Wilson & Co., Inc., of Oklahoma v. Davis

8 F.2d 484, 1925 U.S. App. LEXIS 3303
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedOctober 10, 1925
DocketNo. 3569
StatusPublished

This text of 8 F.2d 484 (Wilson & Co., Inc., of Oklahoma v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilson & Co., Inc., of Oklahoma v. Davis, 8 F.2d 484, 1925 U.S. App. LEXIS 3303 (7th Cir. 1925).

Opinion

EVAN A. EVANS, Circuit Judge

(after stating the facts as above). In approaching the consideration of this question, we accept certain propositions as settled: (a) The government acted in its sovereign capacity when it “took over” and operated the railroads. Dupont De Nemours v. Davis, 264 U. S. 456, 44 S. Ct. 364, 68 L. Ed. 788. (b) As a sovereign, the government cannot be sued without the consent of Congress. Davis v. Donovan, 265 U. S. 257, 44 S. Ct. 513, 68 L. Ed. 1008. (c) The government’s liability is limited by the act of Congress which authorizes suits to be brought, rather than by the acts which ordinarily would create the liability and determine its extent. Davis v. Donovan, supra.

From the foregoing premises, defendant argues that neither section 206' (c) of the Transportation Act (Comp. St. Ann. Supp.-1923, § 10071%cc), nor section 10 of the Federal Control Act (Comp. St. 1918, Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, § 3115%j) specifically provides for payment of interest on reparation claims, and therefore liability is denied.

Plaintiff in error, on the other hand, contends: (a) That it was settled law when the Transportation Act was enacted that interest might be included on the reparation awards as part of the damages, and recovered by the shipper. International Agricultural Corporation v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 29 Interst. Com. Com’n R. 391; Shreveport Creosoting Co. v. Louisiana & Pacific R. R. Co., 92 Interst. Com. Com’n R. 519. These rulings of the Interstate Commerce Commission were upheld by various courts. Pennsylvania R. R. Co. v. Minds, 250 U. S. 368, 39 S. Ct. 531, 63 L. Ed. 1039; Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co. v. Ohio Valley Tie Co., 242 U. S. 288, 37 S. Ct. 120, 61 L. Ed. 305; [485]*485Arkadelphia Milling Co. v. St. Louis S. W. R. Co., 249 U. S. 134, 39 S. Ct. 237, 63 L. Ed. 517; Louisville & Nashville R. Co. v. Sloss-Sheffield S. & I. Co. (C. C. A.) 295 F. 53; C., M. & St. P. Ry. Co. v. Geo. Hormel & Co., 240 F. 381,153 C. C. A. 307; Baer Bros. Mercantile Co. v. Denver & Rio Grande R. Co., 233 U. S. 479, 34 S. Ct. 041, 58 L. Ed. 1055; Meeker v. Leliigh Valley R. R. Co., 230 U. S. 412, 35 S. Ct. 328, 59 L. Ed. 644, Ann. Cas. 1916B, 691; Mills v. Lehigh Valley R. R. Co., 238 U. S. 473, 35 S. Ct. 888, 59 L. Ed. 1414; Southern Pacific Co. v. Darnell-1aenzer Lumber Co., 245 U. S. 531, 38 S. Ct. 186, 62 L. Ed. 451; Pennsylvania R. R. Co. v. Weber, 257 U. S. 85, 42 S. Ct. 18, 66 L. Ed. 141. (b) Under the Transportation Act (section 206) and the Federal Control Act (section 10) the liability of the Director General was established and declared to be the same as that of the carrier prior to government operation, so far as liability to shippers was concerned.

From a consideration of these cases and the contention of counsel, it is apparent that liability, it' it exists at all, must be traced to legislative enactment, and cannot be inferred or read into any act by implication. This conclusion, so far as it relates to “interest” upon claims against the government, is confirmed by an examination of section 177 of the Judicial Code (Comp. St. § 1168), which, we think, might fairly be said to announce the policy of the government respecting interest on all claims filed against it. See, also, United States v. Verdier, 164 U. S. 213, 218, 17 S. Ct. 42, 41 L. Ed. 407; Stanley v. Schwalby, 162 U. S. 255, 272, 16 S. Ct. 754, 40 L. Ed. 960.

Courts have likewise uniformly hold that costs should not be taxed against the government, in the absence of a statute particularly authorizing their allowance. North American Trading Co. v. United States, 253 U. S. 330, 40 S. Ct. 518, 64 L. Ed. 935; In re Post Office Site of Borough of the Bronx, 210 F. 832, 127 C. C. A. 382. The question before us is therefore a narrow and limited one. Has the shipper, mot the burden whieh rests upon it in this case? Did the government intend to 'abandon its policy of refusing interest and costs in cases brought against it, and, more, did it give expression to such intention in the two acts under consideration ?

So far as “interest” is concerned, we think plaintiff has successfully met tho burden. In reaching this conclusion we assume that the Commission intended tho so-called interest provision to be but a part of tho damages. True, the word “interest” was used in the order, and tho method of computing this item of damage was the usual one followed in computing interest. Nevertheless it was not allowed in the way of interest as such, but as a part of the damages. Section 10 of the Federal Control Act provides, among other things:

“See. 10. That carriers while under federal control shall be subject to all laws and liabilities as common carriers, whether arising under state or federal laws or at common law, except in so far as may be inconsistent with the provisions of this act or any other act applicable to such federal control or with any order of the President. Actions at law or suits in equity may be brought by and against such carriers and judgments rendered as now provided by law; and in any action at law or suit in eqnity against the earner, no defense shall bo made thereto upon the ground that the carrier is an instrumentality or agency of the federal government.”

“After full hearing the Commission may make such findings and orders as are authorized by the Act to Regulate Commerce as amended, and said findings and orders shall be enforced as provided in said act.”

Section 206 of the Transportation Act reads:

“Sec. 206. (a) Actions at law, suits in equity and proceedings in admiralty, based on causes of action arising' out of tho possession, use, or operation by the President of the railroad or system of transportation of any carrier (under the provisions of the Federal Control Act, or of the Act of August 29, 1916) of such character as prior to federal control could have been brought against such carrier, may, after the termination of federal control, be brought against an agent designated by the President for such purpose, which agent shall be designated by the President within thirty days after the passage of this act. * * *

“See. 206.

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Related

Stanley v. Schwalby
162 U.S. 255 (Supreme Court, 1896)
United States v. Verdier
164 U.S. 213 (Supreme Court, 1896)
Meeker & Co. v. Lehigh Valley RR
236 U.S. 412 (Supreme Court, 1915)
Mills v. Lehigh Valley Railroad
238 U.S. 473 (Supreme Court, 1915)
Southern Pacific Co. v. Darnell-Taenzer Lumber Co.
245 U.S. 531 (Supreme Court, 1918)
Pennsylvania Railroad v. Minds
250 U.S. 368 (Supreme Court, 1919)
Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Ault
256 U.S. 554 (Supreme Court, 1921)
Pennsylvania Railroad v. Weber
257 U.S. 85 (Supreme Court, 1921)
Dahn v. Davis
258 U.S. 421 (Supreme Court, 1922)
E. I. Dupont De Nemours & Co. v. Davis
264 U.S. 456 (Supreme Court, 1924)
Davis v. Donovan
265 U.S. 257 (Supreme Court, 1924)
Arkadelphia Co. v. St. Louis SW Ry. Co.
249 U.S. 134 (Supreme Court, 1919)
Jackson-Tweed Lumber Co. v. Southern Ry. Co.
101 S.E. 924 (Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1920)
Hines v. Taylor
84 So. 381 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1920)
Leep v. Railway Co.
23 L.R.A. 264 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1894)
Simpson v. Shepard
230 U.S. 352 (Supreme Court, 1913)

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Bluebook (online)
8 F.2d 484, 1925 U.S. App. LEXIS 3303, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilson-co-inc-of-oklahoma-v-davis-ca7-1925.