United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Thompson v. Darden, 198 U.S. 310 (1905)

Thompson v. Darden

No. 19

Argued March 3, 1905

Decided May 15, 1905

198 U.S. 310

Syllabus

Congress has power to permit, and by the act of 1789 and § 4235, Rev.Stat., has permitted, the several states to adopt pilotage regulations, and this Court has repeatedly recognized and upheld the validity of state pilotage laws. The Virginia pilot law is not in conflict with § 437, Rev.Stat., prohibiting discriminations because it imposes compulsory pilotage on all vessels bound in and out through the capes, and does not impose it on vessels navigating the internal waters of the state; nor can this objection be sustained on the ground that the navigation of the internal waters of Virginia is more tortuous than that in and out of the capes.

If a state pilot law does not conflict with the provisions of the federal statutes in regard to pilotage this Court cannot avoid its provisions because it deems them unwise or unjust.

This Court will not investigate or decide a proposition which was not raised in the court below and is based upon conjecture, even though the facts suggested might have existed.

The facts are stated in the opinion.

Page 198 U. S. 313