Wilmington Transportation Co. v. Railroad Commission of California

Citations

• 236 U.S. 151
• 35 S. Ct. 276
• 59 L. Ed. 508
• 1915 U.S. LEXIS 1790

Syllabus

<p>The mere existence of Federal power does not, while dormant, preclude the reasonable exercise of state authority as to those matters of interstate or foreign commerce which are distinctly local in character in order to meet the needs of suitable local protection until Congress does act.</p> <p>Congress may regulate interstate transportation by ferry as well as other interstate commercial intercourse; but, until it does, a State may prevent unreasonable charges for ferriage from a point of departure within its borders.</p> <p>A State may, in the absence of any action by Congress, prevent through proper orders of its Railroad Commission exorbitant charges for transportation having both origin and termination within the State and none of it being within any other State although a part of it may be over the high seas.</p>