Legislation Commons^™

Price Discriminations And Their Justifications Under The Robinson-Patman Act Of 1936, John T. Haslett

Michigan Law Review

The Robinson-Patman Act was approved by the President on June 19, 1936. The purpose of the act was to amend section 2 of the Clayton Act, which prohibited price discriminations in interstate commerce. Congress, by amending section 2 of the Clayton Act, broadened the scope of the section by extending its purposes and prohibitions to price discriminations not formerly covered and by prohibiting other forms of discrimination which give favored purchasers undue cost advantages over their non-favored competitors. It also reduced the extent of requisite competitive injury.

Sales Rationale Of Durable Product Distribution, Kenneth K. Luce

Michigan Law Review

This paper has been prepared to add the writer's bit to the long term struggle for uniformity in the commercial law, and particularly to point to some of the statutory changes in the law affecting distribution of durable goods which have added confusion where once the common law appears to have been on its way to a system more uniform and in accord with business practice and understanding.

Corporations-Class Actions Under Section 16(B) Of The Securities Exchange Act Of 1934-Federal Rule 23, Richard. J. Archer

Michigan Law Review

Pursuant to section 16 (b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 an action was commenced by a shareholder to recover for the corporation profits realized by another shareholder through "short swing" transactions in securities of the corporation, the estimated profits being $50,770. Plaintiff's attorney filed an affidavit stating the reasons why recovery of the full amount was doubtful and made application for , leave to settle and compromise for $5,000. The corporation's attorney agreed to this proposal. Held, the merits of the compromise cannot be considered until in conformance with Rule 23 ( c), actual notice of the …

A Review Of The New Trade-Mark Manual, Lenore B. Stoughton

Michigan Law Review

The United States Trade-Mark Act of July 5, 1946, is a statute designed to be of far-reaching effect. The appraisal of the statute must be made in the light of that fact rather than in the light of the confusion and disputation which have arisen as to the proper interpretation of many of its provisions.

One might have supposed that an act which had been subjected to intensive study and extensive revision over so many years before its final enactment would emerge in complete clarity. Such has not proved to be the case; and it should not have been expected. …

Significant Developments In The Law Of Federal Taxation, 1941-1947: I, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

A preliminary word on the scope of this review is in order. Since this was originally prepared as one of a series designed to acquaint returning veterans with legal developments during the war period, the year 1941 has been chosen as the starting point, and the review carried forward from that point through to date. The review covering this period is limited to significant developments in the area of federal taxation, with emphasis upon the estate, gift, and income taxes.

Sunday Laws-Illegality Of Sunday Contracts, Robert O. Hancox S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The concept of the Sabbath, the setting apart of one day in seven as a day of rest, was derived from the Mosaic code, the Fourth Commandment directs abstention from labor on the seventh day of the week, and although there is nothing in the New Testament relating to Sunday, the Christian world adopted the first day of the week as a day of rest. Constantine, by an edict in 321 A.D., ordered the suspension on Sunday of all business in the courts of law, except the manumission of slaves, and all other- business except agricultural labor.

Labor Law-Injunction-United States V. United Mine Workers Of America, R. L. Cardon, R. O. Hancox S.Ed., P. F. Westbrook, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

This comment was originally prepared as a discussion of the decision of the District Court for the District of Columbia. Since it seemed probable that the Supreme Court's decision would be rendered before or shortly after the comment could be published in normal course, the editors decided to delay the printing of this issue of the Review so that a discussion of the Supreme Court opinions could be included. References to the opinions of the Supreme Court Justices appear in brackets.Ed.] Following a breakdown in the collective bargaining process in the spring of 1946 between the majority of …

Labor Law-Kickback Act-Application To Union Officials, James R. Bliss

Michigan Law Review

Defendants were officials of Local 39 of International Hod Carriers Building and Common Labor Union of America, which procured a closed shop agreement with certain contractors on a federal building project. Defendants were indicted for violation of the federal Kickback Act, the indictment charging that defendants had (1) collected five dollars weekly from nonunion employees on the project by threatening them with dismissal, (2) given receipts for payments collected and accepted employees as union members on presentation of receipts totalling the union initiation fee, (3) but had not kept a record of collection nor accounted to Local 39, as required …

Naturalization-Statutory Construction, George Brody S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Appellee, a native of Canada, filed his petition for naturalization. In his application he stated that he understood the principles of the government of the United States and was willing to take the prescribed oath of allegiance to this country. To the question in the application "If necessary are you willing to take up arms in defense of this country?" he replied, "No, (non-combatant) Seventh Day Adventist." He explained this answer before the examiner by saying, "It is a purely religious matter with me, I have no political or personal reasons. other than that." The district court admitted him to …

Administrative Law-Developments: 1940-1945 (A Service For Returning Veterans), E. Blythe Stason

Michigan Law Review

No period in American history has ushered in more sweeping changes in the legal structure than has the last decade and a half. No area of the law has witnessed more rapid development than has administrative law. A sketch of the progress of administrative law during the five-year period 1940 to 1945 reveals an important refining of the "quasi judicial" procedures--procedures which, because of their swift and topsy-turvy growth, can well use a little refining.

The purpose of the following survey is two-fold; first, to outline the more significant developments of the last half decade, relating the new materials to …

Constitutional Law--Impairment Of Obligation Of Contract--Mortgage Moratorium--Determination Of The Existence Of An Emergency, George Brody

Michigan Law Review

In 1943 the New York State Legislature extended its moratorium legislation for another year, thereby continuing the suspension of mortgage foreclosure proceedings on real property due to default in payments on principal. The legislature declared that an emergency still existed and therefore the continuance of legislative action, first taken in 1933, was justified. The law made payment of interest, taxes, insurance and amortization charges a prerequisite to suspension of foreclosure. Appellant brought an action to foreclose a mortgage on appellee's property for the non-payment of principal, contending that the suspension of foreclosure proceedings resulted in an impairment of the obligation …

New Legislation Affecting Non-Notification Financing Of Accounts Receivable, Maximilian Koessler

Michigan Law Review

Not less than sixteen new statutes affecting the assignment of accounts receivable have been enacted in this country since the writer's completion of an essay in which he attempted to draw an all-round picture of the legal situation in this recently so much debated field. It is one of the purposes of the present follow-up study to discuss those new legislative developments. This will be done in part II of this article, where the analysis is subdivided into a contemplation of the new validation statutes on the one hand, and the new recording acts, on the other.

Political Committee Expenditures And The Hatch Act, John W. Lederle

Michigan Law Review

Democratic governments are rightly concerned about how money is used to influence elections. The oft-quoted proverb, "He who pays the piper calls the tune," contains a large grain of truth. In many countries comprehensive statutory regulation of campaign expenditures may be found; but it is unlikely that any other country can match the variety of experiments which have been indulged in by-the national Congress and the forty-eight state legislatures in the United States.

Compensation For Terminated Fixed-Price Supply War Contracts, Edward S. Feldman

Michigan Law Review

The enormous volume of government contract cancellations requires a fuller understanding by contractors of the principles of securing fair compensation promptly for their charges if they are to have funds to reconvert their plants and operate them successfully. As the Director of Contract Settlement stated in a recent report to Congress, "The contracting agencies alone cannot do the contract settlement job. Contractors, too, must be willing and able to do their part. To be adequately prepared, contractors must be able (1) to make out claims and (2) to process claims of their subcontractors and suppliers."

Promissory Notes In The Legislations Of The Americas, Juan Octavio Díaz Lewis

Michigan Law Review

It has rightly been said that the promissory note is the Cinderella of negotiable paper. It is indeed strange that this instrument, widely used in most countries, is accorded only a few words in the legal textbooks and a few sections in the respective statutes. The purpose of the present study is not to rescue promissory notes from their present position of obscurity, but rather to present a unified classification of the specific provisions relating thereto, which are in force at the present time in the legislations of the American continent.

Coverage Of The Fair Labor Standards Act, Malcolm M. Davisson

Michigan Law Review

The writer published an article dealing with the coverage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in the June, 1943 issue of the Michigan Law Review. It is the purpose of this paper to consider the most important decisions since the preparation of that article (March, 1943) and to examine the applicability of the act to certain activities not there discussed.

A Further Legal Inquiry Into Renegotiation: Ii, Charles W. Steadman

Michigan Law Review

Several issues concerning constitutionality of the Renegotiation Act were discussed in a previous article. That prior inquiry was, of course, not complete, nor is it possible here to exhaust all of these problems. The changes which the Revenue Act of 1943 made in renegotiation together with the manifest importance of this subject and the national interest which has been created by the challenges made concerning its constitutionality warrant further inquiry into this phase of the act. The issues of delegation of legislative authority, impairment of contracts, due process and judicial review, as well as the nature of renegotiation as a …

Termination Of War Contracts: The Contract Settlement Act Of 1944, David A. Goldman

Michigan Law Review

Enacted with a background of knowledge gained from the termination of more than 25,000 army and navy contracts having an uncompleted value of approximately $17,000,000,000, the Contract Settlement Act of 1944 was the first of the legislative enactments by which Congress seeks to control the possibility of a rising tide of economic difficulties which might otherwise drown the body politic in a flood of cancellation notices. The passage of the act was preceded by extensive public hearings and debates, during which responsible Government officials and leaders of labor and industry expressed their considered opinions. Congress likewise had the benefit of …

The Authority Of The National War Labor Board Over Labor Disputes, Leonard B. Boudin

Michigan Law Review

The National War Labor Board has reached the respectable age of two years. Supported originally only by the President's war powers, it has secured compliance with its orders, has weathered a minor congressional investigation, and has built up a body of decisions whose effect will continue after the war. These facts, as well as certain signs of the conservatism which appears to strike all government agencies at one time or another, entitle the board to a short survey of certain aspects of its jurisdiction and authority.

Administrative Law-Price Control Act-Recent Amendments, Robert A. Sprecher

Michigan Law Review

On July 1, 1944, the "Stabilization Extension Act of 1944" became effective, thereby introducing several important changes in the field of price control law. Many of these changes have the effect of granting relief to persons subject to price control, while others are designed to aid the price administrator in his enforcement of the Price Control Act.

Statutes--Legislation In Vague Terms

Michigan Law Review

A Minnesota statute, dealing with the regulation of common carriers and requiring permits for operating as such, contained the following language: "The terms 'common carrier' and 'contract carrier' shall not apply to any person engaged in the business of operating motor vehicles in the transportation of property exclusively within the zone circumscribed by a line running parallel to the corporate limits of any city or village or contiguous cities and/or villages and 35 miles distant therefrom when such person resides within the zone." The plaintiff claimed that under that provision he was not required to secure a permit for his …

The Trading With The Enemy Act, Samuel Anatole Lourie

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of this paper is to discuss two aspects of the Trading with the Enemy Act of October 6, 1917: (1) The evolution of the T.E.A. through legislative enactments and executive orders; (2) Some problems of constitutional and administrative law raised by the last amendment to the act.

Reform Of Administrative Procedure, Gilbert H. Montague

Michigan Law Review

On January 22, 1941, the Attorney General's Committee on Administrative Procedure, appointed to investigate the need for procedural reform in various federal administrative tribunals and to suggest improvements therein, submitted its final report and a proposed bill to Attorney General Jackson, who on January 24, 1941, transmitted these to the Senate with his recommendation that the proposed bill receive favorable consideration. Every member of the committee approved this report and this proposed bill, but the approval of four members of the committee was subject to their additional views and recommendations, expressed in statements and in a differing proposed bill. Pending …

Congressional Enactment Of Uniform Judicial Notice Act, Lawrence E. Hartwig

Michigan Law Review

The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform Laws approved in 1936 the Uniform Judicial Notice of Foreign Law Act, which has since been adopted by fourteen states. This act was drafted to make uniform a legislative movement of the past twelve years proposing to change two rules of the common law. One is the rule that a state court will not notice the law of sister states in the United States; and the other is the rule that the determination of such law shall be made by the jury and not by the judge. Accordingly, the Uniform Act provides (1) …

The Evolution Of The "Duty To Bargain" Concept In American Law, Russell A. Smith

Michigan Law Review

Promotion of collective bargaining appears to be a governmental policy borne of the travails of economic emergency during World War I, though it was somewhat foreshadowed by the earlier attempt in the Erdman Act of 1898 to outlaw the "yellow-dog'' contract. It first gained recognition by certain of the individual branches of the administration II and was subsequently suggested as an over-all policy, along with recognition of the right of self-organization and other principles, by the War Labor Conference Board. This board was appointed in January, 1918, by the Secretary of Labor and consisted of nominees of the National Industrial …

Securities Legislation - Civil Liabilities On Account Of False Registration Statement - Limitations Of Actions - Licenses, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, purchaser of stock in Condor Pictures, Inc., brought an action against the officers of the corporation and the auditors who certified the registration statement, to recover damages under section II of the Securities Act of 1933. The action was founded upon misrepresentations and omissions in the registration statement, concerning a lease made by Condor Pictures, Inc., which the auditors failed to set up as a contingent liability. The defendants at the time of the suit stipulated that the stock had no market value, but the plaintiff did not offer any evidence of the actual value of the stock beyond …

The State Legislatures And Unionism: A Survey Of State Legislation Relating To Problems Of Unionization And Collective Bargaining, Russell A. Smith, William J. Delancey

Michigan Law Review

'There ought to be a law!" So declared labor and its friends in the early days of the New Deal, and the Wagner Act and "little" Wagner acts (the "labor relations acts") were the legislative response. Now, some five years later, with Utopia in labor relations not yet at hand, the hue and cry goes up for still more law, both state and federal. In part this is the typical American reaction to particular irritations and assumes with the usual naiveté that there is a single legislative specific for every isolated ailment. In part it is the equally typical reaction …

Legal Institute, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Following its very successful Law Institute of last year, when more than one hundred and seventy-five lawyers from all parts of the United States gathered on its campus to spend three days in earnest study of certain recent developments in the law, the University of Michigan Law School has decided to make the Institute an annual event.

Constitutional Law - Delegation Of Legislative Power - Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act, Edward S. Biggar

Michigan Law Review

The declared policy of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 was to raise the purchasing power of agricultural commodities and, at the same time, to protect the interest of the consumer. The Secretary of Agriculture was empowered to issue orders which, in his belief, based upon a consideration of evidence introduced at a public hearing, would tend to effectuate this policy. Certain minimum requirements as to the provisions of the orders were imposed. For any order to be effective, it must have been approved by a proportion of the producers of the commodity concerned. Pursuant to the provisions of …

Trade Restraints-Fair Trade Acts - Use Of Trading Stamps, William L. Howland

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff filed a bill in equity to restrain by injunction an alleged violation of the Pennsylvania Fair Trade Act. The violation charged was the issuance by the defendant retailer of yellow trading stamps, when requested, on all purchases of merchandise, including trade-marked articles manufactured by the plaintiff in relation to which, as the defendant well knew, the plaintiff had made contracts fixing the resale price. The chancellor dismissed the bill. Held, judgment affirmed. The issuance of the trading stamps was not a violation of the Fair Trade Act. Even assuming that it was a violation, the invasion was …