Frankfort Broom Co. v. Western Warehouse Co.

200 F. 398 | 8th Cir. | 1912

HOOK, Circuit Judge.

This is an action by the Frankfort Broom Company against the Western Warehouse Company for breach of contract. The question upon which the case turns is whether the contract is one of absolute sale and purchase, as the plaintiff claims, or, as claimed by defendant, a mere employment of it to purchase in the market on commission. The trial court turned on fhe light of the attendant circumstances, as it might do (Merriam v. United States, 107 U. S. 437, 2 Sup. Ct. 536, 27 L. Ed. 531), and held with defendant. The contract, in the form of a written proposition by plaintiff and an acceptance by defendant, is as follows:

“Wichita, Kansas, August 81, 1909.

“Western Warehouse Co., Wichita, Kan. — Gentlemen: We herewith oiler you our contract for fifty (50) cars of Oklahoma, sound, good green color broomcorn, self-working, or nearly so, at not over eighty (80) dollars per ton, and commission of five dollars per ton, í. o. b. cars from place of origin. To he in good, dry condition, not damaged or stained, and to be shipped between now and October 15, 1909.

“Very truly yours, i’rankfort Broom Co.,

“By M. Dorn, Mgr.

“Car minimum, 18,000 lbs.

“Accepted. Aug. 31, 1909.

“Western Warehouse Co.

“For I. \t. Rasmussen Sec’y.”

By the latest time for delivery under the contract the market value of the broomcorn had nearly doubled, making an increase for the quantity specified of about $31,000.

Taking the case inost strongly for the plaintiff, against whom the trial court decided, the circumstances were as follows: The principal business of defendant, and for which it was incorporated, was that of "general broomcorn commission and storage,” though to some extent it dealt in broomcorn on its own account. Its headquarters were at Wichita, Kan. Plaintiff was engaged at Frankfort, Ky., in manufacturing brooms and dealing in broom materials and supplies. At defendant’s invitation the manager of plaintiff went to Wichita to buy broom-corn. During his negotiations with defendant’s secretary, he tendered him a form of contract for the outright purchase from defendant of 50 car loads at market cost, but not exceeding $80 per ton, plus $5 per ton commission. It was rejected because, as defendant’s secretary said, if the cost was less than $80 per ton, the plaintiff would gain; if it was more, the defendant would lose. Plaintiff’s manager acquiesced in that view, the secretary then prepared the writing above copied, and it was signed; the manager having added the minimum car contents.

We think the contract is not one of sale and purchase between the parties, but that it means that defendant should go into the market and, if possible, buy for plaintiff at not exceeding $80 per ton, and as compensation it should be paid a commission of $5 per ton; that, on the other hand, the plaintiff was to accept as much as 50 car loads, of at least 18,000 pounds each, on the basis specified. The contract is not in the customary terms of an absolute purchase and sale. Plaintiff’s offer was not the ordinary one to buy a commodity, but was an offer of a “contract.” Defendant did not agree in plain language to sell the commodity; on the contrary, it accepted the offer of a contract which expressly provided for a commission, and .a commission usually signifies agency. Again, the contract offered was to take the broomcorn “at not over $80 per ton and commission.” Why the expression “not over $80 per ton,” if plaintiff was to buy at a fixed figure? It signifies a varying price with a maximum limit, and not a fixed one, as ordinarily in an outright purchase. The varying price had relation to the cost to defendant, something of much concern to it, but of none to plaintiff in a sale and purchase at $80 per ton. So at the trial plaintiff’s manager did not hold to the $80 per ton and commission as the single,^ unvarying contract price, but testified that when the contract was made he did not know what it would be; for if defendant succeeded in obtaining the broomcorn at $50 per ton, the contract price, including commission, would be $55; if at $70, then $75 and so on. This, however, was the import of the proposition which defendant had already rejected, because it insured plaintiff against the- uncertainties of the market for a mere commission, and plaintiff’s manager had acknowledged the fairness of the objection. Obviously the minds of the parties did not meet upon such a contract as is now urged by plaintiff. It may reasonably and consistently with its terms be construed as one of agency on commission.

The judgment is affirmed.