Legal Document

345 U.S. 13 73 Supreme Court Reporter 565 97 L.Ed. 745 ALSTATE CONST. CO.v.DURKIN, Secretary of United States Department Labor. Number 296. Argued Feb. 2, 3, 1953. Decided March 9, Mr. S. Atlantic Schreckengaust, Jr., Harrisburg, Pa., for petitioner. Miss Bessie Margolin, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 Section 7(a) Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay each employee covered by not less than one and one-half times his regular rate every hour worked in excess a forty-hour week; § 11(c) keep appropriate employment records.1 Employees are defined as those 'engaged commerce or production goods commerce'. We have held that employees repairing interstate roads railroads commerce' within meaning clause 7(a).2 The question presented this case is whether who work off such materials repair them engaged 'in 7(a). 2 Wage Hour Administrator sued District enjoin petitioner Alstate Construction Company from violating overtime record-keeping provisions Act. found: Pennsylvania road contractor reconstructs repairs roads, railroads, parkways like facilities state. company also manufactures at three plants bituminous concrete surfacing mixture called amesite made either bought quarried Pennsylvania. Most it applied Alstate's own customers. Eighty-five percent here involved was done on companies producing commerce, 14 1/2% projects did relate commerce. no attempt segregate payments its basis their intrastate activities. 3 all were granted injunction prayed. 95 F.Supp. 585. Appeals Third Circuit affirmed, holding commerce,' 'off-the-road' plant 'for commerce.' 195 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 577. On similar facts, Eighth employees. Tobin versus Johnson, 198 130. An opposite result reached Tenth E. C. Schroeder Clifton, 153 385, Thomas Hempt Bros., 371 Pa. 383, 89 776. To settle we certiorari Bros. case. 344 895, 276. 4 Amesite produced use roads. None manufactured with purpose ship across state lines. For reason, so contends, Obviously, acceptance contention would require us read 'production though written transportation commerce'—that is, Such limiting language appear bill passed Senate,3 but Congress left out passed. Of course 'goods' shipping lines But could hold—consistently Overstreet North Shore Corp., 318 125, 63 494, 87 656, Pedersen Fitzgerald Co., 740, 742, 558, 1119—that only way produce 5 In cases, supra, had decide pointed indispensable 'instrumentalities' carriage persons move then because law fact integrated parts our system among states, Consequently he serves highways By same token produces these inseparable therefore conclude off-the-road 6 It contended should construe covering given contrary interpretation administrators 1938 until 1945. During first years after Act's passage administrator take position. more experience together judicial construction scope4 convinced unjustifiably narrow. He publicly announced protected new reported congressional committees number occasions. Interested severely criticized administrator's changes. Specific amendments urged neutralize interpretation. neutralizing suggested National Sand Gravel Association which has filed brief before amicus curiae.5 Instead adopting any suggestions undermine interpretation, 1949 amendment provided past orders, regulations interpretations remain effect 'except extent order, regulation, * may be inconsistent Act, time amended, modified, rescinded *.'6 7 decline repudiate an administrative refused being repeatedly do so. 8 There objection scope injunction, satisfied Appeals' treatment contention. 9 Affirmed. 10 DOUGLAS, whom FRANKFURTER concurs, dissenting. 11 reasons if man building highway commerce', carries cement gravel him nearby pit Yet true, how about men tools carry furnish make used gravel? Each essential worker circle gets amazingly large once say 'the includes Cf. McLeod Threlkeld, 319 491, 1248, 1538. 12 A person maintaining 496, 656. creating articles destined channels others close immediate connection process necessary part See Kirschbaum Walling, 316 517, 62 1116, 1120, 86 1638. If serve included, measure cases affecting brought into history shows extension federal domain intended. pages 522—523, 1119—1120. whose activities support under & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions think necessary. 52 Statutes-at-Large 1060, 910, 912—913, 29 Code KF62 §§ 207(a), 211(c), Annotated KF65 U5 211(c). 656; Judge KF105 F3 1119, reversing 288 N.Y. 687, 43 Eastern 83, authority supra. 81 Cong.Rec. 7957. Fleming 40 654, affirmed sub nom. Cir., 131 518; Lewis Florida Power Light 154 751; Southern Ice Hendrix, 689; Chapman Home 136 353. illustration Hearings Subcommittee House Committee Education H.R. 40, 80th Cong., 1st Sess. 1374—1375. 920, 208 note.

Classification Label: 6