J. C. Famechon Co. v. Hines

185 N.W. 941, 151 Minn. 9, 1921 Minn. LEXIS 431
CourtSupreme Court of Minnesota
DecidedDecember 23, 1921
DocketNo. 22,465
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 185 N.W. 941 (J. C. Famechon Co. v. Hines) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
J. C. Famechon Co. v. Hines, 185 N.W. 941, 151 Minn. 9, 1921 Minn. LEXIS 431 (Mich. 1921).

Opinion

Hallam, J.

This is an action to recover a rental charge of $5 which was paid by the plaintiff to defendant for the use of a refrigerator car furnished to and used by plaintiff for the shipment on February 25, 1919, of a carload of potatoes from Page, North Dakota, to Chicago via Minneapolis. At Minneapolis the car was reconsigned to Galena, Kansas. The shipment weighed 86,000 pounds and the published tariff was 49 cents per cwt., making the freight, with the war tax added, $181.69. An additional charge of $5 was exacted for use of a refrigerator car, and this, with war tax, increased the amount exacted to $186.84. The court found for plaintiff and defendant appeals.

The five-dollar charge was exacted by virtue of a tariff which reads as follows:

“Rental charges on insulated cars — When shipper uses a refrigerator or other insulated car during the period from October 15th to the following April 15th, both dates inclusive, for loading with potatoes or other vegetables, classified as taking Class C rates in Western Classification in straight or mixed carloads to be heated by him or to be moved without heat, a charge of five dollars per car per trip will be made for the use of the car.”

[11]*11The contention of plaintiff is that the exaction of the rental charge was illegal, or, in other words, that after establishing a line haul rate, the Interstate Commerce Commission has no authority to authorize a separate charge for the use of a refrigerator or other insulated car. The theory is in substance this: That the rate for the line haul of this commodity was intended to cover compensation for the use of a proper car for the carriage of the particular commodity, that a refrigerator or insulated car ivas the only proper car for the carriage of potatoes, and that the tariff for the line haul was therefore predicated upon the use of a refrigerator or other insulated car and no additional charge could be made therefor.

The fact is the Interstate Commerce Commission has authorized one rate for shipment in other than refrigerator or insulated cars and what is in effect a higher rate for shipment in such cars. We are asked to hold that the commission has no power to authorize a higher rate for the latter service.

It is settled law that when freight is offered for shipment the carrier is bound to furnish proper facilities for transportation of the freight offered. Brennisen v. Pennsylvania R. Co. 100 Minn. 102, 110 N. W. 362, 10 Ann. Cas. 169; Hutchinson, Carriers, § 509.

It is the province of the courts and not of the Interstate Commerce Commission to determine what is the proper type of car for any particular shipment. U. S. v. Pennsylvania R. Co. 242 U. S. 208, 37 Sup. Ct. 95, 61 L. ed. 251; Hutchinson, Carriers, § 505.

The fixing and adjustment of rates, however, come within the province of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the courts cannot interfere with the rates fixed by order of the commission, unless it is made plainly to appear that those orders are void. Atchi-son, T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. U. S. 232 U. S. 199, 221, 34 Sup. Ct. 291, 58 L. ed. 568.

As we view the case the question here involved is one of adjustment of rates. The court found that “during the. months of February and March, 1919, a refrigerator or other insulated car was the only proper and suitable car in which to transport potatoes from Minnesota to any place beyond the boundaries of the state of Minnesota.” There is no finding that such cars are the only suitable [12]*12cars for transportation of potatoes during the whole year, and, although there was some testimony to that effect, we cannot for obvious reasons assume such to be the fact.

Several decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission are enlightening:

In Rental Charges for Insulated Cars, 31 I. C. C. 255, 257 (June, 1914), a charge of $5 for use of a refrigerator car in the transportation of potatoes was sustained. The commission said: “The record in this proceeding shows that in the beginning potatoes moved in box cars during the fall months and the rates were fixed on the basis of such movement; they now move largely in refrigerator cars and during the winter months. There is nothing of record to warrant the commission in finding that the proposed charge is either unjust, unreasonable, or unduly discriminatory.”

In Northern Potato Traffic Assn. v. Chicago & A. R. Co. 44 I. C. C. 426, 431 (April, 1917), there was involved the propriety of a similar charge for use of refrigerator cars in shipment of potatoes. It was said the record showed that potatoes have moved for years in refrigerator cars when such cars were available and that the statement in 31 I. C. C. “that the rates were originally made on the theory that the traffic would move in box cars was erroneous.” The commission further said, however [p. 433]: “Complainant stresses the fact that the duty rests upon a common carrier to furnish suitable equipment and insists that the refrigerator car is' the only appropriate equipment for the carriage of potatoes. But potatoes may be, and are, transported in box and stock cars, and the main purpose in using the refrigerator car is to protect the potatoes. The duty does not rest upon the carrier to furnish special equipment if it does provide some method by which the commodity can be protected from the cold during the winter months. We are not persuaded by the present record that the rental charge during the winter season is shown to be unreasonable.” The charge was held discriminatory on other grounds.

In In the Matter of Private Cars, 51 I. C. C. 652, 709 (July, 1918), a proceeding of inquiry into rules, regulations and practices govern[13]*13ing the operation of private cars, the commission apparently reverted to the rule of 31 I. C. C. 255, and further said “a charge in addition to freight rates should not be made for furnishing to shippers refrigerator, tank, or other special type of car, * * * unless the freight rates are predicated on the transportation in another type of car less expensive and not so difficult to operate.”

Perishable Freight Investigation, 56 I. C. C. 449 (Feb. 1920), departs from the rule recommended in 31 I. C. C. 255, and, as “a development of this rule,” lays down a rule which “amounts to saying that no special charge should be imposed when the line haul rates are or should be predicated upon insulated car movement,” and specifically holds “a carrier is entitled to reasonable compensation for the service which it performs, and, if it is obliged to provide special equipment for the safe transportation of any particular class of freight, it may properly give that fact due weight in fixing its charges. Where insulated cars are necessary for the carriage of perishable freight, compensation may be secured in one of two ways — either through the line-haul rate, or by levying a separate charge.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

JC Famechon Co. v. Northern Pac. R. Co.
23 F.2d 307 (Eighth Circuit, 1927)
J. C. Famechon Co. v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co.
11 F.2d 312 (D. Minnesota, 1926)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
185 N.W. 941, 151 Minn. 9, 1921 Minn. LEXIS 431, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/j-c-famechon-co-v-hines-minn-1921.