126 Ind. 348 | Ind. | 1890
— The appellees were partners, under the name of Closser & Co., and as such prosecute this action against the appellant. They base their right of action upon contracts made with the appellant wherein it undertook to transport grain from Indianapolis to the seaboard, and they charge that the appellant agreed to receive, at the time of the shipment, a designated sum as compensation for the transporta
In the first paragraph of the complaint it is alleged that on the 15th day of September, 1884, the appellant made a contract with Closser & Co. wherein it agreed to transport grain from Indianapolis to Philadelphia “ at the price of 16 J cents per hundred weight, at the same time stipulating that Closser & Co. should pay the defendant at the rate of 21 cents per hundred weight, but should be entitled to a rebate of 4J cents per hundred weight, to be repaid to Closser & Co. promptly after such shipments.”
The contract described is valid. It is not different, in any material respect, from the ordinary one in which the carrier stipulates directly to carry goods at a fixed rate, for the agreement to repay does not of itself change the legal effect of the undertaking to such an extent as to transform it into an illegal contract. It is, in contemplation of law, nothing more than an agreement to carry the grain at the compensation ultimately agreed upon, inasmuch as the provision binding the carrier to pay back part of the nominal compensation simply fixes the amount of the actual compensation, although it does provide for a peculiar mode of payment. There is no element of moral or legal wrong in an agreement to repay part of the compensation received ; to give an illegal character to such an agreement more must be shown than the mere fact that the parties stipulated for a rebate. In simply making a rebate, or in providing for a drawback, parties violate no law, and their contract must stand. It can not be presumed that fraud was intended, or practiced, nor can it be presumed that there was any wrongful combination to secure an undue advantage over other shippers; neither can it be presumed that in stipulating for a rebate the carrier intended to make, in favor of the particular shipper, a discrimination forbid-
In the case of Nicholson v. Great Western M. W. Co., 7 C. B. N. S. 755 (1 Nev. & McN. R. W. Cases, 143), Erle, C. J., 'said: “I take the free power of making contracts to be essential for making commercial profit. Railway companies have that power as free as any merchants, subject only (as to this court) to the duty of acting impartially, without respect of persons: and this duty is performed, when the offer of contract is made, to all who wish to adopt it. Large contracts may be beyond the means of small capitalists; contracts for long distances may be beyond the needs of those whose traffic is confined to a home district; but the power of the railway company to contract is not restricted by these considerations.”
It is obvious that whether the common carrier acts impartially or not depends upon the circumstances of the particular case, for regard must be had to such circumstances as quantity, distance, and kindred considerations. The hinge
The current of judicial opinion in America flows in the general channel marked out and opened by the courts of England. Bayles v. Kansas, etc., R. W. Co., 13 Col. 181; Spofford v. Boston, etc., Railroad, 128 Mass. 326; Fitchburg R. R. Co. v. Gage, 12 Gray, 393; Johnson v. Pensacola, etc., R. R. Co., 16 Fla. 623 (26 Am. Rep. 731); Ragan v. Aiken, 9 Lea, 609 (42 Am. Rep. 684); McDuffee v. Portland, etc., R. R., 52 N. H. 430 (13 Am. Rep. 72); Hersh v. Northern Central R. W. Co., 74 Pa. St. 181; Christie v. Missouri Pacific R. W. Co., 94 Mo. 453; Chicago, etc., R. R. Co. v. People, ex rel., 67 Ill. 1; Toledo, etc., R. W. Co. v. Elliott, 76 Ill. 67; Erie and Pacific Despatch v. Cecil, 112 Ill. 185; Root v. Long Island R. R. Co., 114 N. Y. 300; Kilmer v. New York, etc., R. R. Co., 100 N.Y. 395; Stewart v. Lehigh, etc., R. R. Co., 38 N. J. L. 505; Union Pacific R. W. Co. v. United States, 117 U. S. 355; Hays v. Pennsylvania Co., 12 Fed. Rep. 309; Interstate Commerce Comm. v. Baltimore, etc., R. R. Co., 8 R. W. & Corp. Law J. 343.
The cases of State, ex rel., v. Cincinnati, etc., R. W. Co., 23 N. E. Rep. 928, Scofield v. Railway Co., 43 Ohio St. 571, and Messenger v. Pennsylvania R. R. Co., 36 N. J. L. 407,
In the later case of Stewart v. Lehigh, etc., R. R. Co., supra, the decision in Messenger v. Pennsylvania R. R. Co., supra, is explained, and it was said : “ The contract held invalid in the Messenger case, above cited, was indeed one enuring to the benefit of the individual and against the corporation, but its terms were such that it could not possibly be effectuated without giving the plaintiff a preference over the public; it was, in effect, that whatever rate should be charged, against any one else, twenty per centum less should be
The conclusion that common carriers may, within the limits of fairness and impartiality, consult their own interests, underlies the decisions which we have referred to as correct exponents of the law, and this general conclusion is affirmed in our own case of Louisville, etc., R. W. Co. v. Flanagan,
The second paragraph of the complaint alleges that the defendant is, and long has been, a common carrier of goods, and that its custom, of long standing, is to make contracts for carrying grain from Indianapolis to the Eastern cities; that the plaintiffs have long been engaged in the business of buying, selling, and shipping grain ; that on the first day of November, 1884, the plaintiffs, under the firm name of Closser & Co., entered into a contract with the defendant whereby it undertook to transport grain from a station on its road, known as Union City, to the city of New York; that at the time this contract was made “ there was no open and established rate of freight charges for carrying such grain, except a certain rate agreed upon between the defendant and other railway companies owning competing lines; the rate so fixed by the competing companies was established by an agreement made by them for the purpose of preventing competition,” and was enforced and maintained in so far as it was enforced and maintained by an agency of such companies established for that purpose, and called a “pool ”; that the “ pool ” was managed by a person selected by the companies for that purpose, and called a “pool commissioner that at the time mentioned all the railway companies that “ were so located, or situated, as to be competitors for such freight were parties to said arrangement and “pool that the rate established by the combination of common carriers was 21J cents per hundred weight; that the defendant, “ notwithstanding such combination and pool, offered and gave to Closser & Co. an inducement for shipping freight over its line at a rate lower than that fixed by the combina
The third paragraph is essentially the same as the second so far as concerns the combination and pool, the agreement for rebate and the like, but it counts upon a contract, similar to that described in the second paragraph, made on the 10th day of November, 1884, and also alleges that the defendant refused to furnish forty-two cars demanded by the appellees and needed by them for the transportation of wheat which they had ready for shipment.
The fourth paragraph of the complaint contains substantially the same allegations respecting the combination and “ pool ” as those found in the two preceding paragraphs, but it is alleged that on the 30th day of September, 1884, and the 2d day of October of that year, the open and established rate was 12 cents per hundred weight. It is also alleged in this paragraph that Closser & Co. entered into contracts with the defendant on the days named, wherein it was agreed
The central question presented for our decision is as to the validity of the contract between the rival railroad companies described in the second, third and fourth paragraphs of the complaint, for if that contract was valid it established an open rate, and a shipper would have no right to unite with one of the competing companies to secure, by an undue preference, an advantage over other shippers, or by that means defraud or mislead other carriers who were parties to the agreement ci’eating the “pool.” If the combination was a lawful one, then, those who had notice of its existence were bound to refrain from assisting a party to it in defrauding or deceiving other members of the combination for the purpose of securing an advantage for himself over other shippers. If, to descend from a generalization to the particular instance, the combination of the competing carriers was a lawful one, and was known to Glosser & Co., and they contracted for a rebate in violation of the terms of the contract which bound the carriers together, and established a rate to which all were under a duty to conform, they can not recover back the sum paid in excess of the rate established by the combined companies. If, however, their agreement was illegal, the courts will turn them away with the answer, that, in substance, at least, has been so often given suitors, “ no polluted hand shall touch the pure fountains of justice.” One whose road lies through a corrupt contract — a contract which violates the rules of public policy or of commercial honesty — can not recover back money paid under it. The courts will leave the parties where it found them. But if the contract which bound the rival carriers together was illegal, then it was incapable of conveying any right to any person, since a void thing is
It further follows that if the contract creating the combination was not entitled to respect, there was no obstacle barring the way to a contract between a carrier and a shipper stipulating for a special rate. It still further follows that if the contract between the associated carriers was utterly without force, it is inconceivable that it should obstruct the otherwise unfettered power to make contracts for the transportation of goods where no element of partiality, oppression, or improper favoritism entered into the transaction. Do but grant that the contract between the carriers was void, and it must inevitably follow that it neither obstructs the right to provide by special contract for a special rate, nor makes an act which ignores or disregards the attempt to form such a combination as that described in the complaint wrongful or illegal.
The line of thought we are pursuing naturally leads to the suggestion that where a contract is so corrupted by illegality as to be utterly void, no one of the parties to it, nor any one basing a claim upon it, can successfully assert that a third person who disregards it has committed any wrong or violated any duty, for it seems perfectly clear that no right entitled to respect can arise out of a contract prohibited and condemned by law. It is evident that' whatever path be chosen in this instance it leads at last to the pivotal question whether the contract upon which rests the combination formed by the associated carriers possesses any vitality.
We preface our discussion of the central question by saying that we are not, at this point, dealing with a case where a combination is formed for the purpose of preventing ruinous competition, and in which there is no design to stifle fair competition. We are not required to decide, nor do we de
Coming to the question which awaits our judgment, and
“ No one,” said the court in Hunter v. Pfeiffer, supra, “can predicate an enforceable right upon such an agreement.” In support of this statement the court cited Atcheson v. Mallon, 43 N. Y. 147 (3 Am. Rep. 678); Woodworth v. Bennett, 43 N. Y. 273 (3 Am. Rep. 706); Gibbs v. Smith, 115 Mass. 592; Hannah v. Fife, 27 Mich. 172. Relevant and
One of the cases near akin to the one before us is that of Hooker v. Vandewater, 4 Denio, 349. In that case competing canal companies combined, and agreed to fix an established rate of freight, and to divide profits. The agreement was adjudged illegal, the court saying, among other things, that “ It is a general proposition that an agreement to do an unlawful act can not be supported at law — that no right of action can spring out of an illegal contract; and this rule applies not only when the contract is expressly illegal, but whenever it is opposed to public policy.” Still closer is the resemblance between this case and that of Texas, etc., R. W. Co. v. Southern Pacific R. W. Co., 41 La. Ann. 970. The court there held a “ pooling contract ” substantially the same as the one described in the appellees’ complaint to be void, and in support of its ruling referred to the cases of Gibbs v. Consolidated Gas Co., 130 U. S. 396; Woodstock Iron Co. v. Richmond, etc., Extension Co., 129 U. S. 643; Morris Run Coal Co. v. Barclay Coal Co., 68 Pa. St. 173; Arnot v. Pitt
The authorities found on every hand not only fully support our conclusion that a contract between competing carriers, forming a combination for the purpose of stifling competition, is grima facie illegal, but many of them carry the principle to a much greater length; it is enough for us, however, that the law, as it has long existed, sustains the conclusion we here affirm, since it is neither necessary nor proper for us to go beyond the case before us for judgment.
Questions respecting rulings upon matters of evidence next require our attention. The first of these questions arises on the ruling sustaining the motion of the appellees requiring the production of books and papers. Counsel for the appellees respond to the argument of their opponents upon this question by asserting, as their primary proposition, that the appellant is not in a situation to avail itself of this ruling, inasmuch as it did not decline to obey the order and suffer the consequences. The counsel for appellees have assumed a position that can uot be successfully defended. The appellant was not bound to disregard the order of the trial court, suffer for its disobedience, and then seek redress by appeal; it did all that it was legally bound to do, it objected in due season, in a proper mode, and appropriately reserved an exception. This was sufficient; indeed, the appellant could not have appealed from the isolated order, for cases can not be appealed before final judgment, nor in fragments, except in rare instances, and this case is not a member of that rare class. Western Union Tel. Co. v. Locke, 107 Ind. 9; Board, etc., v. Fullen, 118 Ind. 158.
One of the positions taken by the appellees is, however,
The question presented upon the ruling admitting the testimony of the witness Closser detailing statements made by Steiner is, perhaps, not entirely free from difficulty, but in view of the character of the testimony, and the evidence-tending to make it competent, we have concluded that there was no error in this ruling. It is sufficient to entitle testimony to admission that there is some evidence, direct or circumstantial, tending to make it competent, for it is not necessary that the connecting evidence should distinctly establish the facts which give the character of competency to the testimony, as the court in admitting testimony does not conclusively adjudge that the evidence establishing its competency is sufficient to fully prove the requisite fact or facts • it simply decides that there is some evidence tending to make the testimony competent. Pedigo v. Grimes, 113 Ind. 148; Shugart v. Miles, 125 Ind. 445.
If, therefore, there was some evidence of such facts as ren
The facts stated in the special finding are, in most particulars, substantially the same as those stated in the complaint, but there are differences between the facts pleaded and those found by the court, and those differences will be indicated, but not expressly detailed, as we discuss the questions made upon the special finding. ' Many of the questions presented by the special finding are disposed of in the preceding discussion, and we shall not again consider them. .
It was not necessary for the shippers to prove that the rate charged and paid by them, under their contract, was excessive or unjust, for the right to recover rests upon the contract providing for a drawback. If a common carrier makes a special contract to repay part of the sum received from the shipper he must perform his part of the contract, unless he overthrows the presumption of fairness and right by countervailing facts.
If the contract made by Closser & Co. with the appellant was illegal, then there can be no recovery, and the cases of Morris v. Philpot, 11 Ind. 447, Judah v. Trustees, etc., 16 Ind. 56, Oscanyon Co. v. Arms Co., 103 U. S. 261, Craft v. McConoughy, 22 Am. Rep. 171, Arnott v. Pittson, etc., Coal Co., 23 Am. Rep. 190, and Gregory v. Wendell, 39 Mich. 337, would be of influential importance, but as the contract between the parties was not illegal, a recovery is not defeated, and those cases are not relevant.
It is true, as counsel contend, that a finding beyond the
Before giving consideration to the precise question argued by counsel, it is proper, and, indeed, necessary, to speak of a matter of procedure, since it is tacitly assumed, although not expressly asserted, that a special finding may be considered in detached parts. This position is not tenable. A pleading does not supply an analogue for guidance in construing- and giving effect to a special finding, for a special finding, like a special verdict, a series of instructions, or the like, must be considered as a whole, and it can not be dissected into fragmentary parts and successfully assailed in detail. One part may be considered in connection with other connected parts, or parts referring to the same transaction, and if taken as a whole the finding legitimately supports the judgment it will be upheld.
To determine whether the finding is beyond the issues it was necessary to analyze so much of it as is sought to be impeached, and this we have done with care, but we think it unnecessary to give the result of our. analysis in detail. It may be said, generally, that the facts are essentially the same as those pleaded in the complaint, although it is, perhaps, true that the special finding makes a somewhat stronger case than the pleading does, but this - does not take the foundation from under the judgment. It is sufficient if the substance of the issue is established, and a finding containing more facts than the plaintiff is required to prove is not ill, provided, of course, the facts are connected with the main issue, support it, and do not establish a distinct and independent cause of action.
It is suggested that a contract, binding a carrier to transport as many car loads of grain as the shipper may desire
A question made on the evidence requires a brief consideration. Some of the grain shipped by the appellees was intended for a firm known as Gill & Fisher, with whom it appears the appellant had entered into a contract in which it was agreed that they should be allowed a drawback or rebate on grain consigned to them. On the 25th of September, 1884, after the first contract described in the fourth paragraph of the complaint had been entered into, but before the second contract there described was made, the appellant, by one of its officers, forbade the allowance of drawbacks on grain shipped to Gill & Fisher, and the evidence shows that notice of the interdiction was given to Closser & Co. on the 26th day of the same month. If no more than this appeared we should be inclined to hold that there was a valid revocation and an effective interdiction upon contracts allowing Closser & Co. a drawback on- grain consigned to Gill & Fisher, but more does appear, for it appears that a person representing the company — one, too, who had acted for it in making former contracts with Closser & Co. — solicited and obtained the contract entered into on the 2d of October, treated the order referred to as ineffective, and induced Closser & Co. to believe that it had no force. It is probably true that the evidence is not so satisfactory upon the question of the authority of the agent who represented the
A cross-error assigned by the appellees challenges the correctness of the conclusion of law which denies a full recovery upon the cause of action stated in the third paragraph of the complaint, and we have carefully studied the finding upon that branch of the case. The result of our examination is that the facts stated are not so full and clear as to authorize us, as in favor of a party having the burden of proof, to overthrow the conclusion of law stated by the trial court, although the question is a very close one, and our conclusion upon it is reached with some hesitation.
Judgment affirmed.