Platt v. New York/Opinion of the Court

by Charles Evans Hughes

United States Supreme Court

232 U.S. 35

Platt  v.  New York

 Argued: December 3 and 4, 1913. --- Decided: January 5, 1914

This suit was brought by the complainant as treasurer of the United States Express Company to restrain the enforcement against that company of certain license requirements contained in the ordinances of the city of New York. The ordinances are the same as those which were under consideration in Barrett v. New York, decided this day [[[232 U.S. 14]], 58 L. ed. --, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 203], and the decree of the circuit court was to the same effect in both cases. 189 Fed. 268.

The United States Express Company is an unincorporated association, organized under the laws of New York, and is extensively engaged in interstate commerce as a common carrier of packages. Over 98 per cent of its total business in New York city consists of the handling of traffic in interstate transportation. The interstate shipments in New York city are hauled by the company's wagons to and from the rail terminals of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad, all within the state of New Jersey. It employs in its business 343 express wagons, of which 189 are stabled in and operated exclusively from Jersey City, New Jersey; 123 are similarly kept in Communipaw, New Jersey; and the remainder, or 31, are kept in the borough of Manhattan. Both the local and interstate traffic are handled in these wagons indiscriminately. The company has never taken out any licenses in the city of New York for its wagons or drivers.

The questions are the same as those which were presented in Barrett v. New York supra, and a like decree should be entered restraining the enforcement of the ordinances against the company with respect to the conduct of its interstate business and its wagons and drivers employed in interstate commerce.

The decree of the Circuit Court is reversed and the case is remanded to the District Court, with direction to enter a decree in favor of the complainant, in conformity with this opinion.

It is so ordered.

Notes