Pennsylvania R. R. v. Cameron

Citations

• 280 Pa. 458
• 124 A. 638
• 33 A.L.R. 1281
• 1924 Pa. LEXIS 534

Syllabus

<p>Gamers — Common carriers — Railroads — Bills of lading— Freight — Transportation charges — Foreign currency — Rate of exchange — Tariff rate — Interstate Commerce Commission — Judgment — Sterling currency.</p> <p>1. One who, through the assignment to him of a bill of lading, receives property which had been shipped thereon, thereby binds himself to the payment of the freight charges established by law, or fixed by the terms of the bill of lading.</p> <p>2. The assignee of bills of lading upon which are endorsed conditions as to the rate of exchange applicable to the payment of ocean freight charges, in accepting assignment of such bills and using them to obtain the goods, obligates himself to pay the charges at the rates indicated.</p> <p>3. The mere fact that freight charges are stamped in pounds, shillings and pence at the point of shipment in a British dominion does not give rise to a contract that they were to be paid in that currency in a foreign country.</p> <p>4. Even if such charges were stamped thereon after the execution of the bill of lading, and are on such bill when presented to the assignee, they add nothing to his burden.</p> <p>5. An exchange of currency or the rate of exchange determines the purchasing power or the equivalent of the currency of one country as measured by or in the currency of another.</p> <p>6. When the rate is established by contract or otherwise it is a fixed rate and controls all matters brought within the scope of the operation.</p> <p>7. To honor in full a bill of lading on which the charges are specified in pounds, shillings and pence with the words stamped thereon, “Freight if payable at destination to be at the rate of $4,866, exchange,” there must be sufficient American currency or number of dollars required by the fixed exchange rate to purchase, or be equivalent to, the sterling named in the bill; such payment does not increase the charges named.</p> <p>8. Any uncertainty in the words “if payable at destination,” relat