Booth v. Indiana, 237 U.S. 391 (1915)

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Booth v. Indiana

No. 231

Argued April 19, 1915
Decided May 3, 1915
237 U.S. 391

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF INDIANA

Syllabus

As the police power of the state extends to regulating coal mining, it cannot be limited by moments of time and differences of situation.

Where the highest court of the state has sustained a police statute under the state constitution, this Court is only concerned with questions of constitutionality under the federal Constitution.

The Fifth Amendment is not applicable to the states.

The decision of the highest court of the state that the method of calling a police statute into operation is proper does not involve a federal question reviewable by this Court.

A police statute requiring owners of the mine to furnish certain conveniences for coal miners on request of a specified number of employees is not unconstitutional as denying equal protection of the law because it may be applied to one mine where some of the employees demand it, and not to another where such demand is not made by the specified number. McLean v. Arkansas, 211 U.S. 539.

The statute of Indiana requiring owners of coal mines to erect and maintain wash-houses for their employees at the request of twenty or more employees is not unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment either as depriving the mine owners of their property without due process of law or as denying them the equal protection of the law.

100 N.E. 563 affirmed.

The facts, which involve the constitutionality under the due process and equal protection provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment of the coal mine wash-house law of Indiana, are stated in the opinion.