separate times. race desire meals being car, will room extra charge. equipped can divided into compartments, them.' 413, 415, 906, 910. Joint Circular System 'Effective once please governed following separation cars: 'Before starting pull position 'Reserved' card behind curtains. 'These used until all taken. Then colored meals, pushed back, cards removed tables. 'After advised just soon vacated. "Reserved' supplied you.' '(1) shall common carrier make, give, preference advantage paticular company, firm, corporation, association, locality, port, port district, gateway, transit point, region, territory, description traffic, whatsoever; (Emphasis supplied.) sought directing specific violations alleged establish future, equal might consider just, requiring discontinue around damages, pecuniary damages pressed further. 'Transportation Department 142. Cancelling Instructions Subject Dated 'Subject: Segregation White Colored Passengers Dining Cars. 'To: Passenger Conductors Stewards. 'Consistent experience ratio ordinarily apply provided partitioning diners allotment follows: Station located side aisle facing buffet, seating persons, '(2) Before meal, draw separating described above, 2, remain duration meal. '(3) kept left-hand times except rules. '(4) These become effective 1946. 'R. K. McClain, 'Assistant Vice-President.' 73, 75; 35. railway subsequent hearing, corrected above 'negroes' 'colored persons." Also, evidence shows, stated, 'White soldiers together, distinction.' 415; accordingly, treated applicable civilian showed substituting five-foot high wooden curtain. steward's office opposite erected permitted introduce tabulations, covering days showing numbers trips show 4% total whereas exceed 9% capacity 44. hand, tabulations tht 17 20 eight Similarly, states 639 serving periods reported, occasions them, 541 occasions, rounds servings. 'The Railroad notified subjecting regulate commerce, furnishing purchasing road safe comfortable furnished passengers.' 347. access observation principles Review here.

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