Document: 330 U.S. 248 67 S.Ct. 747 91 L.Ed. 876 NORTHERN PAC. RY. CO.v.UNITED STATES. No. 400. Argued Jan. 13, 1947. Decided March 3, Mr. Lorenzo B. da Ponte, of St. Paul, Minn., for petitioner. Robert L. Werner, New York City, respondent. [Argument Counsel from page 249 intentionally omitted] Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 This is a companion case to United States v. Powell, and Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 238, 742. case, like those, involves construction provision § 321(a) Transportation Act 1940, 49 U.S.C.A. 65(a), which entitles 'military or naval property moving military not civil use' land-grant rates. Petitioner was road, 13 Stat. 365, 370, years carried government at 43 477, 486, 10 U.S.C. 1375, 1375. It qualified receive higher rates authorized by 1940 timely filing required release claims pursuant 321(b) Act.1 2 The shipments in controversy were made over petitioner's railroad on bills lading 1941, 1942, 1943. They admittedly time carriage. submitted its Government published commercial tariff States, claiming that under each shipment entitled move rates, deducted difference between thereupon brought this suit Tucker Act, 28 41(20), recover sums. District Court entered judgment here involved. 64 F.Supp. 1. Circuit Appeals affirmed. 7 Cir., 156 F.2d 346. ase certiorari. 3 involved five types property: 4 Copper cable.—Copper cable transported Tacoma, Wash., use installation degaussing equipment (a defense against magnetic mines) cargo vessel being so built it might readily be converted into auxiliary. work done contractor contract with Maritime Commission. specifications furnished Navy also bore cost. 1941 operated as directed Commission War Shipping Administration. Whether auxiliary does appear. 5 Lumber munitions plant.—In 1942 Twin Cities Ordnance Plant constructed Minnesota contractors supervision Army. plant owned Army sponsored. officers procuring agents lumber used construction. completed 1943 manufactured ammunition armed forces. 6 Marine Corps pontons.—Petitioner fir treated, kiln dried, milled, parts demountable floating bridges personnel war vehicles across water barriers. Corps. product either shipped overseas connection operations training combat engineers. Bowling alleys Dutch Harbor.—Petitioner moved bowling alley Seattle, Washington, reshipment Naval Air Base, Harbor, Alaska. had an air base Harbor public land reserved use. purchase approved officer who control program. recreational facilities, included alleys, planned initial civilian crew then, when ended, Navy. But fact they only members 8 Liquid paving asphalt Cold Bay, Alaska, airport.—In petitioner liquid constructing runways airport Bay program Civil Aeronautics Authority joint cabinet board necessary national defense. Work commenced and, after moved, taken thereafter full field. 9 In four above instances consigned army navy officer; fifth, asphalt, consignee. And we have said, States. question remains whether within meaning naval' if so, 'moving There suggestion since agency, Authority, property. theory means navy. 11 We see no merit suggestion. Section makes reference specific agencies departments government. Department procurement might, course, carry special weight decisive close cases. well known supplies material often handled other than Departments. Procurement transport vessels outstanding example. See Merchant 1936, 902, 2015, 2016, amended, 46 1242, 1242. shortly before enacted, Congress June 25, 54 572, 573, 574, Reconstruction Finance Corporation create subsidiary corporations produce equipment, supplies, machinery manufacture arms, ammunition, implements war. later amended enable those any supply article effort. 10, 55 248, 249, 15 606b. As held supra, every furthers 321(a). may fall category though procured 12 suggested covered exception confined ultimate directly Under view materials service troops home abroad would likewise reject argument. Civilian forces act adjuncts them. good An foreign shores waters cannot live fight without fleet their support. military, performs function serving employs property, function. contends that, even true, different category. argues none articles present naval, supplied, argument runs, are pursuits performed contractors. Only product, component elements, was, view, 14 Military use, where surplus sale public. general put controlling test character. Pencils rifles Indeed, nature modern war, multifarious aspects, requirements men women constitute adjuncts, give such broad sweep include almost type More actually included. includes all consumed further projects, serves many needs wants preparation combat, maintaining them abroad, occupation victory won. relation effort reconditioned, repaired, processed treated some way needs. detract status Southern Pacific Co. Defense Supplies Corp., D.C., 605. Within intermediate manufacturing phase said essential 'civil' aspect, products destined serve dominant purpose processing activity controlling. Measured test, there can doubt litigation pontons, airfield, projects related actual combat. vessel, farther removed category, definition It, too, defensive weapon. Beyond purchased one officers. supplied specifications; ship installed prepared possible statutory classification. plainly facilities. morale physical condition important successful prosecution equipment. workers difference. done, person handling materials, decisive. maintain civilians repairing planes point. project same did work. 16 intended property' so. seeks support position Congressional enactments excluded because mentioned2 reference.3 find, however, little contention Apart wording acts ends served, circumstance. more declaration went drew line dedicated devoted. define what distinguished unimportant. classification unlike relies, inclusive partial. What contrasted civil. normal connotation delimit expand other. context must construed. 17 remedial enactment should liberally construed permit required. Cf. Piedmont & N. Ry. Interstate Commerce Commission, 286 299, 311, 312, 52 541, 545, 76 1115. familiar rule statute 'operates grant individual, relinquishment interest,' resolved favor private claimant. Slidell Grandjean, 111 412, 437, 475, 487, 321. 322 72, 76, 869, 872, 88 1144. That has been applied construing reduced rate conditions legislation. 307 393, 401, 59 923, 928, 83 1363; supra. principle applicable Congress, writing exception, retained economic privilege great value. railroads, including petitioner, filed releases order obtain benefits now relied upon constituting consideration concession. accordingly argued railroads generously Russell Sebastian, 233 195, 205, 34 517, 520, 58 912, Ann.Cas.1914C, 1282. original land-grants resulted contract. Burke 234 669, 680, 907, 911, 1527. Yet, seen, nonetheless grants strictly grantee. passed interests essence merely continuation narrower Therefore, it, grant. 18 Affirmed. followed settlement Northern 311 317, 61 264, 85 210. 41 273; S.Doc.No. 48, 77th Cong., 1st Sess. embargo 'arms war' Joint Resolution 14, 1912 (see 37 1733), plant. 32 Op.Atty.Gen. 132. Thus July 2, 712, 714, 50 U.S.C.Appendix, 701, U.S.C.A.Appendix, President prohibit curtail 'the exportation munitions, thereof, machinery, tools, material, manufacture, servicing, operation thereof * *'. November 30, 1220, §§ 101, 104—106, amending Anti-Sabotage defined 'national-defense material' 'arms, armament, livestock, stores clothing, food, foodstuffs, fuel, whatever description part ingredient thereof,' October 16, 742, 721—724, Preside t requisition following States:

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