Ribnik v. McBride - 277 U.S. 350 (1928)

U.S. Supreme Court

Ribnik v. McBride, 277 U.S. 350 (1928)

Ribnik v. McBride

No. 569

Argued April 26, 27, 1928

Decided May 28, 1928

277 U.S. 350

ERROR TO THE COURT OF ERRORS

AND APPEALS OF NEW JERSEY

1. The business of an employment agent is not one "affected with a public interest," and, under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, a state cannot fix the fees which such an agent may charge for his services. P. 277 U. S. 355.

2. The power to require a license for, and to regulate the conduct of, a business is distinct from the power to fix prices. P. 277 U. S. 358.

3. The fact that a business lends itself peculiarly to the practice of fraud, extortion, and discrimination may be ground for regulation, but not for price-fixing. P. 277 U. S. 368.

Page 277 U. S. 351