United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Terminal R. Assn. of St. Louis v. Trainmen, 318 U.S. 1 (1943)

Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis v.

Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen

No. 218

Argued December 15, 16, 1942

Decided January 18, 1943

318 U.S. 1

Syllabus

1. In the absence of federal legislation which conflicts or occupies the field, as here, it is within the authority of a State, in the interest of the health and safety of employees, to require a terminal railroad, though engaged largely in interstate commerce, to provide cabooses on trains within the State on designated runs. P. 318 U. S. 7.

Neither the Boiler Inspection Act, the Safety Appliance Act, nor the Interstate Commerce Act precludes the state regulation here involved; and, since the Interstate Commerce Commission has made no rule or regulation in respect of the matter, it is unnecessary to consider the extent of the Commission's power under those Acts. Nor is the regulation precluded by the Railway Labor Act.

2. The state regulation here involved is not rendered invalid by the fact that some of the runs are across state lines and, because of lack of facilities, the cabooses must be provided for some distance into a neighboring State; nor by the fact that the requirement may to some extent retard, or increase the cost of, interstate transportation. P. 318 U. S. 8.

379 Ill. 403, 41 N.E.2d 481, affirmed.

Appeal from a judgment which, reversing a lower state court, sustained an order of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Page 318 U. S. 2