Constitutional Law Commons^™

Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - State Regulation Of Motor Carriers - Highway Conservation, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

In conformity with the Texas statute regulating contract carriers, the plaintiffs applied for permits to operate as contract carriers in interstate commerce. The Texas Railroad Commission denied the application on the grounds that the proposed use of the highways would unreasonably interfere with their use by the general public and would constitute an undue burden on said highways. Held, by a three-judge court, that the Commission was acting within its authority in refusing the application on these grounds, that such refusal was valid as to interstate motor carriers, and that evidence supported the Commission's findings, consequently the bill to …

Constitutional Law - Bank Reorganization Legislation - Composition With Depositors And Other Creditors, Maurice S. Culp

Michigan Law Review

Twenty States and the federal government now have laws permitting the reorganization and reopening of insolvent or failing banks. The usual statute provides for the reorganization of a bank upon some plan approved by a large majority of the general creditors of the institution; the plan must also have the approval of state banking officials and of a court of general jurisdiction, although the last is by no means a universal requirement. The reorganization, when approved, becomes binding upon all depositors and general creditors of the bank regardless of consent. By the terms of a few statutes, non-assenting creditors are …

Constitutional Law-Strike As Interference With Interstate Commerce

Michigan Law Review

Whether the federal courts have jurisdiction to apply the mailed fist of the injunction to the settlement of strike disputes sometimes depends on whether the strike is deemed an interference with interstate commerce. Thus, the Supreme Court held in the recent case of Levering & Garrigues v. Morrin that relief must be denied a group of New York structural steel fabricators who sought to enjoin the boycott activities of the iron workers union, because " . . . the sole aim of the conspiracy was to halt or suppress local building operations as a means of compelling the employment of …

Constitutional Law - Price Fixing - Emergency Legislation, Maurice S. Culp

Michigan Law Review

The way of governmental price regulation has been hard, and such regulation has been carefully confined to businesses clothed with a "public interest." An exception has been recognized where an "emergency" occurs in a business outside of the strict utility field. However, the apparent disruption of the competitive system during the present depression has been productive of legislation seeking to overcome the evils of that system. In People v. Nebbia, the Court of Appeals of New York sustained a recent act of the legislature creating a milk control Board and authorizing the fixing of milk prices for a 12-month …

Constitutional Law-Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium Statutes

Michigan Law Review

The present economic crisis has been productive of much drastic legislation which is directed at the relief of the debtor class. Rather than let the depression run its course, legislative bodies have endeavored to alleviate some of the evils by so-called "emergency'' statutes. A common type of such enactment is that designed to protect mortgagors against foreclosure and sale of their property. Some of these statutes provide that the period of redemption after foreclosure sale shall be extended for a definite period, others that the courts may stay foreclosures, and some provide that there shall be no foreclosure sales unless …

Constitutional Law -Interstate Commerce -Navigable Waters -Validity Of Federal Water Power Act

Michigan Law Review

The Federal Power Commission found that the plaintiff's proposed hydroelectric development on the non-navigable New river in Virginia would affect interstate commerce on the navigable Kanawha river to which the New river was tributary. The Commission thereupon tendered the plaintiff a standard or major form license for the project. Such a license, had it been accepted by the plaintiff, would have subjected it to all the provisions of the Federal Water Power Act of 1920, including those concerning the regulation of rates, issuance of securities, expropriation of excess profits, amortization reserves, and recapture at the end of fifty years on …

Constitutional Law--- Status Of Courts Of District Of Columbia

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, justices of District of Columbia courts, protested the application by the Comptroller-General of an Act of Congress reducing their salaries, alleging that they felt it their duty to have the status of these courts defined. The majority of the Court, answering questions certified by the Court of Claims; held that section l of Article III of the federal constitution applied to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia and to the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, and forbade a reduction of the compensation of the justices thereof during their continuance in office, on the theory …

Constitutional Law-Force And Effect Of Clauses Providing For Payment Of Private Indebtedness In Gold

Michigan Law Review

A recent English case decided in the Court of Appeal, In re Société lntercommunale Belge D'Eléctricité, Feist v. The Company, suggests questions of interesting application to American constitutional law. In that case a debtor's obligation specified payment "in sterling in gold coin of the United Kingdom of or equal to the standard of weight and fineness existing on September 1, 1928." When payment became due, however, gold was no longer available - England had discontinued gold payments and left the gold monetary standard, gold was subject to being commandeered by the government, and gold coins were redeemable at …

Constitutional Law--Due Process--Martial Law

Michigan Law Review

The Texas Railroad Commission ordered a limitation of oil production in the East Texas field. Governor Sterling of that State issued a proclamation declaring martial law in the district and setting forth the existence of "a state of insurrection, tumult, riot and breach of the peace," and sent in troops to enforce the orders of the commission. A temporary injunction was issued restraining the commission's action but the governor continued, through the troops, to limit oil production. Such action was sought to be enjoined in the federal courts. The lower court granted the injunction. The decree was affirmed on the …

Constitutional Law - The Delegation Of Federal Legislative Power To Executive Or Administrative Agencies

Michigan Law Review

The range of governmental activity, ever expanding both because of the adoption of new functions and because of the increase in proportions of the old, has developed a frequent need for supervision by specialized administrative agencies. In addition to the normal trend toward increased administrative control, present-day economic difficulties have provided additional impetus in that direction. Hence the question of how far Congress can go in turning over its duties to executive or administrative agencies has become of immediate and vital concern.

Constitutional Law-Federal Instrumentality- Mcculloch V. Maryland In Canada And Australia, Alden L. Powell

Michigan Law Review

The British North America Act of 1867 expressly exempts from taxation certain governmental instrumentalities. Section 125 of that Act provides that "no Lands or Property belonging to Canada or any Province shall be liable to taxation." This restriction applies to both Dominion and Provincial governments. W. H. P. Clement writes that this provision was a precautionary measure "to prevent the Dominion from levying taxes for federal purposes upon property held by the Crown for provincial purposes, and vice versa. It would operate no doubt to exempt from custom's duties goods purchased abroad by a provincial government. . . . " …

Constitutional Law - Due Process And Equal Protection - Freedom Of Contract

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff denied the constitutionality of a statute declaring every settlement of a personal injury claim, retainer, or employment contract, made while the person injured is under disability from the effect of the injury, or within thirty days after the date of the injury, voidable at the option of the injured party within six months after the date of the injury. Held, that such a statute is constitutional, being neither a deprivation of property without due process of law nor a denial of the equal protection of the law. Peterson v. Panovitz, (N. D. 1932) 243 N. W. 798.

Constitutional Law -Validity Of Restrictions On House-To-House Selling

Michigan Law Review

Although data of an accurate nature are not available there seems no doubt that the use of house-to-house selling as a means of distribution has received a considerable impetus during the past few years. So extensive, in fact, has the practice become that many communities are seeking relief from whatever undesirable features may be felt. The problem has already been the subject of litigation in Fuller Brush Co. v. Town of Green River. That other controversies will inevitably follow justifies consideration of the legal aspects involved.

The Contribution Of Thomas M. Cooley To Bryce's "American Commonwealth", Everett S. Brown

Michigan Law Review

In the preface to The American Commonwealth, James Bryce acknowledged his indebtedness to numerous friends who, in one way or other, aided him in the writing of his book. First on this list is the name of Thomas M. Cooley. An examination of the text and footnotes of The American Commonwealth shows that Bryce was well acquainted with Cooley's published works, especially his Constitutional Limitations and his General Principles of Constitutional Law, which he quoted frequently with approval and respect. Also one finds six references to letters from Judge Cooley or to observations made directly by him to Bryce. But …

The New Spanish Constitution And International Obligations, Jesse S. Reeves

Michigan Law Review

The promulgation of a Constitution for the Republic of Spain, of date of December 9, 1931, invites attention to certain provisions therein relating to international law, treaties, and related topics.

The Constitution of Esthonia, dated June 15, 1920, Article 4, contains apparently the earliest constitutional provision as to the relation of international to the municipal law: "The universally recognized general rules of international law are an integral part of the laws of Esthonia." The German Constitution of August II, 1920, Article 4, provides that "the generally recognized rules of international law are valid as binding constituent parts of the law …

Constitutional Law - Due Process - Regulation Of The Business Of The Contract Motor Carrier

Michigan Law Review

Much of the doubt and uncertainty concerning the power of the States to regulate the contract motor carrier has been dispelled by the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Stephenson et al. v. Binford et al. A Texas statute specifically defined the two categories of common and contract carriers for hire and undertook to regulate the business of each through the agency of the State Railroad Commission; the statute required contract carriers to secure "permits" which were to be granted by the commission only after a hearing and not if the …

Intoxicating Liquors -The New Michigan Amendment

Michigan Law Review

The people of the State of Michigan at the last general election ratified an amendment to section 11, Article 16 of the state constitution, the so-called prohibition section, to authorize the legislature to establish a liquor control commission and to impose an excise tax on liquor sales. In accordance with constitutional provisions this amendment went into effect on December eighth last. As the new amendment is drafted it leaves unsettled at least three important matters: (1) The present law in Michigan on the subject of intoxicating liquors; (2) The powers vested by it in the legislature and the liquor control …

Constitutional Law-Res Judicata In Federal Courts

Michigan Law Review

In American Surety Company v. Baldwin the Surety Company had chosen the state courts of Idaho as its forum for determining the issue of liability upon the supersedeas bond and had pursued its remedy to the Supreme Court. Then it sought to re-open the issue and inject a federal question by bringing an action to enjoin the enforcement of the judgment in the federal courts in Idaho. It was held that the doctrine of res judicata prevented a resort to an independent hearing in the federal courts in that State. American Surety Company v. Baldwin, (U.S. 1932) 53 Sup. …

Constitutional Law - Requirements Of Due Process In State Procedure

Michigan Law Review

In American Surety Company v. Baldwin the Surety Company complained that the procedure in Idaho deprived it of a hearing upon its liability on a supersedeas bond. After judgment was given on the bond the Surety Company moved to vacate the order and the motion was granted. Baldwin took an appeal from this order to the Supreme Court of Idaho which reversed the trial court. The sole question raised by the motion was whether the trial court had jurisdiction to give judgment. Under the Idaho practice an appeal from the judgment of the court was the proper method to review …

Constitutional Law-Power Of President To Approve A Bill After Final Adjournment

Michigan Law Review

The final adjournment of the 71st Congress occurred on March 4th, 1931. The day following, President Hoover signed Private Bill No. 510 (46 Stat. 2163) giving the Court of Claims jurisdiction to adjudicate the claims of one Edwards against the government. The question of the bill's validity was presented to the Supreme Court on certificate from the Court of Claims, and it was held valid. Edwards v. United States, (U.S. 1932) 52 Sup. Ct. 627.

Constitutional Law - Federal Questions Reviewable By The Supreme Court

Michigan Law Review

Two cases decided by the Supreme Court at the October, 1932, term of Court raised important questions of federal practice and due process of law. Judgment was rendered, on motion, without notice, pursuant to the terms of the bond, against the American Surety Company on a supersedeas bond given in an action in which the Singer Sewing Machine Company and one Anderson were the defendants in the trial court after the Supreme Court of Idaho had affirmed the judgment of the trial court as to Anderson and reversed it as to the Sewing Machine Company. An order of the trial …

What Is A "Contract" Under The Contracts Clause Of The Federal Constitution?, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

The case of Coombes v. Getz, recently decided by the United States Supreme Court, raises in a crucial way the question of what is a contract within the meaning of Article I, section 10 of the Constitution, forbidding States to pass laws impairing the obligations of contracts. A provision of the California Constitution in force at the time the plaintiffs brought this action in the state court below made directors of corporations jointly and severally liable to the creditors and stockholders for all moneys embezzled or misappropriated by the officers of the corporation during the term of office of …

Constitutional Law - Due Process And Equal Protection - Right Of Counsel

Michigan Law Review

The Scottsboro cases decided by the Supreme Court at the present term raise several interesting constitutional questions. The judgments were assailed on the ground that they were violative of the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment in three respects: (1) that the negroes were tried by juries from which members of their race were systematically excluded; (2) that they were not accorded a fair, impartial and deliberate trial; (3) that due process was denied because the right of counsel, with the usual incidents of consultation and adequate preparation for trial, was lacking. While the Supreme Court …

Municipal Corporations-Power Of Board Of Appeals To Vary Application Of Zoning Ordinance

Michigan Law Review

Although there was some dispute among the earlier authorities, it is the rule today that comprehensive zoning ordinances, if enacted under proper legislative authority, are constitutional and will be upheld in so far as they are reasonable in application. In order to give aggrieved property owners an opportunity to obtain relief upon the basis of the ordinance itself without attacking its constitutionality, it has become common practice to give the board of appeals the power to vary the operation of the ordinance in specific cases.

Constitutional Law-Stare Decisis

Michigan Law Review

The defendant corporation, a lessee of school lands from the state of Oklahoma, protested the right of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to tax its net income. Held, under the rule of Gillespie v. Oklahoma, the income cannot be taxed without interfering with a state instrumentality. Four dissenting justices-Stone, Brandeis, Roberts, and Cardozo--admitted the applicability but denied the wisdom of the Gillespie case and the inability of the court to overrule itself, in Burnet v. Coronado Oil and Gas Co.

Constitutional Law-Public Purpose-Feed Loans To Destitute Farmers

Michigan Law Review

Pursuant to a constitutional provision enabling such action, the Governor asked the supreme court of South Dakota the following question: "Could the legislature enact legislation which would permit the several counties as a county enterprise to raise funds either by supplemental budget or bond or warrant issues with which they might in turn furnish feed loans or even distribute feed as a part of a county poor relief system . . . ?" In answer to this question the court held, in In re Opinion of the Judges, that the furnishing of feed or feed loans to individuals …

Taxation-Constitutionality Of A Conclusive Presumption That A Transfer Executed Within A Limited Period Before Death Is Made In Contemplation Of Death

Michigan Law Review

Motion for a refund was made by the plaintiff on the ground that certain transfers made within two years preceding the death of the decedent should not have been taxed under the federal estate tax since they were not in fact made in contemplation of death. The defendant filed a demurrer on the ground that under the provisions of sec. 302 (c) of the Revenue Act of 1926, such transfers were taxable regardless of the motive impelling them. The section reads: "Where within two years prior to his death . . . and without such a consideration the decedent has …

Constitutional Law - Due Process-Business "Affected With A Public Interest''

Michigan Law Review

Ever since Munn v. Illinois there has been continuous dispute as to what regulation is deprivation of property without due process of law within the prohibition of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this first case Chief Justice Waite, discussing with approval prior statutes regulating the rates of chimney sweeps and of auctioneers, the price of bread, the charges of draymen and of hackneycabs, concluded that, if these might be regulated, surely so important a matter as the rates of the great grain elevators in Chicago might be subjected to regulation. The position taken was expressed by these sentences: "From this it …

Constitutional Law-Criminal Procedure-Comment By Judge On Evidence

Michigan Law Review

In the recent case of People v. Kelly, the Illinois supreme court decided (two justices dissenting) that the common law right of a judge, in charging the jury, to comment on the evidence and advise as to the facts was not an essential attribute of trial by jury as it, existed at common law, and held that a statute limiting the charge strictly to matters of law was not an infringement of the right of trial by jury guaranteed by successive Illinois constitutions. The court also decided, in upholding the legislative enactment, that this restriction of the functions of …

Constitutional Law - Redistricting For Congressional Elections - Lawmaking Power Of The State

Michigan Law Review

By the latest reapportionment of the House of Representatives (tit. 2, U. S. C. A., art. 2a), passed in 1929, Minnesota received one less representative than it had had by the previous apportionment (Act of 1911, tit. 2, U. S. C. A., sec. 2). The state legislature of Minnesota passed an act dividing the state into congressional districts in accordance with this apportionment, and the governor vetoed the bill. Thereupon the state house of representatives, by resolution, directed the secretary of state to enroll the bill as a law on the ground that the veto of the governor was a …