Court Opinion

ID: 9668387
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:11:11.729579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:45.121068
License: Public Domain

LETTS, Justice
(dissenting).
I concede that a literal construction of the statute leads to the result announced in the court’s opinion but I am not prepared to agree that Congress intended the result. The reason of the law should prevail over its letter. Sorrells v. United States, 287 U.S. 435, 53 S.Ct. 210, 77 L.Ed. 413, 86 A.L.R. 249.
The provisions of Section 202 of the Motor Carrier Act evince the clear intent of Congress to limit the jurisdiction of the Commission to regulating the motor-carrier industry as a part of the transportation system of the nation. The literal construction which the court has given the Act extends the regulation to factors which are not characteristic of transportation or inherent in the industry. It would seem to enlarge the jurisdiction of the Commission and extend it beyond the congressional grant of power. Section 202 (a) provides in part as follows: “It is hereby declared to be the policy .of Congress to regulate transportation by motor carriers in such manner as to recognize and preserve the inherent advantages of, and foster sound economic conditions in, such transportation and among such carriers in the public interest.”
Congress was confronted with a situation which demanded a practical solution. Casualties on the road had become countless. The legislative history seems to evidence a purpose to effect safety of operation. Congress was aware that many states had enacted statutes prescribing maximum hours of service for drivers of motor vehicles operated in intrastate commerce. Of the forty-three states in which such statutes are found none has dealt with maximum hours of other employees. In such state statutes there was a lack of uniformity which operated against the public interest. By the enactment of the Motor Carrier A.ct Congress sought to conform such regulations. By the enactment the lack of uniformity in the detail of such statutes was overcome so far as the regulations related to interstate commerce either directly or indirectly. It has often been said by the Supreme Court that uniformity of regulation is one of the purposes of the commerce clause of the Constitution. Non-compliance with a Federal law will not be excused because it is at variance with a state statute. Congress in the enactment of the Motor Carrier Act exercised its power to insure uniformity of regulation as against the influence of conflicting and discriminating state legislation in relation to interstate commerce.
The known and grave increase in casualties and the need of conformity of regulation required serious thought and prompt Congressional action. The remedy which Congress afforded had direct relation to the evils of which it was aware and which it sought to cure. I find nothing in the legislative history which indicates that Congress in its consideration of this act gave thought to sociological problems or economic considerations beyond those naturally incident to safety of operation in interstate commerce. The history of the legislation does not reveal any legislative concern about unemployment or other related social and economic • problems which would have been of prime importance if Congress had undertaken to regulate all employees including those whose duties or service have no relation to safety of operation. The inclusive language here considered was not placed in the bill by the legislative committees. Nor was it considered by the committees or discussed by any witness at any hearing. It *41was placed in the bill by amendment offered on the floor of the Senate and accepted without debate. The amendment was not germane to the bill and if given a literal interpretation produces an unexpected and unintended result. It would extend the jurisdiction of the Commission to social problems which Congress had no thought of doing.
This view is not inconsistent with but in recognition of the Commission’s power to prescribe qualifications and hours of service for all such employees whose duties relate to safety of operation. It should not be said as a matter of law that such jurisdiction extends, to such classes of employees whose service has no relation to safety of operation. What classes of employees are to be so regulated is a mixed question of law and fact which will be decided in proper cases after hearings are held to determine the facts.
I am of opinion that to give the Act the broad construction which a literal meaning requires leads to an unreasonable result which is inconsistent with the intent of Congress. I conclude that this case falls within the group of cases controlled by the rule announced in the case of Ozawa v. United States, 260 U.S. 178, 43 S.Ct. 65, 67, 67 L.Ed. 199, as follows: “It is the duty of this Court to give effect to the intent of Congress. Primarily this intent is ascertained by giving the words their natural significance, but if this leads to an unreasonable result plainly at variance with the policy of the legislation as a whole, we must examine the matter further. We may then look to the reason of the enactment and inquire into its antecedent history and give it effect in accordance with its design and purpose, sacrificing, if necessary, the literal meaning in order that the purpose may not fail.”
See also Sorrells v. United States, 287 U.S. 435, 53 S.Ct. 210, 77 L.Ed. 413, 86 A.L.R. 249.
To hold otherwise requires that we find in the statute necessary standards to warrant the delegation of congressional powers which a literal reading of the statute implies. I am unable to find standards in the language of the act which will protect it from assault oil constitutional grounds. The absence of such standards negatives and rebuts the implication that Congress intended to extend the jurisdiction of the Commission.