Court Opinion

ID: 6957987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:40:43.41783+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:20.548565
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Scott delivered- the opinion of the Court: In February, 1872, plaintiffs had on hand a large amount of corn, which they were desirous of selling. They effected a sale in the Eastern market, at a certain price, upon the basis of a tariff of freights, to “Boston and Boston points,” at the rate of 80J cents per one hundred pounds, which the proof shows was then the regular rate or charge. By the terms of the contract with the shippers, the consignees were to pay the charges on the corn as a part of the contract price, the"rate being made known to them, and was as previously agreed upon with defendant, viz: 80§- cents per one hundred pounds. Plaintiffs testified they made the sale upon a small margin, expecting to get a rebate or drawback on the rates, by which they would have realized a profit. Under a special contract, the railroad carried a large amount of corn for plaintiffs. The controversy in the ease is as to the terms on which the company was to freight the corn. Plaintiffs claim it was to be carried at 80J cents per one hundred pounds, and the company, by special agreement, was to allow them a drawback or rebate on the charges, to the amount of 5j cents. On the other hand, the company contend the contract was to carry the corn at a reduced rate, viz : 75 cents per one hundred pounds. As to the terms of the shipping contract, the evidence is quite conflicting; but there are some facts that appear to strengthen plaintiffs’ theory of the case. They had sold the corn at a certain price, on the definite agreement the consignees would pay the usual charges, viz : 80J cents. It was obviously no interest to them to negotiate for a reduction of rates, if they were to receive no benefit therefrom. A significant fact in the case is, the corn was, in fact, billed at 80-|-cents at Lincoln, but the rates were changed at Toledo without the knowledge or consent of the shippers. Some of the cars so billed went through without change of rates, upon which the consignees paid the charges at the rates agreed upon in advance. As to these cars, the company allowed plaintiffs a drawback of 5|- cents, which has been paid. Upon the whole evidence the court below, before whom the cause was tried without the intervention of a jury, found the company contracted to allow plaintiffs a drawback of 5§- cents; and we are not prepared to say it found incorrectly. Were it a question of first impression with us, we might reach the same conclusion ; but regarding the finding of the court as we would the verdict of a jury, we perceive no reason for disturbing it. The question of the most difficulty in the case is, whether the local agent of the company had authority to make the contract insisted upon. Upon this question the evidence is as conflicting as upon any point in the case. Weed was the local agent of defendant, with whom the contract was negotiated. He wrote, as he says, to the general freight agent for authority to make a special contract as to rates on plaintiffs’ corn. According to his testimony, he reported to Congdon he had authority to contract for a reduced rate, viz: 75 cents per one hundred pounds, to the points indicated. But Cong-don says he told him then, distinctly, he did not want reduced rates—he wanted a drawback, to be paid to his firm when the shipments of corn were made. Weed returned again, and Congdon s testimony is to the effect Weed then told him he had authority to make an arrangement by which the company would allow plaintiffs a rebate of 5|- cents. Weed, however, denies the statements of Congdon in this particular. Whatever Weed’s instructions were, they were contained in a letter from the general freight agent. That letter, he says, was returned as soon as the contract was closed. It was not produced on the trial. The explanation Weed gives of the fact the grain was billed, when shipped, at 80| cents is, defendant had a contract with the Chicago and Alton Eailroad Company to maintain the rates at 80J cents from Lincoln to “Boston and Boston points,” and the company did not want any evidence in his office of the violation of the agreement. It was for that reason, he says, he returned his letter of instruction. There was certainly an apparent authority in the local agent to contract for carrying the grain under some special arrangement. It seems quite certain, from all the evidence, the corn was shipped over defendant’s road on the agreement the company would allow plaintiffs a rebate on the usual charges; and, having availed of the benefits of the contract, the' company ought not now to be permitted to repudiate it on the ground their agent had no authority to make it. There is nothing in the point insisted upon, that plaintiffs were endeavoring to defraud the consignees, and the contract, if made, was therefore unlawful. The consignees had agreed to pay so much for the corn, with the rates at 80J cents. Had the usual rates been lower, we may presume the shippers would have been able to obtain a larger price. There was no fraud intended, nor none, in fact, in the transaction, so far as we can see. We do not understand the contract is at all in violation of the statute to prevent unjust discriminations in charges byTailroad carriers. The contract was to carry the grain at the customary rates. The rebate in the charges was a matter of private agreement between the carrier and the shipper. The judgment must be affirmed. Judgment affirmed.