Document: 342 U.S. 421 72 S.Ct. 405 96 L.Ed. 469 DAY-BRITE LIGHTING, Inc.v.STATE OF MISSOURI. No. 317. Argued Jan. 10, 1952. Decided March 3, Rehearing Denied April 7, See 343 921, 674. Mr. Henry C. M. Lamkin, St. Louis, Mo., for appellant. John R. Baty, Kansas City, appellee. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Missouri has a statute, Mo.Rev.Stat., 1949, § 129.060, V.A.M.S., first enacted in 1897, which was designed to end coercion employees by employers exercise franchise. It provides that an employee may absent himself from his employment four hours between opining and closing polls without penalty, any employer who among other things deducts wages absence is guilty misdemeanor.1 2 Appellant corporation doing business Louis. November 5, 1946, day general elections Missouri, being open 6 A.M. 7 P.M. One Grotemeyer, appellant, on shift worked 8 4:30 each day, with thirty minutes lunch. His rate pay $1.60 hour. He requested scheduled work vote 1946. That request refused; but Grotemeyer all were allowed leave at 3 gave them consecutive before closed. left order did not return day. paid hour half found fined penalizing violation statute. The judgment affirmed Supreme Court, 362 Mo. 299, 240 S.W.2d 886, over objection statute violated Due Process Equal Protection Clauses Fourteenth Amendment Contract Clause Art. I, 10. 4 liberty contract argument pressed us reminiscent philosophy Lochner v. State New York, 198 45, 25 539, 49 937, invalidated York law prescribing maximum bakeries; Coppage Kansas, 236 1, 35 240, 59 441, struck down outlawing 'yellow dog' contracts; Adkins Children's Hospital District Columbia, 261 525, 43 394, 67 785, held unconstitutional federal fixing minimum wage standards women others vintage. Our recent decisions make plain we do sit as super-legislature weigh wisdom legislation nor decide whether policy it expresses offends public welfare. legislative power limits, Tot United States, 319 463, 63 1241, 87 1519, holds. But state legislatures hve constitutional authority experiment new techniques; they are entitled their own standard welfare; within extremely broad limits control practices business-labor field, so long specific prohibitions conflicts valid controlling laws avoided. essence West Coast Hotel Co. Parrish, 300 379, 57 578, 81 703; Nebbia People 291 502, 54 505, 78 940; Olsen Nebraska, ex rel. Western Reference & Bond Ass'n, 313 236, 61 862, 85 1305; Lincoln Federal Labor Union 19129, A.F. L. Northwestern Iron Metal Co., 335 69 251, 93 212; California Auto. Ass'n Maloney, 341 105, 71 601, 95 788. 5 supra, overruling Hospital, women. present statutes contains form requirement. There difference purpose legislation. Here protection health morals citizen. this sought safeguard right suffrage taking incentive use thier leverage influence vote. police confined narrow category; extends, stated Noble Bank Haskell, 219 104, 111, 31 186, 188, 55 112, great needs. under our scheme basic fundamental.2 only semblance substance Missouri's must period performs no services. Of course many forms regulation reduce net enterprise; yet gives rise infirmity. Queenside Hills Saxl, 328 80, 66 850, 90 1096; supra. Most regulations necessarily impose financial burdens enterprise compensation paid. Those part costs civilization. Extreme cases conjured up where required relation legitimate end. can await decision when arise. such eliminate penalty exercising remove practical obstacle getting out welfare inclusive concept. moral, social, economic, physical well-being community one it; political well-being, another. adequate fix burden other. legislature time voting should cost nothing be debatable one. indeed conceded opposition such. if mean anything, issues respects business, social affairs decision. We could strike returned Lochner, Coppage, cases. classification voters free domination attempt deal evil group been exposed. need matter judgment, American Federation Sash Door 538, 258, 222, does amount denial equal laws. Affirmed. 9 FRANKFURTER concurs result. 10 JACKSON, dissenting. 11 issue case, very vital its application, surely Two courts last resort, ones consider similar legislation, have unconstitutional.1 Only unreviewed intermediate courts2 cited support Court's holding. 12 employed union contract, hourly basis per worked. demanded four-hour absence, full pay, election campaigning get stipulated residence 200 feet polling place actually took him about five closed day's one-half earlier than usual, statutory For failure something less $3 provide he paid, convicted crime set forth opinion. 13 To sustain resort analogy seems farfetched unconvincing demonstrate weakness rather strength. Because require payment follow compel overlook distinction fundamental confuse point issue. 14 speaking though applies industry, sinister big, further obscures real principle involved. plainly requires farmers, small service enterprises, professional offices, housewives domestic help, employers, allow vote, so. not, however, purpose. Such stands class itself uncritically commended mere 'practices field.' 15 Obtaining expression qualified successful representative government rightly concerns removal every obstruction opportunity freely. Courts go far relieve obligations private would stand way duty citizens. 16 there some limit whole voter someone else happens economic relationship him. Getting employers; indeed, I regarded abuse concerned themselves employees' voting. either voter's or State's business. question offers will help swell vote; time-and-a-half still more double-time even better. success enticement justify putting citizen? 17 discriminatory character flagrant. obvious everybody 'rational basis' ordered while eludes me. If subsidy reason apparent me why lives self-employed farmer lay let equipment idle several travels miles bad fall roads hired man, also lose hand's pay. Perhaps plan forthcoming requiring mortgagee rebate proportion interest farm mortgage differ principle. occurs doctor charge patient lawyer client call receive 18 suppose considerable latitude offer inducements value franchise enough time, seem corrupting discriminating ones. my difficulty today's cannot above old-fashioned valuation citizenship makes state-imposed pay-for-voting system appear confession popular government. 19 undoubtedly negotiating bargain loss equally individual hire. doubt large number already voluntary arrangements cost. contitutional sanctions intervention terms available tomorrow give sanction benevolent. 'Any person shall, election, services then engaged employed, times opening polls; shall because absenting himself, liable penalty; provided, specify during aforesaid. Any refuse privilege hereby conferred, discharge threaten said cause suffer deduction privilege, directly indirectly, violate provisions section, deemed misdemeanor, conviction thereof sum exceeding hundred dollars.' Decisions contrary Court case rendered Appeals Kentucky Illinois Central Commonwealth, 305 Ky. 632, 204 973, Chicago, P.R. 306 Ill. 486, 138 N.E. 155, 28 A.L.R. 610. cf. Zelney Murphy, 387 492, 56 N.E.2d 754. Appellate Division Ford Motor 271 App.Div. 141, N.Y.S.2d 697, Department Superior Ballarini, Behalf Lodge 1327, etc. Schlage Lock 100 Cal.App.2d Supp. 859, 226 P.2d 771, accord Missouri. review see 47 Col.L.Rev. 135. 973; 155. Cf. 697; 771.

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