Legal Document

366 U.S. 643 81 Supreme Court Reporter 1278 6 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 575 UNITED STATES, etc., et al., Petitionersv.OREGON. Number 329. Argued April 25, 1961. Decided May 29, Mr. Herbert E. Morris, Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Miss Catherine Zorn, Salem, Or., respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Adam Warpouske, an Oregon resident, died in a Veterans' Administration Hospital without will or legal heirs, leaving net estate composed personal property worth about $13,000. law provides that such shall escheat to State.1 A statute, on other hand, when veteran dies heirs veterans' hospital, his 'shall immediately vest and become as trustee sole use benefit General Post Fund * *.'2 In reliance upon these provisions their respective statutes, both State Government filed claims Warpouske's probate court having jurisdiction matter. 2 Recognizing federal if applicable valid, would make claim paramount, attacked Government's statute two grounds: first, it urged did not apply this case theory its depended made valid contract with prior death Warpouske had no because he been mentally incompetent do so entered hospital at all times thereafter up death; and, secondly, even applicable, was invalid pertains devolution property, matter contended have wholly reserved by Tenth Amendment. 3 After hearings, found fact unable enter into mental incompetence. That then accepted State's interpretation requiring prerequisite application concluded since could not, case, made, entitled virtue law. On appeal, affirmed same grounds.3 Because importance question statutory construction alleged conflict between decision decisions previously state courts final jurisdiction,4 we granted certiorari.5 4 Since accept findings leave States, crucial is whether can prevail absence contract. We hold grounds relied does require violate 5 The controlling provision passed 1941 amendment Sundry Appropriations Act 1910.6 1910 quite plainly unequivocally provided admission applicant home should 'be constitute binding Board Managers said while member home, nor next kin, owned time death, including money choses action held him disposed post fund *.' contractual nature clear indeed, expressly recognized validity brought before Court.7 greatly amplified, however, amendments adopted 19418 central Act, quoted above, significantly changed. Section new restates reference word 'contract,' providing simply 'while patient any facility, being furnished care treatment,' 'not otherwise, *.'9 goes supplement basic are drawn language But must be read context § which give rise conclusive presumption contract.'10 Read context, appears inconsistent automatic vesting 1. Quite contrary, seems plain us 'contractual' were included purpose reinforcing rather than detracting from 1—the thought apparently there some chance unconstitutional consequently advisable include alternative bases upheld.11 7 This natural makes fit well pattern legislation dealing subject. solicitude Congress veterans long standing.12 pensions, homes, hospitals facilities supplied ever-increasing scale. Many veterans, deceased here, depend benefits periods lives. example, spent more ten years life, various intervals time, homes throughout country. These only those times. congressional plan here whatever little wills kin happen they die paid Fund, used recreation pleasure ex-service men women who spend daysi n hospitals. idea expressed Representative Jennings during discussion floor House: 'And much better let go inure under laws (a) State?'13 8 Having unequivocal face, find need resort legislative history Act.14 has placed heavy history, deem appropriate point out best inconclusive. It true, points out, Rankin, Chairman Committee handling bill House, view course insane contracts.15 statements, stand alone, never regarded sufficiently compelling justify deviation statute. They less powerful countervailing evidence intention drafted bill. sent Speaker very form passed, Bureau itself.16 And Bureau, told, consistently interpreted making sanity insanity entirely irrelevant determination rights Act. 9 see merit challenge constitutionality construed manner. undoubtedly power—under constitutional powers raise armies navies conduct wars—to pay build veterans. think sources power authorize left wards government devoted comfort people care. render invalid.17 Although true area normally immune Amendment Federal are, necessary proper exercise delegated power.18 10 judgment reversed cause remanded further proceedings opinion. 11 Reversed. 12 DOUGLAS, whom WHITTAKER concurs, dissenting. 13 & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions how decedent's constitutionally pass States. succession real traditionally our y stem. Mager versus Grima, How. 490, 493—494, L.Ed. 1168. tradition continues. Burnison, 339 87, 91—92, 70 503, 505—506, 94 675; Clark Allen, 331 517, 67 1431, 1439, 91 1633; Irving Trust company Day, 314 556, 562, 62 398, 401, 86 452; Lyeth Hoey, 305 188, 193, 59 155, 158, 83 119. An individual away assets—making promisee—and enforced, Stevens, 302 623, 627, 58 388, 390, 82 484. may quantum meruit lie against person who, though utterly baron concededly was, received treatment hospital.1 unexpended funds pensions insurance policies exchange services rendered incompetent. See Hall, 98 343, 25 180; Wissner Wissner, 338 655, 424; cf. Miller Music Corporation Charles N. Daniels, Inc., 362 373, 80 792, 804. legislate concerning competent incompetent, settled. Hines Lowrey, 85, 31, 56. 14 deal inheritance brother—an How provide sum difficult understand. one intestate distributed;2 right Never before, believe, governing dying allowed override Some affected policy, recently Kolovrat Oregon, 187, 922, 218. Thus where treaty another nation reciprocal nationals countries, cannot otherwise. If could, indeed revising foreign policy makes. Fourteenth Amendment, rules also compelled bow policy. R.S. 1978, 42 Code KF62 1982, Annotated KF65 U5 1982. 15 Yet Supremacy Clause limits. For supremacy 'in pursuance' Constitution. Court, course, recognizes this; justifies Necessary Proper Article I, 8. 16 them support wars. administration estates (which owing veterans) me far cry power. present character. 17 phrased designed draw treasury kind mentioned, six cents million dollars. rendered, effort restrict amount received. 18 purports act now 38 §§ 5220—5228, 5220—5228. form, came 1941. 26, 1941, 55 Statutes-at-Large 868. regulates disposition leaves surviving spouse, domicile. Such says, States.' acceptance terms 'the effect assignment' effective death. 'leaving heirs' gives 'to presumption' way 2. Moreover, authorized administer estate, paying creditors' claims, presented within designated times, granting preference priorities prescribed local 4. 19 know that, based 'a assign case. During period hospitalization—from March 1, 1956, 19, day death—he either comatose semicomatose.3 contrary (cf. Tot 319 463, 63 1241, 87 1519). involving assignment Government. To what proper? Only warned expansive Clause. stated itself grant power, but caveat possesses means carry out' specifically granted. Kinsella ex rel. Singleton, 361 234, 247, 297, 304, 268. Powers given 'were reserved,' Madison said. VI Writings James (Hunt ed.) 390. 'no beyond enumerated Constitution, fairly incident them.' Ibid. 20 Veterans anyone else beneficiary absent precludes it. supra. 'fairly incident' raising supporting conducting wars take over interstate, reason why too. why, allow today, supersede thus comfort, care, dependent collects receive. No greater collision took realty displaced entire here. Oregon's explicit her people. conclusively presumed exist intestate, will. veteran, employee, officeholder, pensioner. Of expected vast extreme. we—unlike England—live written Constitution limits powers, entrusting conscience body. 21 dilute national government. face truism runs through decisions. Darby, 312 100, 124, 61 451, 462, 85 609; Oklahoma Phillips Guy KF105 F3 Atkinson Co., 313 508, 534, 1050, 1063, 1487; Case Bowles, 327 92, 101, 66 438, 443, 90 552. enters field historically decedents' estates, relation asserted shown. At reaches deep problems. Wickard Filburn, 317 111, 82, 122, commerce extent home-grown home-used wheat, total control essential interstate wheat market. semblance likeness estates—made States—is phase ability manage fiscal affairs. 22 Today's square conception federalism. There nothing deeply imbedded scheme possibly Congress. 23 Raising borrowing taxing explicitly appropriating assets relationship (as most today) among powers. bottom desire help finance operations.4 set rates rendered; obtain patients assignments States; induce encourage beneficiaries wills. possible man's consent creditor sense. done taxation condemnation. applied levy Constitution; serious inroad With deference, dissent. Ore.Rev.Stat. 120.010 provides: 'Immediately real, mixed interest state, escheats vests subject creditors ORS 120.060 120.130; proceeds derived therefrom part Common School loaned invested Land Board, law.' (1952 17; 5220. 222 Or. 40, 352 Pacific Reporter, 2nd 539. Skriziszouski's Estate, 382 Pa. 634, 116 Atlantic 841; re Gonsky's 79 N.D. 123, North Western 60. 364 877, 165, 100. 36 703, 736. 'In passing June, 1910, merely directed conditions law, admittance Homes built, maintained, operated aged, needy, infirm, return bestowed them, generally receive members.' 868, seq.; 5220 seq. 17a; 5221. fears doubtless arose, least, Circuit Appeals had, Stevens supra, declared milder Cir., 89 151, holding ultimately Brief History Legislation Pertaining Benefits, Cong.Rec. 5203—5204. Cf. Bowen, 100 513—514, 631; National Home Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Danville, Ill. Wood, 299 211, 216, 57 137, 139, 130. 5203. H.R.Rep. 609, 77th Cong., 1st Sess., Pages 1—2. See, e.g., implicit 388. note 11, 56, rejected contention confer authority incompetents. 552; 609. Restitution, Restatement Law, Am.L.Inst. (1937), 114; Corbin Contracts (1951) 1109. large life Hospitals, especially 1930 1945. (The record shows states.) arises solely death' Hospital. inspiration seen (H.R.Rep.No. Sess.; S.Rep.No. 900, Sess.), Administration, perhaps relevant following observation: 'Politicians taxpayers assumed (with occasional phases doubt) rising number civil servants reflect growing volume work done. Cynics, questioning belief, imagined multiplication officials idle able shorter hours. faih doubt seem equally misplaced. quantity related each all. employed governed Parkinson's Law increase, diminish, disappear. lies growth analysis factors controlled.' Parkinson, (1957), 3—4.

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