Kansas City Southern Ry. Co. v. Wolf

HOOK, Circuit Judge. This was an action by Wolf, assignee of a number of shippers, to recover freight overcharges. The published tariffs of the railway company specified two rates for shipments of strawberries in carload lots; the higher rate carrying an additional charge for icing, and the lower not. The applicability of the one or the other depended upon a condition of fact recited in published rules of the company. It was shown at the trial that the condition entitling the shippers to the lower rate without charge for icing existed, but the higher rate was charged and collected. The controlling question in the case is whether the claims for repayment of the overcharges might be the subject of an original action in court, or, on the other hand, should first have been submitted to the Interstate Commerce Commission. Interstate Commerce Act, §§ 9, 16, and 22, 24 Stat. 379, 34 Stat. 584 (Comp. St. §§ 8573, 8584, 8595); 41 Stat. 491. The former procedure was adopted in this case. If the latter should have been followed, the claims were barred by the limitation provided in section 16. We think it quite plain, that there was nothing about the tariffs, rules, or claims for overcharge calling for any administrative action of the Commission as a prerequisite to an action in court. There was no attack upon the tariffs or the rules. The lower rate expressly applied, in the absence of a particular transportation service within the control of the railway company, and it was shown that the service was not furnished. The conclusion that it was proper to bring an original action in court is supported by National Elevator Co. v. Railway, 158 C. C. A. 558, 246 Fed. 588, decided by this court. See, also, Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Puritan Coal Co., 237 U. S. 121, 35 Sup. Ct. 484, 59 L. Ed. 867; Illinois Central R. Co. v. Mulberry Coal Co., 238 U. S. 275, 35 Sup. Ct. 760, 59 L. Ed. 1306; Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Sonman Coal Co., 242 U. S. 120, 37 Sup. Ct. 46, 61 L. Ed. 188. The judgment is affirmed.