Providence & New York Steamship Co. v. Hill Manufacturing Co.

Syllabus

<p>Common Carriers — Conflict of Laws — Federal Courts — Jurisdiction—Limited Liability — Statutes—Vessels.</p> <p>Proceedings in the district court of the United States under the act of 1851, 9 Stat. ;635, to limit the liability of ship owners for loss or damage to goods, supersede all other actions and suits for the same loss or damage in the State or federal courts, upon the matter being properly pleaded therein. 1.</p> <p>The pfEect of such proceedings in superseding other actions and suits does nor depend upon the award of an injunction by the district court, but upon the object and intrinsic character of the proceedings themselves, and the express language of the' act of Congress. 2.</p> <p>The power of Congress to pass the act of 1851, and of this court to prescribe tíie rules adopted in December term, 1871, for regulating proceedings under the act, reaffirmed. 3.</p> <p>Loss and damage by fire on board of a ship are within the relief of the 8d, as well as the 1st, section of the act. 4.</p> <p>Good's transported by steamer from Providence to New York were injured by fire on board the vessel at her dock in the latter place, and suits for damage were commenced against the owners of the steamer in New York and Boston ; thereupon proceedings were instituted by such owners in the district court of the United States for New York, under the act of 1851, to limit their liability : Held, that said proceedings, properly pleaded and verified, superseded the actions in other courts, and that it was error to proceed further therein. 5.</p>