Opinion by
Kbnworthby, J.,
The questions are: (1) Whether the Milk’ Control Law
authorizes the Milk Control Commission to fix minimum prices for the sale of milk to the United States ; (2) whether there was, on February 15,1941, any order of the Commission which, when properly construed, applied to such sales; and (3) if these questions are answered in the affirmative, whether the law, and the order issued pursuant to it, cast an unconstitutional burden upon the government.
The fácts are virtually undisputed. On February 1, 1941, the government purchasing officer, at Indiantown Gap, sent to various milk dealers, including defendant,
invitations to bid on the milk requirements for the army reservation located there. The requirements called for the delivery of 135,000 one-quart bottles and 540,000 half-pint bottles between March 1 and June 30, 1941. On February 4, 1941, the Milk Control Commission promulgated a notice “To All Milk Dealers Interested In Submitting Bids to Furnish Milk to the United States Government at Indiantown Gap,” one of which went to defendant. Accompanying the notice, were copies of the orders which the Commission deemed applicable. The notice indicated the minimum price to be $0.095 per bottle for the milk sold in quarts and $0.025 for that sold in half-pints, and the notice closed with a warning that any sales at prices below the pre
scribed, minimum s would be construed as violations of tbe law. The notice, except for the tabulation of specifications, is printed in the margin.
On February. 15, 1941, the bids were opened and the contract awarded defendant as the lowest bidder. Defendant’s bid for both quantities — $0,079 for the quarts and $0.0215 for the. half-pints — was below the. mínimums.
On March 5, 1941, the Commission issued a citation to defendant to show cause why its application for a milk dealer’s license for the year May .1, 1941 to and including April 30, 1942, should not be refused. The sole ground alleged was the aforesaid violation of its Order. Defendant, by answer, raised the questions which are now before this court. The Commission, having refused the license in an order which, on appeal, was sustained by the court of common pleas, defendant took this appeal.
First.
Does the Milk Control Law authorize the Commission to fix minimum prices for milk sold, to the government? . .
. The Act,. Section 802, provides: “The Commission shall fix ...... the minimum wholesale and retail
prices......to be charged for milk sold within any milk marketing area of the Commonwealth wheresoever produced,
including
milk sold by: 1. Milk dealers to other milk dealers; 2. milk dealers to consumers; 3. milk dealers to stores ......; 4. stores to consumers ......” (Italics supplied.) Conceding, arguendo, that the government is not included in any of the enumerated classes, the question is whether “including” is a word of limitation — whether it means “including only”. It is sometimes thus used; it is perhaps
more often used as a word of extension or enlargement
“To arrive at the real meaning, it is always necessary to take a broad general view’ of the act, so as to get an exact conception of its aim, scope and object.”
Keating v. White et al.,
141 Pa. Superior Ct. 495, 504, 15 A. (2d.) 396; Statutory Construction Act of May 28, 1937, P. L. 1019, 46 PS 551, 554, 563. The purpose of the law (Sec. 101) is to regulate and control the milk industry “for the protection of the public health and welfare and for the prevention of fraud.” Section 801 provides: “The Commission shall base all prices upon all conditions affecting the milk industry in each milk marketing area, inclüding the amount necessary to yield a Reasonable return to the producer and to the milk dealer.” As Mr. Justice Siben said in
Rieck-McJunkin Dairy Company v. Milk Control Commission,
341 Pa. 153, 157, 18 A. (2d) 868: “The main purpose of the Milk Control Law [is] to insure a sufficient supply of wholesome milk, which cannot be accomplished unless, as the preamble of the act recites, ‘the high cost of maintaining sanitary conditions of production and standards of purity is returned to the producers of milk/ ......” Although the prices to all classes of producers or dealers need not be the same, it is apparent that, in order to carry out the purpose of the law, the price fixing power must extend to
all
sales of milk by both producers and dealers. If these purposes are carried out, the legislation will inure to the benefit of the government as a part of a community within the Commonwealth, as well as to other consumers. On the other hand, if the policy of the law is not carried out as to the largest single buyer, the purpose may be frustrated. The Supreme Court has held that the provisions of the law
apply to a governmental subdivision of this Commonwealth.
Zeuger Milk Co. v. Pittsburgh School District,
334 Pa. 277, 5 A. (2d) 885. We hold that the Legislature intended the Commission to have the power to regulate the prices of sales to the United States, provided it is not unconstitutional.
And, in view of this conclusion, it is not necessary to consider whether the government is a “consumer” as defined in the act.
Second.
Had the Commission, on February 15,1941, issued any order fixing the minimum price of sales to the government for consumption at an army camp?
The Commission contends that the price was fixed by official General Order No. A-6, as amended by A-14.
The order provided wholesale prices for sales by “Milk dealers to other milk dealers and to stores for resale;
and to bakeries, botéis, restaurants, hospitals and
institutions
......” (Italics supplied) The pricé fixed for Grade B milk, not exceeding 4% butterfat, is $0.095 for quarts and $0.025 for half-pints. But there is a special provision for sales to schools, fixing $0.0275 for half-pints. It is to be noted that, for the sales of half-pints, the Commission allowed the lowest price on the schedule. Defendant admits the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation is an institution.
Defendant argues that, because of the unprecedented size of the contract — it was conceded to have been the largest single order for milk ever given in this Commonwealth — the cost to it of servicing the contract would be considerably reduced, that it could make a reasonable profit and maintain the price to the producers with a lower return, and that it is, therefore, unreasonable to suppose that the Commission intended the prices in Order A-14 to apply. The principal difficulty with this contention, as we see it, is that the evidence offered does not support it. Defendant offered, by stipulation,
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Opinion by
Kbnworthby, J.,
The questions are: (1) Whether the Milk’ Control Law
authorizes the Milk Control Commission to fix minimum prices for the sale of milk to the United States ; (2) whether there was, on February 15,1941, any order of the Commission which, when properly construed, applied to such sales; and (3) if these questions are answered in the affirmative, whether the law, and the order issued pursuant to it, cast an unconstitutional burden upon the government.
The fácts are virtually undisputed. On February 1, 1941, the government purchasing officer, at Indiantown Gap, sent to various milk dealers, including defendant,
invitations to bid on the milk requirements for the army reservation located there. The requirements called for the delivery of 135,000 one-quart bottles and 540,000 half-pint bottles between March 1 and June 30, 1941. On February 4, 1941, the Milk Control Commission promulgated a notice “To All Milk Dealers Interested In Submitting Bids to Furnish Milk to the United States Government at Indiantown Gap,” one of which went to defendant. Accompanying the notice, were copies of the orders which the Commission deemed applicable. The notice indicated the minimum price to be $0.095 per bottle for the milk sold in quarts and $0.025 for that sold in half-pints, and the notice closed with a warning that any sales at prices below the pre
scribed, minimum s would be construed as violations of tbe law. The notice, except for the tabulation of specifications, is printed in the margin.
On February. 15, 1941, the bids were opened and the contract awarded defendant as the lowest bidder. Defendant’s bid for both quantities — $0,079 for the quarts and $0.0215 for the. half-pints — was below the. mínimums.
On March 5, 1941, the Commission issued a citation to defendant to show cause why its application for a milk dealer’s license for the year May .1, 1941 to and including April 30, 1942, should not be refused. The sole ground alleged was the aforesaid violation of its Order. Defendant, by answer, raised the questions which are now before this court. The Commission, having refused the license in an order which, on appeal, was sustained by the court of common pleas, defendant took this appeal.
First.
Does the Milk Control Law authorize the Commission to fix minimum prices for milk sold, to the government? . .
. The Act,. Section 802, provides: “The Commission shall fix ...... the minimum wholesale and retail
prices......to be charged for milk sold within any milk marketing area of the Commonwealth wheresoever produced,
including
milk sold by: 1. Milk dealers to other milk dealers; 2. milk dealers to consumers; 3. milk dealers to stores ......; 4. stores to consumers ......” (Italics supplied.) Conceding, arguendo, that the government is not included in any of the enumerated classes, the question is whether “including” is a word of limitation — whether it means “including only”. It is sometimes thus used; it is perhaps
more often used as a word of extension or enlargement
“To arrive at the real meaning, it is always necessary to take a broad general view’ of the act, so as to get an exact conception of its aim, scope and object.”
Keating v. White et al.,
141 Pa. Superior Ct. 495, 504, 15 A. (2d.) 396; Statutory Construction Act of May 28, 1937, P. L. 1019, 46 PS 551, 554, 563. The purpose of the law (Sec. 101) is to regulate and control the milk industry “for the protection of the public health and welfare and for the prevention of fraud.” Section 801 provides: “The Commission shall base all prices upon all conditions affecting the milk industry in each milk marketing area, inclüding the amount necessary to yield a Reasonable return to the producer and to the milk dealer.” As Mr. Justice Siben said in
Rieck-McJunkin Dairy Company v. Milk Control Commission,
341 Pa. 153, 157, 18 A. (2d) 868: “The main purpose of the Milk Control Law [is] to insure a sufficient supply of wholesome milk, which cannot be accomplished unless, as the preamble of the act recites, ‘the high cost of maintaining sanitary conditions of production and standards of purity is returned to the producers of milk/ ......” Although the prices to all classes of producers or dealers need not be the same, it is apparent that, in order to carry out the purpose of the law, the price fixing power must extend to
all
sales of milk by both producers and dealers. If these purposes are carried out, the legislation will inure to the benefit of the government as a part of a community within the Commonwealth, as well as to other consumers. On the other hand, if the policy of the law is not carried out as to the largest single buyer, the purpose may be frustrated. The Supreme Court has held that the provisions of the law
apply to a governmental subdivision of this Commonwealth.
Zeuger Milk Co. v. Pittsburgh School District,
334 Pa. 277, 5 A. (2d) 885. We hold that the Legislature intended the Commission to have the power to regulate the prices of sales to the United States, provided it is not unconstitutional.
And, in view of this conclusion, it is not necessary to consider whether the government is a “consumer” as defined in the act.
Second.
Had the Commission, on February 15,1941, issued any order fixing the minimum price of sales to the government for consumption at an army camp?
The Commission contends that the price was fixed by official General Order No. A-6, as amended by A-14.
The order provided wholesale prices for sales by “Milk dealers to other milk dealers and to stores for resale;
and to bakeries, botéis, restaurants, hospitals and
institutions
......” (Italics supplied) The pricé fixed for Grade B milk, not exceeding 4% butterfat, is $0.095 for quarts and $0.025 for half-pints. But there is a special provision for sales to schools, fixing $0.0275 for half-pints. It is to be noted that, for the sales of half-pints, the Commission allowed the lowest price on the schedule. Defendant admits the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation is an institution.
Defendant argues that, because of the unprecedented size of the contract — it was conceded to have been the largest single order for milk ever given in this Commonwealth — the cost to it of servicing the contract would be considerably reduced, that it could make a reasonable profit and maintain the price to the producers with a lower return, and that it is, therefore, unreasonable to suppose that the Commission intended the prices in Order A-14 to apply. The principal difficulty with this contention, as we see it, is that the evidence offered does not support it. Defendant offered, by stipulation,
figures to show “its average bottle breakage and losses where milk is served under ordinary conditions” as compared to losses from similar causes under the contract, there being an alleged difference of 2%. In the same manner, it offered evidence to show that “under ordinary circumstances de
livery of the same quantity of milk would require a large number of trucks and drivers” and that, under the contract, there was a saving of delivery cost on each bottle of $0.0005. But there is nothing to indicate what the “ordinary circumstances” or the “ordinary conditions” were. Obviously, the difference in the cost of servicing a thousand customers is materially larger than the cost of servicing one. But the cost of servicing five or ten customers may not be. The schedule of prices fixed by the Commission for this contract, being the lowest possible, the cost must be compared, if the comparison is to be used as valid argument, with the cost of servicing other
large
customers, such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other large institutions. If the figure offered by defendant for comparison was weighted by the cost of servicing small, individual customers, the figure is of no value whatever. And there is no indication of what, exactly, the comparison means. We hold General Order A-l, as amended by A-14, covered the sale to the government.
Third.
Does the Order impose an unconstitutional burden upon the government?
The extent to which, under our dual system of government, the states may burden the operations of the federal government has long been the subject of controversy. The Constitution does not expressly deal with it. From
McCulloch v.
Maryland,
decided in 1824, down to
James v. Bravo Contracting
Co.,
decided-in 1937, Chief Justice Mabshall’s dictum that the power to tax is the power to destroy was the prevailing doctrine. Under it, any law which imposed a demonstrable burden on the government was held to be unconstitutional.
But, as Mr. Justice Holmes pointed out in his
dissent in the Panhandle Oil Case,
“In those days it was not recognized, as it is today, that most of the distinctions of the law are distinctions of degree,” and, “The power to tax is not the power to destroy while this court sits.”
And the decision in
Graves v.
O’Keefe
and
Alabama v. King &
Boozer
have swept the doctrine into oblivion. In its place, a new test has arisen. “Since two governments have authority within the same territory, neither, through its power to tax, can be allowed to cripple the operations of the other. Therefore, state and federal governments must avoid exactions which
discriminate
against each other or
obviously interfere
with one another’s operations
(Italics supplied) Or, as Mr. Justice Roberts put it in his dissent in
James v. Bravo,
supra, a tax is valid if it bears upon an independent contractor, does not discriminate, and is not so burdensome as seriously to
interfere
with governmental functions.
The Milk Control Law is not directed against the Indiantown Gap Reservation. If the objects of the law are realized, the Reservation will benefit in common with the community in general. Conversely, as already pointed out, if dealers are to be free to ignore the law in dealing with the Reservation, the whole plan will suffer proportionately. The Reservation can buy milk as others buy milk and at any price which competition may
fix, not lower than the established minimum. There is no burden upon it which does not likewise fall upon all users of milk, including institutions of this Commonwealth. See
Zeuger Milk Co. v. Pittsburgh School Dis
trict, supra. No attempt is made in the law or in the Order of the Board to give any order or direction to the Reservation or its officers. The incidence of the law is upon dealers of milk. Although enforcement of the law against such dealers affects the price of milk to the Reservation as to others, yet that result is in its nature incidental. See
Milk Control Board v. Gosselin's Dairy Co.,
301 Mass. 174, 16 N. E. (2d) 641, 643. Other statutes regulating the quality and providing for the inspection of milk are of similar effect. All safety and health laws, of which the Wage Law
is an example, increase prices. . And since the King & Boozer Case, supra, such laws are not deemed invalid, even though the increased cost is directly passed on to the government.
That the test of constitutionality in cases involving police regulations is the same as in tax cases seems clear and is apparently conceded on all sides.
Baltimore & Annapolis R. R. v. Lichtenberg,
176 Md. 383, 4 A. (2d) 734, appeal dismissed, 308 U. S. 525, 60 S. Ct. 297; also
Stewart & Co. v. Sadrakula,
309 U. S. 94. A tax on materials, to be added to cost and passed on to the government, imposes a burden no less direct than that imposed by a statute which fixes the minimum price to be charged by an independent contractor selling milk to the government. The government is, by the
law, compelled to pay a demonstrably higher price in both instances. And we hold , that, since the prices fixed are in no way discriminatory and are not such a burden as to interfere with the functioning of the federal government, they are valid. As Mr. Justice Holmes said, “......when the government comes into a state to purchase, I do not perceive why it should be entitled to stand differently from any other purchaser.”
In the absence of prohibitive federal legislation, we are unwilling to disturb an enactment so well designed to provide for a local need.
Nor do we think the law interferes with the government’s policy of competitive bidding.
Spahn v. Stewart,
268 Ky. 97, 103 S. W. (2d) 651. The applicable statutes (U. S. Revised Statutes, Sec. 3709, 41 U. S. C. A. Sec. 5; 10 U. S. C. A. Secs. 1200 and 1201) provide merely that contracts for the purchase of supplies for the government shall be made after public notice and shall be awarded to the “lowest responsible bidder for the best and most suitable article.” As pointed out in
United States v. Brookridge Farm, Inc.,
111 F. (2d) 461, 463 (C. C. A. 10th), “The purpose of these statutes and regulations is to give all persons equal right to compete for Government contracts; to prevent unjust favoritism, or collusion or fraud in the letting of contracts for the purchase of supplies; and thus to secure for the Government the benefits which arise from competition.” The Milk Control Law contravenes neither the language of the statutes nor any of the above stated purposes. It does no more than put all bidders on an equal footing with regard to the minimum price and as we have already pointed out, its primary purpose is to assure
responsibility
with all that the word implies.
In No, 311 October Term, 1941, the order of the court below affirming the order of the Milk Control
Commission is affirmed, the costs to be paid by apr pellant. In No. 3 October Term, 1942, the appeal of the United States, which intervened in the court below in the case represented by the appeal to No. 311 October Term, 1941, is dismissed.