St. John v. New York, 201 U.S. 633 (1906)

U.S. Supreme Court

St. John v. New York, 201 U.S. 633 (1906) St. John v. New York

No. 210

Argued March 14, 1906

Decided April 16, 1906

201 U.S. 633

ERROR TO THE SUREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Syllabus

A state may classify persons and objects for the purpose of legislation, provided the classification is based on proper and justifiable distinctions, and so held that c. 338 of the laws of New York of 1893, prohibiting the sale of adulterated milk, is not in conflict with the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because in certain respects it provides different prohibitions and penalties as to producing and nonproducing vendors of milk.

The facts are stated in the opinion.

MR. JUSTICE McKENNA delivered the opinion of the Court.

Plaintiff in error is a nonproducing wholesale and retail milk dealer in the City of Buffalo, New York. In February, 1903,

Page 201 U. S. 634

he exposed for sale and sold a quantity of milk in violation of sections 20 and 22 of chapter 338 of the laws of New York for the year 1893, and its amendments and supplements, in that the said milk contained more than 88% of water and less than 12% of milk solids, to-wit, 89.24% of water and 10.36% of milk solids.

The Commissioner of Agriculture of the state, in pursuance of said laws, filed a complaint against plaintiff in error in the supreme court of the state charging him with the violation of the laws, and that it was his second offense. Judgment was prayed for the sum of $200, in pursuance of section 37. Plaintiff in error admitted the charge, but alleged in defense that the laws were in contravention of section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; also of the Constitution of New York.

At the trial, he offered to show that the milk from which the sample exhibited in the case was taken was in the same condition when the sample was taken as it was when it left the herd of the producer. The testimony was rejected, and plaintiff in error excepted. The court directed the jury to find a verdict against him for $100 and costs, which was done. He excepted to the ruling. Under the procedure in New York, the court ordered the exceptions to be heard in the appellate division. In that court, the exceptions were overruled, a motion for a new trial was denied, and judgment entered on the verdict. On appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment, and the record and proceedings were remanded to the supreme court, where judgment was entered in accordance with the remittitur from the Court of Appeals. This writ of error was then sued out.

The purpose of the law which is assailed is to prevent the sale of adulterated and unwholesome milk. Section 20 * defines

Page 201 U. S. 635

what milk shall be deemed adulterated, and it gives a very comprehensive meaning to the word. Section 22 prohibits the sale or offering for sale of such milk, or "any unclean, impure, unhealthy, or unwholesome milk." Section 7 makes intention immaterial. Section 37 provides for the forfeiture to the people of the State of New York of not less than $50 for the first violation of the law, and increased sums for second and subsequent violations, and also makes violations of the law misdemeanors. Section 12 is the one which is especially complained of. It was added to the original law in 1898, and is (omitting matter not necessary to quote) as follows:

"SEC. 12. Inspection, how conducted. . . . In taking samples of milk for analysis at a creamery, factory, platform, or other place where the same is delivered by the producer for manufacture, sale, or shipment, or from a milk vender who produces the milk which he sells, with a view of prosecuting the producer of such milk for delivering, selling, or offering for sale adulterated milk, the said Commissioner of Agriculture or assistant or his agent or agents shall, within ten days thereafter, with the consent of the said producer, take a sample in a like manner of the mixed milk of the herd of cows from which the milk first sampled was drawn, and shall deliver the duplicate sample to the said producer, and shall cause the sample taken by himself or his agent to be analyzed. If the sample of

Page 201 U. S. 636

milk last taken by the Commissioner of Agriculture or his agent or agents shall, upon analysis, prove to contain no higher percentage of milk solids or no higher percentage of fat than as the sample taken at the creamery, factory, platform, or other place, then no action shall lie against the said producer for violation of subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 of section 20 of the Agricultural Law. In taking a second sample, as above set forth, from the mixed milk of the herd, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to have an assistant, agent, or agents present during the entire time in which the said cattle are being milked, to observe closely so as to be sure that the milk thus to be sampled is not adulterated, and to see that it is thoroughly mixed, so that the sample taken shall be a fair sample of the average quality of the mixed milk of the entire dairy or herd of cows of said producer. If, however, the said producer refuses to allow such examination of the milk produced by his dairy, then he shall be precluded from offering any evidence whatever tending to show that the milk delivered by him at the said creamery, factory, platform, or other place was just as it came from the cow. If the said producer does permit such examination, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall, upon receiving application therefor, send to said producer a copy of the analysis of each of the samples of milk so taken and analyzed as above provided."

The contention of plaintiff in error is that nonproducing venders are discriminated against, and hence denied the equal protection of the laws, contrary to the provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, in that they may not, as producing venders may, exempt themselves from actions or penalties for violations of subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 of section 20 by showing that the milk sold or offered for sale by them is in the same condition as when it left the herd of the producer.

It has been decided many times that a state may classify persons and objects for the purpose of legislation. We will assume the cases are known, and proceed immediately to consider

Page 201 U. S. 637

whether the classification of the law is based on proper and justifiable distinctions, considering the purpose of the law and the means to be observed to effect that purpose.

By referring to section 20, it will be observed that adulterated milk as there defined includes not only that to which something has been added, but milk from which the cream has been removed, or which is deficient naturally in certain substances, or taken from cows fed on certain things, or cows in certain conditions when milked. In other words, the purpose of the law is to secure to the population, adult and infant, milk attaining a certain standard of purity and strength. All other milk is declared to be "unclean, impure, unhealthy, adulterated, or unwholesome."

It is not contended that such purpose is not within the power of the state, but it is contended that the power is not exercised on all alike who sand in the same relation to the purpose, and quite dramatic illustrations are used to show discrimination. A picture is exhibited of producing and nonproducing venders selling milk side by side; the latter, it may be, a purchaser from the former; the act of one permitted, the act of the other prohibited or penalized. If we could look no farther than the mere act of selling, the injustice of the law might be demonstrated; but something more must be considered. Not only the final purpose of the law must be considered, but the means of its administration -- the ways it may be defeated. Legislation, to be practical and efficient, must regard this special purpose as well as the ultimate purpose. The ultimate purpose is that wholesome milk shall reach the consumer, and it is the conception of the law that milk below a certain strength is not wholesome, but a difference is made between milk naturally deficient and milk made so by dilution. It is not for us to say that this is not a proper difference, and regarding it, the law fixed its standard by milk in the condition that it comes from the herd. It is certain that, if milk starts pure from the producer, it will reach the consumer pure if not tampered with on the way. To prevent such tampering, the law is framed and

Page 201 U. S. 638

its penalties adjusted. As the standard established can be proved in the hands of a producing vender, he is exempt from the penalty; as it cannot certainly be proved in the hands of other venders so as to prevent evasions of the law, such venders are not exempt. In the one case, the source of milk can be known and the tests of the statute applied; in the other case, this would be impossible, except in few instances. We cannot see that any particular hardship results. The nonproducing vender must exercise care in his purchases, and good all around may be accomplished. Through penalty on the nonproducing vender, the producer is ultimately reached, though he may seem to be indulged. He will have to raise the standard of the milk of his herd if he would keep or extend his trade as anything but a mere retailer of his product.

Judgment affirmed.

*

"SEC. 20. Definitions. . . ."

"The term 'adulterated milk,' when so used, means:"

"1. Milk containing more than eighty-eight percentum of water or fluids."

"2. Milk containing less than twelve percentum of milk solids."

"3. Milk containing less than three percentum of fat."

"4. Milk drawn from cows within fifteen days before and five days after parturition."

"5. Milk drawn from animals fed on distillery waste or any substance in a State of fermentation or putrefaction, or any unhealthy food."

"6. Milk drawn from cows kept in a crowed or unhealthy condition."

"7. Milk from which any part of the cream has been removed."

"8. Milk which has been diluted with water or any other fluid, or to which has been added or into which has been introduced any foreign substance whatever."

"All adulterated milk shall be deemed unclean, unhealthy, impure, and unwholesome."

"SEC. 22. Prohibition of the sale of adulterated milk. -- No person shall sell or exchange, or offer or expose for sale or exchange, any unclean, impure, unhealthy, adulterated, or unwholesome milk. . . ."