United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Stone v. New Orleans & Northeastern R. Co., 116 U.S. 352 (1886)

Stone v. New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad Company

Argued October 13-14, 1885

Decided January 4, 1886

116 U.S. 352

Syllabus

A state statute providing that a railroad company may receive for transporting, carrying, and telegraphing such tolls and charges as might from time to time be established, fixed, and regulated by the directors, and that the act should be construed liberally so as to favor its purposes and objects, provided that nothing in it should be construed as preventing the legislature from regulating the rates of transportation for passengers and freight over the road, and provided further that there should be no discrimination in favor of any road, does not deprive the state of its power, within the limits of its general authority, as controlled by the Constitution of the United States, to act upon the reasonableness of the tolls and charges so established, fixed, and regulated. Subsequent legislation by the state fixing the maximum rate for other railroads does not apply to this road by virtue of the proviso as to discrimination.

Page 116 U. S. 354