Legal Document

372 U.S. 1 83 Supreme Court Reporter 614 9 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 541 NEW JERSEY et al., Appellants,v.NEW YORK, SUSQUEHANNA AND WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY. Number 104. Argued Dec. 11, 1962. Decided Feb. 18, 1963. William Gural, Hillside, N.J., for appellants. Vincent Pacific KF135 P2 Biunno, Newark, appellee. Mr. Chief Justice WARREN delivered the opinion of Court. This direct appeal from a three-judge District involves jurisdiction Interstate Commerce Commission to permit discontinuance trains operated by appellee railroad wholly within State New Jersey. At issue is whether procedures § 13a(1) or 13a(2) Act (72 Statutes-at-Large 571—572, 49 Code KF62 §§ 13a(1), 13a(2)) are be followed. 2 Appellee, York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad Co., operates passenger between Butler, Jersey, and Transfer, in North Bergen, Connecting buses, carrying only train passengers, run Bergen Port York Authority Bus Terminal Manhattan. The buses owned Public Service Coordinated Transport, Jersey corporation unaffiliated but under contract with According appellee, nearly 90% its passengers travel York. 3 As recently as 1956, 30 eastbound westbound on weekdays 17 18 each direction weekends. Because financial difficulties continued losses operations, has, permission Utilities reduced number time so that it now three none last reduction was authorized July 14, 1960. 4 On December 30, 1960, filed notice stating would discontinue all service January 1961. 9, 1961, appellants petitioned dismiss case without prejudice. Since solely argued not, first instance, Commission. agreed and, dismissed want jurisdiction. Appellee then brought this suit challenge dismissal. A court designated accordance 28 2321—2325 2284. court, one judge dissenting, set aside Commission's order. 200 F.Supp. 860. appealed directly 1253, we noted probable 370 933, 82 1584, 8 804. 5 question presented procedure discontinuing forth available below held, must follow Act. Section relates 'the * operation any ferry operating point other State.' proceeding section file notices proposed Commission, Governors which operates, every station served train. After days, may unless has decided investigate discontinuance. require continue pending investigation, an additional four months. It also may, at conclusion order another year, if 'required public convenience necessity' 'will not unduly burden interstate commerce.' 6 governs boundaries single Under section, required seek relief appropriate state agency. Only after agency denied application discontinuance, let 120 days elapse acting, can authority 'may grant such full hearing.' 7 comparison language applies 'any State' (italics supplied), 13a(2), makes clear statute, face, requires proceed latter section. Appellee's do 'from That appellee's conveyances, cross line does alter conclusion; statute speaks commerce physical limits train's ferry's operations.1 Any doubt about construction dispelled examination legislative history. 13a enacted Congress part Transportation 1958. history reveals Congress' concern plight railroads, attributable sustained trains. To these before enactment 13a, railroads were cases served. See 104 Cong.Rec. 10842—10843, 10851. Without concurrence affected, might compelled operations despite serious losses. able give partial relief. could authorize total abandonment 1(18) Act, even State. Colorado versus States, 271 153, 46 452, 70 L.Ed. 878. However over railroad, crossed not. Board Utility Com'rs D.C., 158 98, noted, Cent. R. company 357 917, 78 1358, 1361, moot, 359 982, 79 939, 932.2 Palmer Massachusetts, 308 79, 84—85, 60 34, 84 93. Thus while carry freight same line.3 initially Senate, have had power 'of engaged transportation property interstate, foreign intrastate station, depot facility.' S. 3778, 85th Cong., Sess. Opposition bill focused upon powers control local operations. E.g., 10850. compromise amendment Senate changed extend 10862 10866. Reference eliminated. And finally reported out conference, present form. limited, 'discontinuance 10 Senator Smathers, Chairman Surface Subcommittee Foreign Committee, said, describing amendment, that: 11 State, whose origin destination State—that characteristics—together facilities used train, shall completely utilities commission.' 10852.4 12 Congressman Harris, House similarly interpreted more restrictive version, H.R. 12832.5 He said limited authorizing 13 located limitation contained being because committee feels record support broader change venue, requested covered character, those branch 12533. 14 Harris repeatedly stated line, regulatory started ended 12530, 12542. 15 Finally, Smathers' comments, made Senate-House Conference form, should noted. said: 16 'we protected right leaving agencies regulate final decision respect originated particular except when established commerce. 'In addition, receded provision given depots, terminals, connection railroads. We left matter hands agencies.' 15528. us history, intended to, did, leave '(j)urisdiction commissions.' 19 disregarded plain words what believe pertinent rested ground apply restrictively 'thwart apparent purpose adopting it.' F.Supp., 864. was, observed, remedial. But conditioned desire protect ignore conclude error. Therefore judgment reversed. 20 Reversed. Apparently belief (1) 'operation service' included bus (2) 'train' extension. first, decided, interpreting 'line railroad' need obtain certificate necessity providing transportation. W.R. Common Carrier Application, M.C.C. 713, 725. Admittedly different term train.' loath suggest operate where no existed. second alternative, answer enough note reads ferry.' No mention 'bus' made. appealing did take decisions holding lacked discontinuances. They instead partially they abandoning railroad. In Comm'rs held allow Central ferries across Hudson River, continuing freight, (Under 1(3) 'railroad' includes 'ferries railroad.') passed Railroad, among others, succeeded eliminating River ferries. 168 324, aff'd per curiam, 27, 603, 625. fact, claimed inability reason 13a. 337, n. 1. who concerned protection rights satisfied perhaps retained phrase 'engaged event, successful obtaining omission reference commerce, since jurisdiction, 12832 provided 'this (§ 13a) services performed carrier 12547. Also, eliminated stations, depots facilities, agencies' untouched. change, embodied evidence intent regulation States.

Classification Label: 7