Ottinger v. Brooklyn Union Gas Co.

Supreme Court

Ottinger v. Brooklyn Union Gas Co.

272 U.S. 579, 47 S. Ct. 199, 71 L. Ed. 421, 1926 U.S. LEXIS 27

CourtSupreme Court of the United States

DecidedNovember 29, 1926

Docket358, 365

StatusPublished

Cited by12 cases

This text of 272 U.S. 579 (Ottinger v. Brooklyn Union Gas Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of the United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Ottinger v. Brooklyn Union Gas Co., 272 U.S. 579, 47 S. Ct. 199, 71 L. Ed. 421, 1926 U.S. LEXIS 27 (1926).

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Opinion

Mr. Justice McReynolds

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Separate suits were begun by appellees in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, against the Public Service Commission and the Attorney General of that State. They sought injunctions against enforcement of the Act of June 2,-1923, c. 899, Laws of New York 1923, by which the Legislature directed that gas of six hundred and fifty British thermal units should be sold at not more than one dollar per thousand feet. Prior to June 2, 1923, under orders of the Commission, the Brooklyn Union Gas Company had been charging one dollar and fifteen cents and the Kings County Lighting Company one dollar and thirty cents per thousand feet for gas of five hundred and thirty-seven British thermal units.

The causes were referred to different masters. They took much evidence, and each reported that the rate pre scribed by the Legislature would yield less than five pe centum upon the fair value of the complainants’ property devoted to public use. With some exceptions, not now *581 important, these reports were approved and the court adjudged the statute confiscatory and therefore invalid. Also, that it was unreasonable and invalid in respect of the standard of six hundred and fifty British thermal units. 7 Fed. (2d) 192, 628.

The Commission declined to ask for an appeal to this court. The Attorney General, upon petitions which allege “ that in substance the decree restrains the defendants from enforcing in any way Chapter 899 of the Laws of 1923 of the State of New York and declares that said statute violates or is in contravention of Section 10 of Article I and of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States,” sued out broad appeals and has presented many assignments of error — one hundred and seven in No. 358, and twenty-one in No. 365. But we find no reason whatever advanced by him in brief or oral argument which would justify reversal of either decree.

The statute was clearly confiscatory in effect and there was no necessity for the District Court to consider any other objection thereto. We have not done so.

The decrees will be modified by excluding therefrom such parts as adjudge the statute invalid for any reason except conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment because confiscatory in effect. Thus modified, both are affirmed. All costs will be taxed against appellant.

Affirmed as modified.

Mr. Justice Brandéis concurs in the result.

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Mr. Justice McReynolds

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Separate suits were begun by appellees in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, against the Public Service Commission and the Attorney General of that State. They sought injunctions against enforcement of the Act of June 2,-1923, c. 899, Laws of New York 1923, by which the Legislature directed that gas of six hundred and fifty British thermal units should be sold at not more than one dollar per thousand feet. Prior to June 2, 1923, under orders of the Commission, the Brooklyn Union Gas Company had been charging one dollar and fifteen cents and the Kings County Lighting Company one dollar and thirty cents per thousand feet for gas of five hundred and thirty-seven British thermal units.

The causes were referred to different masters. They took much evidence, and each reported that the rate pre scribed by the Legislature would yield less than five pe centum upon the fair value of the complainants’ property devoted to public use. With some exceptions, not now *581 important, these reports were approved and the court adjudged the statute confiscatory and therefore invalid. Also, that it was unreasonable and invalid in respect of the standard of six hundred and fifty British thermal units. 7 Fed. (2d) 192, 628.

The Commission declined to ask for an appeal to this court. The Attorney General, upon petitions which allege “ that in substance the decree restrains the defendants from enforcing in any way Chapter 899 of the Laws of 1923 of the State of New York and declares that said statute violates or is in contravention of Section 10 of Article I and of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States,” sued out broad appeals and has presented many assignments of error — one hundred and seven in No. 358, and twenty-one in No. 365. But we find no reason whatever advanced by him in brief or oral argument which would justify reversal of either decree.

The statute was clearly confiscatory in effect and there was no necessity for the District Court to consider any other objection thereto. We have not done so.

The decrees will be modified by excluding therefrom such parts as adjudge the statute invalid for any reason except conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment because confiscatory in effect. Thus modified, both are affirmed. All costs will be taxed against appellant.

Affirmed as modified.

Mr. Justice Brandéis concurs in the result.

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272 U.S. 579, 47 S. Ct. 199, 71 L. Ed. 421, 1926 U.S. LEXIS 27, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ottinger-v-brooklyn-union-gas-co-scotus-1926.

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