United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

American Security Co. v. District of Columbia, 224 U.S. 491 (1912)

American Security & Trust Company v.

Commissioners District of Columbia

Submitted April 15, 1912

Decided April 29, 1912

224 U.S. 491

Syllabus

The jurisdiction of this Court to reexamine final judgments or decrees of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia under § 250 of the Judicial Code of March 3, 1911, 36 Stat. 1087, c. 231, in cases in which the construction of a law of the United States is drawn in question does not extend to cases where the Act of Congress construed by that court is a purely local law relating to the District of Columbia, but only extends to those having a general application throughout the United States.

In construing a statute, the same phrase may have different meanings when used in different connections.

Section 250 of the Judicial Code should be strictly construed, as the intent of Congress was to relieve this Court from indiscriminate appeals where the amount involved exceeded $5,000.

All cases in the District of Columbia arise under acts of Congress, and to so construe § 250 of the Judicial Code as to include the case at bar because the construction of a local street extension act was involved would largely and irrationally increase the appellate jurisdiction, and the statute will not be construed so as to include such cases even if within its literal meaning. Holy Trinity Church v. United States, 143 U. S. 437.

Writ of error to review 40 Wash.L.Rep. 34 denied.

The facts, which involve the construction of the provisions of the Judicial Code of March 3, 1911, in regard to appeals to this Court from the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, are stated in the opinion.

Page 224 U. S. 493