United States et al. v. California Eastern Line, Inc. (348 U.S. 351)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided March 7, 1955 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 348 U.S. 351 · 75 S. Ct. 419
- Docket
- No. 263
- Argued
- February 10, 1955
- Decided
- March 7, 1955
- Term
- October Term 1954
- Vote
- 7–1
- Majority author
- Justice Black
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
How the Justices voted
- Majority
- Chief Justice Warren, Justice Black (wrote), Justice Clark, Justice Frankfurter, Justice Burton, Justice Reed, Justice Minton
- Dissenting
- Justice Douglas
Opinion excerpt
Mr. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the Court. The Renegotiation Act of 1942 as amended sets up departmental and Tax Court procedures to save the United States from the burden of “excessive profits” made by private contractors under war contracts with Government “Departments.” The question in this case is whether an order entered by the Tax Court under that Act is reviewable by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In 1941 the Maritime Commission, defined as a “Department” in the Act, was charged with responsibility for aiding the British Government in the transport of war equipment and supplies for use in World War II. Respondent, California Eastern Line, Inc., among others, was asked by the Commission to carry supplies to the Red Sea area for the African campaign. After extensive negotiations respondent agreed with the Commission on detailed contractual terms for the carriage. And it was agreed that respondent would be paid by the Commission out of funds appropriated by Congress under the so-called Lend-Lease Act. It was also understood that a written contract embodying only the terms previously agreed on would be executed between the respondent and the British Ministry of Transport. The charter was executed after respondent’s boat'had already sailed with its war cargo. In accordance with its agreement, the Commission paid the…
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