United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

City of Chicago v. Willett Co., 344 U.S. 574 (1953)

City of Chicago v. Willett Company

No. 23

Argued October 17, 1952

Decided February 9, 1953

344 U.S. 574

Syllabus

Respondent is an Illinois corporation with its place of business in Chicago. It owns a fleet of trucks which it uses to transport goods for hire within Chicago, as well as between Chicago and points in neighboring States. Every day, each truck carries some goods which never leave the City and some destined for neighboring States.

Held: as applied to respondent, an ordinance of the City of Chicago levying an annual license tax ranging, according to capacity, from $8.25 to $16.50 on each truck operated for hire "within the city," is not inconsistent with the Commerce Clause when not shown to be, in fact, a burden on interstate commerce. Pp. 344 U. S. 574-580.

409 Ill. 480, 101 N.E.2d 205, reversed.

The Supreme Court of Illinois held an ordinance of the City of Chicago levying an annual license tax on trucks operated for hire within the City unconstitutional as applied to respondent's trucks. 409 Ill. 480, 101 N.E.2d 205. This Court granted certiorari. 343 U.S. 940. Reversed and remanded, p. 344 U. S. 580.