United States v. Wrightwood Dairy Co., 315 U.S. 110 (1942)

United States v. Wrightwood Dairy Co.

No. 744

Argued January 14, 1942
Decided February 2, 1942 *
315 U.S. 110

CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

1. The national power to regulate the price of milk moving interstate into a marketing area extends to such control over intrastate transactions there as is necessary and appropriate to make the regulation of the interstate commerce effective; it includes authority to regulate the price of intrastate milk, the sale of which, in competition with the interstate milk, affects adversely the price structure and federal regulation of the latter. P. 121.

2. The federal power to regulate intrastate transactions is not limited to persons who are engaged also in interstate transactions. P. 121

3. Viewed in the light of its legislative history, § 8c(1) of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of June 3, 1937, which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue marketing orders fixing minimum prices to be paid to producers of milk, limiting the regulation to such handling of the commodity as is in the current of interstate or foreign commerce or as "directly affects" such commerce, was intended, by a full exercise of the commerce power, to confer upon the Secretary authority to regulate the handling of milk produced and marketed intrastate, which by reason of its competition with the handling of interstate milk so affects the interstate commerce as substantially to interfere with its regulation under the Act. P. 125.

4. Opinions of individual members of Congress on the meaning of a bill, which conflict with committee reports concerning it and explanations of it made on the floor by Committee members having it in charge, are not persuasive of the Congressional purpose. P. 125.

123 F.2d 100 reversed.

Certiorari, 314 U.S. 605, to review the affirmance of a decree dismissing a bill brought by the Government to enforce an order of the Secretary of Agriculture, and granting an injunction to the defendant against the execution of the order.