Digital Commons Network^™

Congress And The National Administration, John A. Farlie

Michigan Law Review

Under the Constitution of the United States, Congress is vested with legislative powers; and under the classical doctrine of the separation of powers, it is primarily a law-making organ. A recent writer on government has, however, analyzed its functions under seven heads, as follows: as a constituent assembly, a canvassing board and electoral college, an organ of public opinion, a board of directors, an organ of legislation, an executive council, and a high court of justice. In its capacity as board of directors, he also states that "the whole power of direction, supervision and control of administrative affairs is legally …

The Influence Of Control In The Determination Of Partnership Liability, Scott Rowley

Michigan Law Review

The influence of control in the determination of partnership liability raises many interesting questions. Particularly within the past decade or slightly more it has been considered by the courts, at times with considerable vigor and with little logic or historical background. A perusal of the texts on partnership discloses very little mention of control as a test of partnership. As a rule it has not earned a place in the indices. The digests are almost equally devoid of place for it. In the few older cases where it is considered at all, it is quite often treated as a poor …

"Lightning Cases" Under Workmen's Compensation Acts

Michigan Law Review

A farm hand, sent by his employer to work for a day at a neighbor's farm, was killed by lightning while returning home. At the time of the accident he was driving a team of horses, without a wagon, and was crossing a "high, rocky hill near a wire fence." An award under the Colorado Compensation Act was affirmed by the district court. On appeal from this affirmance, held, by a majority of the court, that "since Oakley's employment required him to be in a position where the lightning struck him, there was a causal relation between employment and …

Telegraph, Telephone And Wireless-Tapping

Michigan Law Review

A recent Federal case, Olmstead v. United States, suggests an interesting problem. Evidence obtained by Federal authorities, who tapped private telephone wires, was admitted in a criminal prosecution. It seems to be the general rule that fraudulently, wrongfully, or illegally procured evidence is admissible, if otherwise admissible. And certainly the courts have required telegraph companies to disclose messages to aid criminal prosecutions. Telegraph operators have been compelled to testify. And even where a state statute forbade disclosure of the message by the company, a subpoena duces tecum has compelled the production of a telegram to aid the courts. Testimony …

The "Fence"

Michigan Law Review

Whenever crime is discussed, one's attention is invariably called to the person who actually commits crime, such as the bandit, the murderer, the automobile thief, etc.; and whenever the so-called crime wave gains such proportions as to arouse the public to a state of indignation, laws are passed and reforms instituted to make more certain the punishment of such criminals. Very often, however, one of the most vicious enemies of society is forgotten, because he practices his nefarious profession hidden from the eye of the public and under a cloak of respectability. I refer to the one who receives the …

Books Received

Michigan Law Review

A list of books received by Michigan Law Review

Treaties-Scope Of Treaty--Making Power--When Treaties Are Self-Executing

Michigan Law Review

The scope of the treaty-making power, and the considerations that govern in determining when a treaty is self-executing and when it requires subsequent legislation to make its terms effective, received an interesting discussion in a recent case decided in the United States District Court of the District of Maryland.

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Liability Of Landowner To Pedestrians-Negligence-Independent Contractor

Michigan Law Review

Two recent cases present interesting situations involving the liability of a landowner for injuries to pedestrians occasioned by falling street signs.

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

The Institute's Restatement And The Michigan Law, Herbert F. Goodrich

Michigan Law Review

The task which the American Law Institute has undertaken is to make a statement of the common law, in its various branches. The end in view is not codification; indeed the idea is directly opposed to codification. It is hoped to have, when the work is completed, an accurate statement of existing common law, carefully and systematically made, from which local variations and peculiarities have been ironed out. It is hoped, in other words, to restore both accuracy and continuity to the pattern of the common law fabric as it is woven in our judicial mills.

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 26, Issue 2 of Michigan Law Review

Constitutional Law-Eminent Domain-Michigan Constitutional Provision

Michigan Law Review

The necessity for the exercise of the power of eminent domain in a given case is a legislative question into which the courts cannot inquire, unless an abuse of legislative power is asserted. This results from the very nature of the power to take property for a public use, which power in itself is inherent in sovereignty. When the legislature determines to take a piece of property it is exercising the power in the normal manner. If the use is public, no further determination is necessary once the legislative decision is made. The real reason for the rule would seem …

Unconstitutional Conditions And State Powers, S. Chesterfield Oppenheim

Michigan Law Review

The genesis and development of the so-called doctrine of unconstitutional conditions represent a phase of the general problem of the division of state and federal powers. Its importance was first recognized in the series of cases dealing with the power of the state over foreign corporations seeking to do business within its borders, for it was in those decisions that the Supreme Court moderated the absolutism of the principle announced in Paul v. Virginia, by the indefinite qualification that the conditions of admission must not be "repugnant to the Constitution or laws of the United States".

Equality In International Law, Arnold D. Mcnair

Michigan Law Review

Under this title 1 propose to discuss the present position of the old doctrine of the Equality of States, to consider whether it has been helpful in the development of international society, and what prospect there is of that society finding in international law an instrument wherewith to bring about less inequality between States than at present exists.

Carriers-Statute Of Limitations For Bringing Suit For Injury To Goods

Michigan Law Review

A recent case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States suggests the query-ls there a federal statute of limitations for bringing suit for injury to goods in an interstate shipment? The answer depends on the interpretation of the Cummins Amendment of March 4, 1915 and the Transportation Act of 1920. The relevant and germane provision of these acts as to the time limit for commencing suit for injury to goods on an interstate carriage is "That it shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to provide by rule, contract, or regulation a shorter period for giving notice …

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

Constitutional Law-Taxation Of Foreign Corporations

Michigan Law Review

The constitutional limitations on the power of the states to tax foreign corporations present many intricate questions. In general it may be said that a state may tax foreign corporations the same as it may tax domestic corporations, but subject to the limitations found in the commerce clause and the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution. The commerce cause takes certain subjects out of the realm of state taxation altogether. The state cannot directly impose a burden of any sort upon interstate commerce. It cannot even lay an excise on the privilege of doing intrastate business if the basis includes …

Injunction In Labor Disputes--Anti-Trust Laws--"Secondary Boycott".

Michigan Law Review

Since the passing of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 there has been an enormous increase in litigation concerning the trade union and its activities. When the Supreme Court in the Danbury Hatters' case8 held that labor organizations were included in the provisions of the Sherman Act, and that the so-called "secondary boycott"' was a violation of the terms of this act, labor felt that it had lost a very effective weapon and at once began to fear that the very existence of the labor union was in danger. Not having much hope of relief from the courts, the forces …

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 26, Issue 1 of Michigan Law Review

Public Utility Valuation For Rate Making Purposes

Michigan Law Review

Ever since Munn v. Illinois (1876) 94 U. S. 113, which first decided that the charges to be made for services rendered by public utilities were to be subject to governmental regulation, the courts have been confronted with a problem, so elusive and indefinite, that over five decades of litigation and wrangling have failed to provide a satisfactory solution. The so called "rule" of Smyth v. Ames (1898) 169 U. S. 466, specifying the elements to be considered in ascertaining the value of public utilities for the purpose of rate-making, has only served to submerge the problem further in its …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdiction-Foreign Corporation Not Doing Business In The State

Michigan Law Review

A summons addressed to the defendant corporation was served upon one of its officers at his private residence in Minnesota. The defendant, appearing specially, moved to set aside the service on the ground that it was a foreign corporation not transacting business in the state and that it had empowered no one to accept service of process there in its behalf. The plaintiff contended that the acquisition and ownership of property in Minnesota brought the defendant into the state and under the jurisdiction of its courts. Held, jurisdiction over the corporate property did not give jurisdiction over the corporate …

Natural Law In American Constitutional Theory, Fowler Vincent Harper

Michigan Law Review

Natural law has had many meanings and diversified interpretations. Whether in the form of jus naturale, the law of nature, the law of reason, lex naturalis, lex aeterna, natural justice, or due process of law; natural law, in the broadest sense, has evolved as the needs of a particular civilization and the endeavors of its legal scholars have directed. It is significant, however, that as a philosophy of law, natural law continues to thrive, although the particular system which one community constructs may be abandoned by succeeding generations. Periods of growth in the law have been frequently accompanied …

A Rational Theory For Joinder Of Causes Of Action And Defences, And For The Use Of Counterclaims, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

In discussing, first, the joinder of actions it will be convenient to consider three groups or classes of cases:

Class I : Where one plaintiff (or joint plaintiffs) unites in a single proceeding two or more causes of action against one defendant (or joint defendants).

Class 2: "Where two or more plaintiffs, each having a cause of action against the same party (or parties), unite their causes of action in one proceeding.

Class 3: Where one plaintiff (or joint plaintiffs) having several causes of action, each against a different party, unites them in one proceeding.

In considering each group or …

Constitutional Law-Searches And Seisures-Distraction Between Searching A Building And An Automobile Without Warrant

Michigan Law Review

An officer observed the odor of boiling mash and fermentation issuing from the dwelling of the defendant. The officer, without warrant, entered the basement and there found the defendant operating two stills. Considerable whiskey was found stored within the room. Defendant was arrested and convicted. On appeal he contended that the search was unlawful. Held, the search without warrant was unreasonable and in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Schroeder v. United States, 14 F. (2d) 500.

Mortgages-Sale Under Trust Deed Mortgage For Inadequate Price-Effect

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, administrator of the estate of the mortgagee, bought the mortgaged property at the foreclosure sale for one thousand dollars. He bought for himself and not for the estate. He sold the property to a third party for three thousand five hundred dollars. The plaintiff mortgagor brought this suit to compel the defendant to account for the two thousand five hundred dollar difference between the price he paid for the property, and the amount he received for it, allowing a credit for the amount still due on the plaintiff's note-two thousand dollars. Held, where, as in this case, …

Books Received

Michigan Law Review

A list of books received by Michigan Law Review