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Monthly Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department lists the articles and comments which appear in twenty-five leading law reviews.

Constitutional Interpretation And Judicial Self-Restraint, Vincent M. Barnett Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The newly reconstituted Supreme Court of the United States has become the center of an earnest controversy with respect to the true role of the Court in constitutional interpretation. The general controversy is, of course, far from new. What makes it of more than ordinary significance is that the Court itself is revealing a tendency substantially to alter the extent, if not the nature, of judicial review. This tendency has not yet become clearly dominant, but it is apparent enough to shake the implicit faith in the Court of many of those to whom, before 1937, any criticism of the …

Wigmore On Evidence-A Review, John E. Tracy

Michigan Law Review

In 1887 John Henry Wigmore graduated from Harvard Law School. Only four years later, in 1891, there came from his pen an article in the Harvard Law Review entitled "Nemo Tenetur Seipsum Prodere," which showed to the profession that there had arrived at the bar a writer who was not only a deep student of legal history and knew his law of evidence, but who had no hesitation in smashing images, regardless of how sacredly they had theretofore been worshiped.

Federal Courts - Jurisdiction Over Violations Of Civil Liberties By State Governments And By Private Individuals, Eugene Gressman

Michigan Law Review

The long-term security of civil liberties in the United States must in the end depend upon the spirit and attitude of the public. Many violations of these rights never reach the stage of justiciable issues. But even when they do, public sentiment is often reflected in the courts. Especially is this true in the state courts, which are often too near local prejudices and entrenched mores to withstand their effect. This situation was recognized as long ago as the Reconstruction Era, when the various civil rights acts provided for federal protection of civil liberties. Apparently it was felt that from …

Railroads -- Extent Of Title Acquired By Railroad By Adverse Possession Of Land Used As Right-Of-Way - Effect On Mineral Rights, Roy L. Rogers

Michigan Law Review

In a recent Michigan case it appeared that for more than the statutory period of limitation the plaintiff railroad had maintained a right-of-way over land to which the defendant held the record title. A decree quieting title in fee simple absolute in the plaintiff railroad was sought in order to determine the ownership of the oil and gas underlying the right-of-way. The court held that the railroad acquired by adverse user of the right-of-way no title to the oil and gas or other minerals beneath the surface of the land.

Taxation - Inheritance And Estate Taxes - Powers Of Appointment, William L. Howland

Michigan Law Review

From time immemorial, problems arising from the creation and exercise of powers of appointment have proven enigmatic to the judiciary. These problems are not decadent but still possess an abundance of vitality. The increased complexity of statutes imposing death taxes has tended to foment litigation. These two fertile sources of intricate problems, in combination, have borne the apprehended fruits. The taxation of powers of appointment has created problems of infinite variety, harassing alike the attorney, the judge and the legislator. The questions involved are not simply of academic or theoretical importance. Under our modern death tax statutes the questions are …

Constitutional Law-Delegation Of Legislative Power - Utah Milk Control Act, Edward S. Biggar

Michigan Law Review

The Utah Milk Control Act declared the necessity of stabilizing the production and distribution of market milk, for the purpose of insuring "a continuous and adequate supply of pure, wholesome milk." The state board of agriculture was authorized to fix prices and regulate the surplus of milk in particular marketing areas. Provision was made for public hearings to precede the board's issuance of regulatory orders. In fixing prices, the board was directed to consider the cost of "producing, handling, pasteurizing, and distributing" the milk to be sold. There was no requirement that the orders promulgated contain any specific provisions. Pursuant …

Deeds - Exceptions And Reservations - Use Of Extrinsic Evidence To Interpret Uncertain Exceptions - Exception To Grant Described In Document To Be Drawn, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

In anticipation of becoming the owner of a tract of land, S agreed to convey to a water company that portion of the land which the company would require for its reservoir. On acquiring the land, S conveyed the tract to F "except about 25/100 acres on the westerly side to be deeded to the Centralia Water Works Co." Ten days later, S conveyed to the water company "all that part . . . that is now or shall hereafter be, covered by water in the reservoir of said . . . company to high water mark in flood time …

Fraudulent Conveyances - Contingent Creditors - Bank Stockholders' Double Liability, Charles V. Beck Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A holder of bank stock conveyed real estate to her daughter in consideration of love and affection, leaving the grantor with no other assets than the bank stock. At the time, the bank stock had a market value of eleven dollars a share, and the bank was advertising for depositors; there was nothing in the record to indicate insolvency. About two years later the bank closed, and the superintendent of banks assessed the stockholders the amount of their statutory double liability. When the transfer was discovered the superintendent brought action to set aside the conveyance as fraudulent to the creditors …

Municipal Corporations - Labor Law - Conflict Of Municipal Ordinance With State Statute, Kenneth J. Nordstrom

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a member of a machinist's union, was indicted for violation of a city ordinance which prohibited peaceful picketing except by employees employed three months or more at a place of business and who had been so employed within sixty days of the commencement of the picketing. A state statute modeled on the Norris-LaGuardia Act authorized the giving of publicity of labor disputes and forbade the issuing of injunctions for designated types of labor controversies. Held, that the ordinance was void and that the defendant was entitled to picket peacefully a company which had never employed him, but which …

Torts - Assumed Risk In Bleachers Of Baseball Park Where There Is No Choice Of Protected Seats, Jerome J. Dick

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued for injuries sustained when struck by a foul ball at a baseball game while seated in the unprotected bleachers of the municipal baseball park. Held, the fact that there was no choice of protected seats in the ball park would not justify the recovery against the defendant, for the plaintiff, while seated in these unprotected bleachers, assumed this risk which was reasonably incidental to the game of baseball. Adonnino v. Village of Mount Morris, 171 Misc. 383, 12 N. Y. S. (2d) 658 (1939).

Monthly Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department "lists the articles and comments which appear in twenty-five leading law reviews.

The Present Status Of The Sherman Act, Robert W. Harbeson

Michigan Law Review

Two circumstances may be advanced by way of justification for the present addition to the voluminous literature dealing with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. First, the Supreme Court has in recent months handed down two decisions involving the application of the Sherman Act to the oil industry, which are of great importance both because of their sweeping application to marketing practices in that industry and because of the directness with which they raise certain issues of economic theory and policy. Second, the fiftieth anniversary of the Sherman Act on July 2, 1940 provides an appropriate occasion for a review of the …

Railroads - Reorganization - Validity Of Conditioning Approval Of A Consolidation By Reference To Proper Treatment Of Employees, Kenneth J. Nordstrom

Michigan Law Review

A railroad made application to the Interstate Commerce Commission to obtain authorization to lease the lines of another railroad. The relevant federal statute provided that the commission should authorize consolidations and leases subject to such terms and conditions as it should find just and reasonable and as would promote the public interest. Accordingly, the commission conditioned approval of the lease by requiring that employees dismissed as a result of the lease be paid monthly allowances for fixed periods, or until securing re-employment; that those not dismissed be protected against any decrease in wages for five years, and reimbursed for expenses …

Book Notes, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department undertakes to list and, when possible, describe briefly current books on law and matters closely related thereto.

Measures Of Land Value For Utility Regulation, Lrston R. Barnes

Michigan Law Review

The appraisal of the land of utility corporations presents problems that are not encountered in the valuation of other utility properties. The basic principles and methods of appraisal applicable to other properties are considered inappropriate for the valuation of lands, and certain inconsistencies between the treatment of land and other properties suggest embarrassing questions as to the principles which should guide the regulation of utility rates. Two concrete problems may serve to provide orientation for the discussion which follows: What elements of cost imposed on utilities in the acquisition of real estate are entitled to consideration in establishing rates? To …

Eminent Domain - Measure Of Compensation - Admissibility Of Evidence Of Past Profits, Alfred G. Ellick Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff corporation, lessee for a term of ten years of a tract of real estate located at the intersection of a main highway and the tracks of the lessor railroad, was engaged in the poultry business and in the retail buying and selling of automobile equipment. The location of the plaintiff's leasehold enabled the plaintiff to effect many economies in the operation of its business. The defendant municipality constructed a viaduct over the railroad tracks in such a manner that, while none of the plaintiff's property was actually taken, its usefulness as a retail outlet was destroyed. Plaintiff brought suit …

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 39, Issue 1 of Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy-Corporate Reorganization-Publicly Held Securities As A Test Of Availability Of Relief Under Chapters X And Xi Of The Chandler Act, Edward S. Biggar

Michigan Law Review

Chapter X of the amended Bankruptcy Act of 1938 was mainly the product of the investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of reorganization practices under the old equity procedure and under section 77B. The chief aim of the sponsors of this new chapter was to preclude the control of reorganization proceedings by "inside" groups, and thereby more adequately protect the interests of investors. Contemporaneously with the overhauling of section 77B, however, other sections of the old Bankruptcy Act were being revised. Among the changes effected, old sections 12 and 74, dealing with extensions and compositions, were remodelled and combined …

Some Problems Arising Out Of Deposits To Pay Principal And Interest On Bonds, Paul P. Lipton

Michigan Law Review

Since Lawrence v. Fox contracts students have been puzzled by the numerous and varying relations that may arise when A, the debtor, delivers money to B to pay C, his creditor. Equally puzzling and much more complicated are the rights and relations of the obligor, trustee and bondholders with respect to sums deposited with the trustee to pay principal and interest on bonds.

The insolvency during recent years of many large trust companies that had been named as trustees in indentures securing corporate bonds, having on hand at the time of their failure large sums of money which …

Constitutional Law - Labor Law - Peaceful Picketing Guaranteed By Due Process Clause Of Fourteenth Amendment, Eugene T. Kinder

Michigan Law Review

In the recent Thornhill and Carlson decisions the Supreme Court of the United States declared an Alabama statute and a California county ordinance prohibiting all picketing, peaceful or otherwise, unconstitutional on the ground that such broad legislation deprived employees and union members of their right of free speech, guaranteed by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In holding that employees and workers have a constitutional right to publicize the facts of a labor dispute, the Court was but taking another step in its recent crusade for the preservation of civil liberties. …

Public Utilities - Municipal Corporations - Power Of Municipal Corporations To Regulate Public Utility Rates - Finality Of Such Regulation, John S. Pennell

Michigan Law Review

Since the decision in the case of Munn v. Illinois it has been settled that where property is devoted to a public use and is charged with a public interest, the state may prescribe reasonable rates for such public service. However, the question then arises as to the manner in which the state may prescribe these rates, through what agencies it may act, and the effect on the total picture of rate regulation within a state after there has been action by one of the proper agencies. The answers to these questions depend to a large extent upon the particular …

Carriers - Interstate Commerce - Stockyard A Common Carrier, John L. Rubsam

Michigan Law Review

The Union Stock Yard and Transit Company of Chicago performed the services of loading and unloading livestock at its stockyards in Chicago. It neither owned nor controlled any railroad directly or indirectly, but restricted its transportation service to the loading and unloading of livestock as specified in its tariff. It owned the platforms and chutes which were the necessary and only means of loading and unloading at its yard, to and from which the livestock was shipped interstate by rail. For this service it charged the railroads the scheduled rates. Appellant contended that, having divested itself of all control and …

Carriers - Motor Carrier Act Of 1935 - Issuance Of Certificates Of Convenience And Necessity, William H. Hillier

Michigan Law Review

Applicant petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a transcontinental bus line, claiming that it offered a distinct type of low-cost service, that by so doing it attracted a portion of the travelling public not served by other carriers, that its through-trip features were a special convenience to its passengers, and that meals en route were included in its fare charges, which were slightly lower than those of existing carriers. The protesting carriers claimed that existing bus facilities could amply handle all of applicant's traffic, that competition in the motor bus field …

Constitutional Law - Due Process - Freedom Of Religion And Conscience - Compulsory Flag Salute, William F. Andersen

Michigan Law Review

The minor plaintiffs, aged twelve and thirteen, had been excluded from the public school because of repeated refusal to salute the national flag and recite the pledge of allegiance in accordance with an authorized order of the school board. They sought an injunction in the federal district court against such prohibition, alleging that the order violated the Fourteenth Amendment as an infringement on the free exercise of religion in that their beliefs forbade the revering of anything but God. The injunction was granted and the decree was affirmed by the circuit court of appeals. A writ of certiorari was granted …

Eminent Domain - Power Of The Federal Government To Condemn Land In Public Use For An Inconsistent Federal Use, Robert P. Kneeland

Michigan Law Review

Defendants, landowners and next of kin of persons buried in a cemetery which was being subjected to condemnation, moved to dismiss the federal government's petition for condemnation of such lands on the grounds that the federal statutes did not authorize the United States to take land already dedicated to a public use for an inconsistent use; and that public cemeteries were not subject to the United States' power of eminent domain. The land was being condemned to effectuate a federal project under the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Federal Emergency Relief Appropriations Act of 1935, and was for public …

Book Notes, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department undertakes to list and, when possible, describe briefly current books on law and matters closely related thereto.

Monthly Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department lists the articles and comments which appear in twenty-five leading law reviews.

Charities - Torts - Liability Of Charitable Corporations For Their Torts, Raymond H. Rapaport

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was employed by defendant to assist in the work of redecorating defendant's building, and was injured because of defendant's alleged failure to provide a suitable place to work. To plaintiff's plea for damages defendant answered that since it was a charitable corporation it was, therefore, immune from such action. Held, charitable corporations are not immune from liability for torts by reason of any exemption accorded them on the basis of the purposes for which they were incorporated. Gable v. Salvation Army, 186 Okla. 687, 100 P. (2d) 244 (1940).

Scope Of The Business: The Borrowed Servant Problem, Talbot Smith

Michigan Law Review

If your client wants to erect an office building he may be advised of the cost within narrow limits. The necessary expenditure will be X dollars plus Y lives or limbs. If his talents take the turn of bridge construction similar computations may be made. To carry forward to completion either of these projects he must use materials of various kinds, and he must use men. The expenditure of the human, animate, material is as inevitable as the expenditure of the inanimate. With increased care and skill the curve of expenditure of the human material will approach the asymptote of …