United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Aluminum Co. of America v. Ramsey, 222 U.S. 251 (1911)

Aluminum Co. of America v. Ramsey

No. 56

Submitted November 8, 1911

Decided December 11, 1911

222 U.S. 251

Syllabus

Although a statute increasing the liability of corporations may, as to corporations of the state, be an exercise of the reserved power to alter, amend, and repeal, the application of that principle as to foreign corporations depends on many considerations and involves federal questions.

Whether or not a classification merely between all corporations and partnerships and individuals offends the equal protection clause, a classification of corporations operating railroads and individuals does not offend that provision of the Constitution.

One within a distinct class which is properly subject to classification cannot question the constitutionality of the classification on the

Page 222 U. S. 252

ground that it is too broad, and includes others outside of that class.

Although the state court may have applied the statute to plaintiff in error merely as a corporation, if the record how that it is a corporation of a kind properly classified by the statute and there is equality within that class, the statute will not be held invalid as repugnant to the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

89 Ark. 522 affirmed.

The facts, which involve the constitutionality, under the Fourteenth Amendment, of the Arkansas Fellow Servant Law, are stated in the opinion.

Page 222 U. S. 254