432
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 46.
due can only mean what remains after satisfying the previous gifts. The court further says that such is the settled law both in England and in the United States; citing Hill, Trustees, 360. See, also, Bank v. Hays, 12 Fed. Rep. 663; and Rambo v. Rumer, 4 Del. Ch. 9. William Dean was to receive the whole estate of the testator, less the "debts, funeral expenses, and the above mentioned five thousand dollars;" which last sum was to be "paid, or secured to be paid," before he could claim the re!'idue. There can be no doubt that the legacy to the children of Elizabeth and Ann is a charge on the real estate. The statutory bond executed by William Dean on taking out letters testamentary did not, nor was it designed to, secure the payment of this legacy, because the time of its payment was uncertain, while the security afforded by the bond was limited to six years from its date, aiter which period no action could be brought on it against either the principal or his sureties. In fact, the legacy did not become payable until more than 20 years after the date of the bond, and long after the bond had been barred by the statute of limitations. It follows that the words in the residuary clause, "secured to be paid," must have meant some form or kind of security which would be more permanent and enduring than that furnished by the executor's bond.
UNITED STATES V. JEU,ICO :XI0UNTAIN COAL
&
COKE Co.
et al.
(Circuit Court, M. D. Tennessee. June 4, 1891.) COY[MERCE.
An agreement between coal mining companies operating chiefly in one state and dealers in coal in a eity in another state, creating a coal exchange to advance the interests of the coal business, to treat all parties to the business in a fair and equitable manner. and to establish the price of coal, and change the same from time to time. by which it was agreed that the price of the coal at the mines should be 472' cents, the freight being 4 cents, and the margin of the dealer should be 472' cents, making the price to the consumer 13 cents, and that, whenever the price of the coal is advanced beyond an advance in freights, one-half the advance shall go to tile mine owner, and the other half to the dealer, and a penalty was provided by fine, of any member selling coal at a less price than the price fixed by the exchange, and by which it was forbidden for owners or operators of mines to sell coal to any person other than members of the organization, and for dealers to purchase of miners who were not members, but exempting coal used for man,ufacturing and steamboat purposes from the prices prescribed until all the mines tributary to tbat market should come into the'exchange, or until the exchange could control the pl'ices of coal used by manufacturers, is within the language of Act Congo JUly 2, 1890, declaring "every contract or combination in the form of a trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce among the several states, " and also the monopolizing, or combination with another to monopolize, trade or commerce among the several states, a misdemeanor.
In Equity.
On bill for injunction.
John Ruhm, U. S. Atty., Lee Broock, Asst. Dist. Atty., and James Trirn-
for the United States. Tillman & Tillman, Henderson & Jourolrnan, and Hill & GmnbcT'ry, for
lefendants.
UNITED STATES t1. JELLIOO llOUNTAIN COAL &: COKE CO.
433
KEY, J. The petition in this case is filed against the members of the Nashville Coal Exchange. The membership of the exchange is com.posed of various coal mining companies operating mines in Kentucky and Tennessee, chiefly in Kentucky, and of persons and firms dealing in coal at Nashville, Tenn. It is alleged that the purposes, objects, and agreement of the defendants are in violation of an act of congress approved July 2, 1890, entitled" An act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies," and the petition seeks to restrain and prevent the violations of the act by injunction under section 4 of the law. The first section of the act declares that "every contract or combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce among the several states, is declared illegal." The second section declares that "every person who shall monopolize, or combine or conspire with another person or persons to monopoli:tr., any part of the trade or commerce among the several states * * * shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." A violation of the first section is a misdemeanor also. By lhe fourth section jurisdiction is conferred upon the circuit courts of the United States to prevent and restrain violations of the act, and it is made the duty of district attorneys in their respective districts, under the direction of the attorney general of the United States, to institute proceedings in equity to prevent and restrain such violations. The articles of af.);reement between the defendants provide, among other things, that the objects of this exchange are, "To do all in its power to advance the interests of the coal business at Nashville, to treat all parties to this agreement in a fair and equitable manner, and to establish prices on coal at Nashville, Tenn., and to change same from time to time, as occasion may require." Prices to consumers at Nashville are to be established so as to sell coal at a fair and reasonable pri"'.l, so as to allow all parties a fair profit for their product. Every person, firm, or corporation owning or operating mines who ship coal to Nashvi!le shall be eligible to membership in this exchange, and all coal dealers in the city of Nashville are also eligible to membership. None others are eligible. Any member of the exchange who may withdraw from it, and continue in the coal trade in Nashville, or ship any coal to NashVIlle, shall forfeit and relinquish all interest of any and every kind, however obtained or accrued. The exchange will from time to time establish prices at which coal shall be sold in Nashville. Coal classed as No.1 shall be valued at the mines at 4! cents minimum price for bushel of 80 pounds lump, and freight being 4 cents, the dealer's margin to be 4! cents, making the price of lump coal 13 cents per bushel; No.2 to be valued at 5 cents at the mine; No.3 at 6 cents; and when the above prices are advanced in excess of the advance in freights, then one-half the advance shall go to the mine owners and one-half to the dealers. Every member found guilty of selling coal at a less price than the price fixed by the exchange, either directly or indirectly, shall be fined 2 cents per bushel and $10 for the first offense, and 4 cents per bushel and $20 for the second offense. A majority of all the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Owners or operators of mines v. 46b'. no. 6-28
434
shall not .sell or ship coal to any person, firm, or corporation in Nashville, or West Nashville, or East Nashville, who are not members of the exchange, and dealers shall not buy coal from anyone not members of the exchange. All coal used for manufacturing and steam-boat purposes shall be exempt from prices made by the exchange until all mines tributary to this market shall become members of the exchange, or until the exchange can control prices to govern coal used by manufacturers. No coal shall be sold in any month to be delivered in any following month except at prices fixed for the particular month in wllich coal so sold is to be delivered. Fines and penalties are declared, so as to enforce the stipulations embodied in the constitution and by-laws of the exchange. It can hardly be denied that sueh provisions as these, by a body of persons such as compose this exchange, is a contract or combination in restraint of trade or commerce, or an attempt between different persons to monopolize a part of the trade or commerce, bet,y;een parties who are citizens of or reside in different states. It is shown that several mining companies in Kentucky engaged in raising coal, and most of the coal dealers of Nashville, Tenn., have entered into the foregoing mentioned arrangement. It is insisted for the defendants that the subject of agreement is not interstate commerce; that the obligation as to the mining companies ends at the mines. The price is fixed and paid at that point, and consequently controversies in regard to the contract as to them belong exclusively to the courts of the state of Kentucky; that, so I"ar as the dealers are concerned, the price of the coal is fixed for its sale at Nashville, and after it becomes their property by delivery to them, and therefore the courts of Tennessee have the jurisdiction as to them. Various authorities are cited, and the debates in the senate of the United States are read, to sustain this view of the case. As I understand the contention of defendants' counsel it is that the agreement is not violative of the terms of the act of July 2, 1890; but, if it is, the act is unconstitutional: First. Because the constitution confers upon the courts of the United States in such a case jurisdiction over "controversies between citizens of different states." That the fact that parties to a contract are citizens of different states does not confer jurisdiction. There must be u controversy between the parties to the contract, and this litigation is not a dispute between the contracting parties, but between the government and these parties. Second. That the act creates and defines criminal offenses, and the constitution provides that the" trial of all crimes except in cllses of impeachment shall be by jury," and that section 4 of the act, so far as it attempts to give circuit courts of the United States equitable jurisdiction over the violations of the act, is unconstitutional. It is insisted the proceeding authorized is, in substance, an information in equity charging defendants with a misdemeanor. I shall not enter into u.discussion of the constitutionality of the law. A court, especially an inferior one, should hesitate long and consider carefully before it should declare an act of congress, passed after deliberation and debate, and approved by the president, unconstitutional. The
UNITED STATES V. JEI,LICO MOUNTAIN COAL & COKE CO.
435
reasons for such a decision in such a Cl\se should be clear and undeniable. If doubtful or questionable, the doubt should be resolved in favor of the law. The arguments against the validity of the act have been urged with great plausibility and strength, and an array of authorities have been read as sustaining the views of defendants' counsel. The positions of defendants' counsel have been met with eClual force and ability by those representing the government, and many authorities have been referred to in support of the power of congress to pass the law; and without nicely adjusting and weighing the opposing views of counsel, enough appears to prevent me from declaring the act, or any part of it, as outside of the powers granted to congress by the constitution. The remaining question is whether the agreement and regulations between the defendants are a "contract or combination in restraint of trade or commerce between states;" are they evidence of a combination to monopolize "any part of the trade or commerce" between the states of Tennessee and Kentucky? The coal mines are in Kentucky, and the coal is to be mined there for a certain price, and the agreement contenplates its shipment to Nashville. To be sure it is not to be transported thither by the defendants or any of them, but the price for which it is to be shipped is fixed or stated, and becomes a part of the price for which the coal is to be sold at Nashville; and when the prices fixed "are advanced in excess of the advance in freights, the one-half of the advance shall go to the mine owners and one-half to the dealers." In making the agreement the transportation of the coal from Kentucky to Nashville was a necessary incident to and element in the arrangement, and its execution would have been impossible without it. The instrumentality of transportation did not belong to nor was it controlled by them, but it was used by them and paid by them for services rendered. The contract provided for the sale of coal in Kentucky, its shipment to Nashville, Tenn., to dealers there, for its retail to consumers. It was, to all intents aud purposes, a traffic, trade, commerce between states. Was the purpose of the exchange to monopolize a part of this trade, or to combine in restraint thereof? The exchange does not propose to be governed and controlled by the public markets arising from competition and the operations of the laws of supply and demand. On the contrary, it announces that its purpose is "to establish prices on coal at Nashville, Tenn., and to change the ·same from time to time as occasion may require," and in carrying out this object it asserts that"The exchange will establish prices at which coal shall be sold in Nashville, subject, however. to the following conditions and basis: Coal classed as No. 1 to be valued at the mines at 4! cents minimum price per bushel of 80 pounds for lump. and freight being 4 cents, the dealer's margin to be 4! cents. making the price of lump coal 13 cents per bushel; No.2 to be valued at 5 cents at the mines, No.3, 6 cents; and when the above prices are advanced in excess of the advance in freights, then one-half of the advance shall go to the mine owners and one-half to the dealers. Any member found gUilty of selling coal at a less price than the price fixed by the exchange. either directly or indirectly. shall be fined 2 cents per bushel and $10 for the first offense, and 4 cents a bushel and $20 for the second offense."
436
These provisions, so far as this combination could do so, fixed the lowest price of coal to consumers in and near Nashville at 13 cents per bushel, and prevented coal being sold there at a cheaper rate, no matter how much less it might cost in an open and unobstructed market. NOl' is this all. The exchange ordains that "owners or operators of mines shall not sell or ship coal to any firm, person, or corporation in or 'Vest Nashville or East Nashville who are not members of this exchange, and dealers shall not buy coal from anyone who is not a. member of the exchange." The coal trade is confined, so far as the market supply is concerned, to transactions between the miner and dealer, the prices are fixed by them, and the miner and dealer only are eligible to membership. The miners of the concern cannot sell to any dealer in or near Nashville who is not It party to the agreement, nor can such dealer purchase coal of any miner anywhere who is not a member of the body. The operations of both are confined within the membership. So far as Nashville is concerned, they cannot go to cheaper or more favorable markets, or deal with those who would give more favorable terms. The restraint is positi ve and undeniable. Moreover, in the first section of the by-laws of the exchange it is asserted that" all coal used for manufacturing and steam-boat purposes shall be exempt from prices made by this exchange until all mines tributary to this market shall become members of the exchange, or until the exchange can control prices to govern coal used by manulacturers." This clearly indicates the purpose of the association to be to control the price of coal in the Nashville market used in manufacturing and in steam-boats whenever it could; that the mines of coal tributary to Nashville were all expected to become members of the exchange, whereupon the prices of coal could be fixed absolutely, and the necessary inference from this deciaration and the entire organic structure of the body is that it felt strong enough already to regulate and establish the prices of domestic coal in that market. to a large extent, at least, and that this exchange might now monopolize the business of dealing in domestic coal in the Nashville market, and in the future monopolize by and confine to its membership the entire trade in coal at that point. It seems to me that the purposes lind intentions of the association could hardly have been more successfully framed to fall within the provisions of the act of July 2, 1890, had the object been to organize a combination, the business of which should subject it to the penalties of that statute, and that there is no need of authorities to sustain such view of the case. Regarding the act as constitutional, I see no way for the defendants to escape its condemnation. Proof has been taken, on one hand, to establish that the people of Nashville have been and are being injured by the high prices which have been and are being paid for coal, and the extent of the injury. On the other hand, defendants have introduced proof to show that the higher freight rates to Nashville, and the want of facilities for transportation by railroad and water, are the for the higher prices of coal at Nashville than at Louisville or Memphis, but it is needless to enter upon this branch of dispute. "The attempt to monopolize or combine" is de-
GLIDDEN V. WHITTIER.
437
nounced by the second section of the act, and the first section declares that" every contract or combination * * * in restraint of trade or commerce among the several states * * * is declared illegal." The attempt-the contract to do the thing prohibited-is enough to incur the penalties of this law. I conclude that the defendants, by the organization of the Kashville Coal Exchange, and their operations under it, have been, and at the time of filing the petition in this cause were, guilty of a violation of sections 1 and 2 of the act of July 2, 1890, and should be enjoined from further violations of the law, as provided by the fourth section thereof. The petition will be dismissed as to such of the defendants as are not, or were not, members of the exchange at the time of the filing of the petition.
GLIDDEN
v.
WHITTIER
et
at. "
(Circuit Court, D. Idaho.
June 1,1891.)
1.
ATTACHMENT-MoTION TO DISSOLVE.
Motion to discharge, under statute of Idaho, may he for the irregularity of its issue. even after the attached property has been redelivered to the defendant upon his giving the counter-undertaking provided for by statute. . Affidavit is sufficient which alleges that plaintiff has no security by mortgage or lien upon real or personal property, although it omits the other clause, "or pledge of personal property."
2.
SAME-StIF}'ICIEXCY OF AFFIDAVIT.
(Syllabus by the Court.)
At Law. Motion to discharge attachment. John R. McBride and Albert Allen, for plaintiff. W. B. Heyburn, for detimdants. BEATTY, J. This action was commenced in the state court for the county of Shoshone on the 31st day of July, 1891, and on the same day the plaintiff caused certain ores, the property of the defendant, to be attached. Two days thereafter the defendants made their appearance "in the cause, and moved for the release and redelivery to them of the attached property, upon the execution of a proper undertaking, in pursuance of section 4320, Rev. St. Idaho, and thereafter, on the 4th day of August, upon the hearing of such motion, the undertaking having been given, the judge of such court ordered the redelivery to defendant of all such property. On the 9th day of Al1gust the defendant moved said state court "to discharge the writ of attachment, and exonerate the makers of the undertaking heretofore given, and to release from the operation of attachment the property attached," on account of the irregularity in the affidavit upon which the attachment was originally issued. This motion does not appear to have been determined in such state court, and is now here renewed.