Works v. Southern Pacific Co.

153 N.W. 778, 187 Mich. 393, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 597
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 23, 1915
DocketDocket No. 102
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 153 N.W. 778 (Works v. Southern Pacific Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Works v. Southern Pacific Co., 153 N.W. 778, 187 Mich. 393, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 597 (Mich. 1915).

Opinion

Moore, J.

This suit was commenced in justice’s court. It was appealed to the circuit court. The action was brought against the Southern Pacific Company to recover back a portion of certain freight charges paid by the plaintiff on certain shipments of freight. The plaintiff placed one construction, upon the published tariffs, which, if correct, would entitle it to the rate of $1.75 per 100 pounds. The defendant placed another construction upon the tariffs, which, if correct, would require a rate of $2.60 per 100 pounds. The defendant charged and collected from the plaintiff the $2.60 rate, and this action is to recover the difference between the two rates on the shipments made by the plaintiff. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $312, and the case is brought to this court by the defendant on a writ of error.

The merchandise was delivered to the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and by the Grand Trunk Railroad Company and intermediate railroads delivered to the Southern Pacific Company, the defendant, who made the delivery to the consignee. The Wolverine Brass Works prepaid the freight at the rate of $1.75 per 100 pounds, being the tariff rate for freight moving from Grand Rapids to San Francisco applicable to “Valves and Fittings N. O. S. boxed.” At San Francisco the inspector reclassified the merchandise and the Southern Pacific Company collected the difference between $2.60 per hundred pounds and $1.75 per hundred pounds. [395]*395The tariff and classifications governing charges to be made by carriers for the transportation of merchandise between Grand Rapids and San Francisco had been duly published and filed according to law at the time the shipment was made. In one of the tariffs there appears the following: “Plumbers’ Supplies, Plumbers’ Supplies N. O. S. in boxes and casks, second class.” The rate under this classification was $2.60, and was the rate which the railroad sought to charge.

There was also in force and effect at the time a published tariff known as the “Transcontinental WestBound Tariff 1 — G” as follows: “Brass Goods Not Silver Plated O. R. Wet and Corrosion. Valves and fittings N. O. S. boxed $1.75.” It was at this rate that the plaintiff paid the freight. In railroad tariffs the letters N. O. S. mean “Not otherwise specified.”

At the time the shipments were made two rules and conditions of freight tariffs were in force and effect as follows :

I. That the shipper is entitled to the lowest rate contained in the printed tariff which is properly applicable to the articles shipped.
II. That when several articles are shipped in one. box the rate which is applicable is that applicable ta the highest rated article in the box.

The plaintiff does not contend that the goods shipped might not have been properly classified under either head, but it does contend that under the tariff issued and published it was entitled to the lowest published rate, which was $1.75.

1. The first assignment of error is based on the court’s refusal to grant the defendant’s motion to dismiss. The ground of defendant’s motion was that a State court has no jurisdiction of the subject-matter involved in the claim of the plaintiff for the following reasons:

(a) That it is a matter primarily and exclusively [396]*396within the jurisdiction of the interstate commerce commission.
(b) That since the commodities shipped were not specially mentioned in the tariffs under the names “wastes and overflows” and “traps,” the question of the proper classification of such articles is administrative in its character and calls for the exercise of the powers and discretion, conferred by congress upon the interstate commerce commission.
(c) The jurisdiction of the courts in such a matter would be inconsistent with the enforcement and purpose of the interstate commerce act, for plaintiff had not, prior to this suit, filed a complaint with the interstate commerce commission or obtained an order from said commission for reparation by reason of said alleged overcharge.
(d) Plaintiff’s claim is really based on an alleged violation by the defendant of one of the provisions of the interstate commerce act, to wit, that no higher rate should be charged than that stated in the tariff schedules, and of such a matter a State court has no jurisdiction, as the interstate commerce act gives jurisdiction to the interstate commerce commission or the federal courts for any violation of the interstate commerce act.

2. The defendant’s second assignment of error is based on the court’s refusal to receive in evidence a certified copy of a decision or report of the interstate commerce commission, which report was made in another case.

1. The first assignment of error is argued at g’reat length in the brief, and was also argued orally, counsel quoting freely from the interstate commerce act, known as the Hepburn act, and citing Texas, etc., R. Co. v. Oil Co., 204 U. S. 426 (27 Sup. Ct. 350, 9 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 1075); Texas, etc., R. Co. v. Tie & Lumber Co., 234 U. S. 138 (34 Sup. Ct. 885); Robinson v. Railroad Co., 222 U. S. 506 (32 Sup. Ct. 114); and other cases. The argument of counsel is, we quote from the brief:

“The purpose of the interstate commerce act was to [397]*397establish uniformity of rates and to prevent discrimination in interstate shipments. The agency established for carrying out this purpose is the interstate commerce commission. To open this jurisdiction to the courts would, in the language of the Oil Co. Case, ‘he the absolute destruction of the act and the remedial provisions which it created.’ ‘For if, without previous action by the commission, courts assume jurisdiction of such matters, it would result that- unless all courts reached an identical conclusion a uniform standard of rates in the future would be impossible, as they would fluctuate and vary, dependent upon the divergent conclusions reached’ as to the proper classification of certain commodities, at least in cases where there was ambiguity or doubt as to the meaning of the terms contained in the published tariffs. ‘Indeed, to permit courts to do so would be wholly inconsistent with the administrative power conferred upon the commission.’ It would result in one rule in one jurisdiction and a different rule in another jurisdiction and ‘give rise to confusion, create unjust preferences, frustrate the purpose of the interstate commerce act and cause the act to destroy itself.’ ”

A reference to the cases cited by appellant will show them to be distinguishable from the instant case. In the present case the tariffs which should be controlling were duly published and filed. There was no question of the reasonableness of the rates filed therein. There Was no claim that an application of them would be discriminatory.

Section 22 of the interstate commerce act (25 U. S. Stat. 862) reads:

“* * *

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Bluebook (online)
153 N.W. 778, 187 Mich. 393, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 597, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/works-v-southern-pacific-co-mich-1915.