United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Alaska Steamship Co., 253 U.S. 113 (1920)

United States v. Alaska Steamship Company

No. 541

Argued December 16, 17, 1919

Decided May 17, 1920

253 U.S. 113

Syllabus

This Court will determine only matters actually in controversy essential to the decision of the particular case before it. P. 253 U. S. 115.

In a suit in which the Interstate Commerce Commission was temporarily enjoined from requiring interstate and water carriers to use certain forms of bills of lading in domestic and export transportation upon the ground that the Commission lacked power to prescribe them, held that, since the Transportation Act of February 28, 1920, passed pending the interlocutory appeal, contained provisions which would necessitate changes in both forms of bills, the case had become moot, and the Court could not pass upon the Commission's authority, but would reverse the order of injunction, no longer needed to protect the complainants against the order of the Commission involved in the suit, without prejudice to the right to assail any such order adopted after the new legislation, and without costs to either party. Id.

259 F.7d 3 reversed.

Page 253 U. S. 114

The case is stated in the opinion.