Loomis v. Lehigh Valley R. Co., 240 U.S. 43 (1916)

Loomis v. Lehigh Valley Railroad Company

No. 106

Argued December 6, 1915
Decided January 24, 1916
240 U.S. 43

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Syllabus

The purpose of the Act to Regulate Commerce was to secure and preserve uniformity, and the courts may not, as an original question, exert authority over subjects which primarily come within the jurisdiction of the Commission.

The character of equipment which the carrier must provide and allowances which it must make for instrumentalities supplied, and services rendered, by the shipper -- such as inside doors and bulkheads in cars and timber therefor -- are problems which directly concern ratemaking, and are peculiarly administrative on which there should be an appropriate inquiry by the Interstate Commerce Commission before being submitted to a court.

The opinions of the Interstate Commerce Commission on questions in regard to allowances to shippers for doors and bulkheads indicate that these problems are complicated and administrative.

The facts, which involve the construction and application of the Act to Regulate Commerce as amended by the Hepburn Act, are stated in the opinion.