Legal Document

343 U.S. 373 72 Supreme Court Reporter 716 96 L.Ed. 1008 SWIFT & CO.v.UNITED STATES et al. Number 282. Argued March 6, 1952. Decided May 5, [Syllabus from pages 373-374 intentionally omitted] Frederick Bernays Wiener, Washington, D.C., for appellant. Daniel W. Knowlton, appellees, United States and Interstate Commerce Commission. Douglas Federal KF105 F3 Smith, Chicago, Ill., railroad defendants. Lee Judge Quasey, National Live Stock Producers Assn. others. Nuel D. Belnap, Chicago Exchange Guy Atlantic Gladson, Bryce L. Hamilton, appellees Union Yard Transit company of Chicago. Mr. Justice MINTON delivered the opinion Court. 1 On July 28, 1947, appellant, Swift Company, filed a complaint, later amended, before Commission against Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe other railroads, alleging that charges on direct carload shipments livestock1 points outside Illinois to its proposed new plant in Packingtown area are (1) unreasonable, (2) unduly prejudicial livestock as commodity, (3) competitors, all violation Act.2 asked establishment reasonable joint through rates line-haul carriers serving Junction Railroad's lessee, River Indiana Railroad, hereafter called Junction,3 such include delivery Swift's industrial siding at not exceed now effect Yards railroads area. plant, near present will be located Junction's rails those any carrier. 2 After sought file tariff cancelling switching provides flat charge freight sidings team tracks; under tariff, would have offered services circumstances. others objected, filing was suspended so could hear complaint request together consolidated record. 3 The dismissed refused cancel livestock. versus T. S.F.R. Co., 274 I.C.C. 557. then review Commission's order dismissal by statutory three-judge District That court sustained order, this appeal followed pursuant 28 Code KF62 §§ 1253 2101(b), Annotated KF65 U5 1253, 2101(b). No question is raised refusal tariff. 4 All rail handled solely carriers; terminals rate. Such unloading pens switches directly adjoining carrier's rails. one large packer has terminal can receive rates. This terminal, Omaha Packing Plant, subsidiary situated two one-half miles northeast district, Burlington Here receives shipments, about 6,500 carloads annually, which it trucks area.4 balance whether or otherwise, Yards, with some minor exceptions, over certain running tracks pens. trackage rights these paid Junction. Yards' facilities, including vast system runways, overpasses tunnels, used drive packer's plant. facilities fixed Secretary Agriculture. never switched except an emergency. 5 contrasted 'dead freight.'5 make no deliveries dead freight; none approximately 500 industries plants do lead plants. Consequently, alongside connecting 6 Since only participating does participate, however, freight. For operation covered participates, $28.80 per car.6 apply which, we noted, but rather 7 Trains made up break-up yards few several Yards. A train coming west moves Ashland Junction, divided into North South receipt, separation, distribution cars empties outbound packers industries, while inbound division three parallel owned numbered 1102, 1103 1104, permitted operate out Sixty-three percent trains composed exclusively trains, carrying both 8 An all-livestock carrier, using own crew equipment, eastward Track there spotted unloading. While being unloaded, engine cuts off, passes around end couples on; when completed, returns westward 1102 1104 back empties. movement 9 point 1103, just train. In train, dead-freight hauled behind rear. At cut upon nine receiving tracks, been couple onto move them means ingress west, blocked remaining track. Sometimes many four time tied reason block 1103. 10 east pass proceeds yards. However, if were granted. fact most western makes portion transportation unimportant purposes. 11 If granted, manner Instead movement, movements—one carriers, second tie-up described above, increased accordingly consigned place tracks. congestion costs involved cannot easily Livestock 'kicked' operations cars, stopped collision cars. must placed minimum rough handling. Still further difficulties encountered because watered fed every twenty-eight hours, accordance federal law. 45 § 71 seq., seq. When arrives generally hours comply Therefore, expeditious handling required, especially since along unloading, watering feeding. Some 31 required car clear delivered. It apparent much less time. 12 pay Although moved past emergency, existing tariffs rate applied commodities. But obtain what seeks, carrier establish higher than mean absorb charge, decreased, sharing absorbing amount decrease. 13 bottleneck geared provide special receive. huge quantities handled7 restricted resulted development, period seventy years, complicated, intricate pattern operation. reason, attempt change calls expert consideration administrative judgment—a task courts ill-fitted perform. gave weight relevant factors, decision should overturned. We report. 14 found circumstances presented provided unreasonable otherwise unlawful livestock, secondly, necessary desirable public interest. took account historical development therein yard expansion impracticable. highly congested and, witness put it, 'running bank full.' true decreasing, fold, continue foreseeable future. careful complication additional different movements Whether existed years established rate, recognized definite calling area, displaced another complicate necessitate use properties included fixed, committed judgment based findings abundantly supported evidence whole record, case, duty sustain it. Ayrshire Collieries Corporation States, 335 573, 593, 69 278, 289, 93 243; Jersey City, 322 503, 522—523, 64 1129, 1138, 88 1420; 316 216, 230—231, 62 948, 955, 86 1391; Adams Mills, 286 397, 409—410, 52 589, 592, 76 1184; Pacific R. 222 541, 547—548, 32 108, 110 111, 56 308. 15 reasonableness posed case Hygrade Food Products 195 553. There, finding disturbed. 295 193, 55 748, 79 1382. $12 car. considerably higher, commodities risen also. 16 burden showing Swift. Louisville N.R. 238 1, 11, 35 696, 698, 59 1177. sustained; having approved tacitly Court, supra, their presumed absence contrary. 17 high finds uneconomical itself unreasonableness revision ground asked. Any excess considered demanding Unreasonableness mere assertion. Power Comm. Hope Natural Gas 320 591, 602, 281, 287, 333. 18 next argued discrimination commodity impose addition same point. argument completely answered more complex nature compared cost Switching service performed figured attacked here, contemplated them. 19 Reliance Baltimore O.R. 333 169, 68 494, 92 618. had practice. Cleveland terminate segment track serve wanted prevent thereof unless routed therefor alternative, equivalent leading siding. plan discriminated competitors get without hence unaffected demands. held ownership work Congress said exist. 20 'Here constitutional authority shall engage types discriminatory conduct provisions Act. here. excuse owner 1619 prohibited things. command subordinated practice discrimination.' Id., page 177, 498. 21 Delivery allowed act upset usual procedure, vastly complicated operational setting, obtaining procedure fixed. granted relief seeks something receives, instead against, favor. already enjoys competitive advantage hardly heard say favors 22 also failed treatment opposed localities who These competitors' part carriers' rails, involved. elsewhere, similarly situated. 23 New York Central Railroad Company. latter agreement contained provision 'the benefit, behoof business affairs' proceeding begun Commission, did intend defend Attorneys wrote letter general counsel Central, attention failure covenant agreement. They pointed possessed meet issue adduced, agreement, obligated avoid irreparable injury Thereafter, defended. 24 contention illegal. find matter. As far concerned, Yards; affect demand event allowed, unquestionably very material. 25 give probability successful, might service. likelihood seemed us, obvious. packers, reasonably forecast received reaching conclusions light overcrowded condition complexity operations, necessity extra care led giving covenant. wholly unnecessary thereto. covenant's impact may consistent consideration, shown controlling manner, relied 26 given arguments forth equally merit; they require discussion opinion. 27 affirmed. Affirmed. 29 REED, whom DOUGLAS joins, dissenting. 30 N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions am able accept conclusion majority record deny appellant's prayer between defendants defendant, Railroad. admitted here save private district embracing concludes 'discrimination point,' violates requirement equality To accord sidetracks constitutes preference proscribed 49 3(1), 3(1). See note law Act, set interest best served common patrons. sure, avoiding maximum amounts traffic bottleneck. decided, commonweal guaranteeing carriers. congestion, limitations shipping disadvantages borne shippers, unreasonably prefer orders, authorized prescribe goods marketed inadequacy not, my opinion, cured penalizing benefit When, fixing fail furnish shippers application fix established, 15(3), similar commodities, course proper respective consider answer difference shipper entitled problem comes determine factor Joint accorded Then, until then, properly rely fact, 'more freight' justifiable 722. commission increase depend regard congestion. 33 reverse. 34 FRANKFURTER, conflicting views brethren imply serious differences interpreting meaning scope report Plainly, therefore, speak needed clarity. Therein lies difficulty case. done ambiguous, how decide did? Dubiety precludes intelligible judicial review. 36 matter, merely rate-fixing controversy specifically considerations justified imposition local 4.8 cents 100 pounds1 combination fair sidings. And according amply sustains constitute REED interpret all, but, effect, determination unlike Commodities, excluded stockyards although terms designedly preferential is, course, intensified prohibitive. 37 Where, draw strands explanation spoken sufficient clearness. 'We know becomes ours right wrong.' M., St. KF135 P2 P.R. 294 500, 511, 462, 467, 1023. think below reversed direction remand appropriate action. term 'direct shipments' denote slaughter, distinguished men sale market. Sections 1(4) 1(5) rates; 3(1) prohibits undue particular description traffic. transports interstate traffic, performs trucking $50,000; either consigning paying yardage Dead figure examiner. Subsequent increases brought $39.24. During 1945, 1946 average 726,000 year, loaded empty, funnelled hearing held, 60,000 pounds.

Classification Label: 7