Federal Trade Commission v. BF Goodrich Company, 13070-13109.

• Decision Date: 28 February 1957
• Docket Number: No. 13070-13109.,13070-13109.
• Citation: 242 F.2d 31
• Parties: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Inc., Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Inc., Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. The FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. ALLIED TIRE & BATTERY COMPANY et al., Appellees. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. ALLIED TIRE & BATTERY COMPANY et al., Appellees. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. INLAND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. INLAND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. PACIFIC TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. PACIFIC TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. DENMAN RUBBER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. DENMAN RUBBER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The MANSFIELD TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The MANSFIELD TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. CARLISLE CORPORATION, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. CARLISLE CORPORATION, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. DURKEE-ATWOOD COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. DURKEE-ATWOOD COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Appellant, v. SEIBERLING RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. SEIBERLING RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. DUNLOP TIRE AND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. DUNLOP TIRE AND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Appellant, v. MISSOURI FARMERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. MISSOURI FARMERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. MONTGOMERY WARD & CO., Incorporated, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. MONTGOMERY WARD & CO., Incorporated, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The DAYTON RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The DAYTON RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. LEE RUBBER & TIRE CORPORATION, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. LEE RUBBER & TIRE CORPORATION, Appellee. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The AMERICAN OIL COMPANY, Appellee. Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The AMERICAN OIL COMPANY, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — District of Columbia Circuit

242 F.2d 31 (1957)

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Inc., Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Inc., Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

The FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. ALLIED TIRE & BATTERY COMPANY et al., Appellees.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. ALLIED TIRE & BATTERY COMPANY et al., Appellees.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. INLAND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. INLAND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. PACIFIC TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. PACIFIC TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. DENMAN RUBBER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. DENMAN RUBBER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The MANSFIELD TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The MANSFIELD TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. CARLISLE CORPORATION, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. CARLISLE CORPORATION, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. DURKEE-ATWOOD COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. DURKEE-ATWOOD COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Appellant, v. SEIBERLING RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. SEIBERLING RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. DUNLOP TIRE AND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. DUNLOP TIRE AND RUBBER CORPORATION, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Appellant, v. MISSOURI FARMERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. MISSOURI FARMERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. MONTGOMERY WARD & CO., Incorporated, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. MONTGOMERY WARD & CO., Incorporated, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The DAYTON RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The DAYTON RUBBER COMPANY, Appellee.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. LEE RUBBER & TIRE CORPORATION, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. LEE RUBBER & TIRE CORPORATION, Appellee FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al., Appellants, v. The AMERICAN OIL COMPANY, Appellee.

Sigurd ANDERSON et al., Appellants, v. The AMERICAN OIL COMPANY, Appellee.

Nos. 13070-13109.

United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit.

Argued November 16, 1956.

Decided February 28, 1957.

Mr. James H. Durkin, Attorney, Department of Justice, with whom Messrs. Leo A. Rover, U. S. Atty., at the time record was filed, Oliver Gasch, U. S. Atty., and Joseph E. Sheehy, Director, Bureau of Litigation, Federal Trade Commission, were on the brief, for appellants.

Mr. Mathias F. Correa, of the bar of the Court of Appeals of New York, New York City, pro hac vice, by special leave of Court, with whom Mr. James E. Greeley, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,074 and 13,075, argued for all appellees.

Mr. Edgar Barton, of the bar of the Court of Appeals of New York, New York City, pro hac vice, by special leave of Court, with whom Mr. Dow H. Harter, Washington, D. C., was on the brief, for appellee in Nos. 13,070 and 13,071.

Mr. Hammond E. Chaffetz, Washington, D. C., with whom Messrs. Perry S. Patterson and Herbert J. Miller, Jr., Washington, D. C., were on the brief, for appellee in Nos. 13,108 and 13,109.

Mr. David L. Dickson, of the bar of the Supreme Court of Illinois, Chicago, Ill., pro hac vice, by special leave of Court, with whom Mr. Robert L. Wright, Washington, D. C., was on the brief, for appellee in Nos. 13,102 and 13,103.

Messrs. Arthur H. Dean, New York City, and H. Douglas Weaver, Washington, D. C., were on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,072 and 13,073.

Messrs. Louis A. Gravelle and Thomas S. Markey, Washington, D. C., were on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,076 and 13,077.

Mr. J. Strouse Campbell, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellees in Nos. 13,078 and 13,079.

Mr. Henry F. Butler, Washington, D. C., was on the brief and Mr. John Geyer Tausig entered an appearance for appellee in Nos. 13,080 and 13,081.

Mr. Charles Walker, Washington, D. C., was on the brief and Mr. Jackson Brodsky, Washington, D. C., entered an appearance for appellees in Nos. 13,082, 13,083, 13,084, 13,085, 13,086, 13,087, 13,088 and 13,089.

Mr. Folsom E. Drummond, Washington, D. C., was on the brief and Messrs. Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., and William H. Pavitt, Jr., Washington, D. C., entered appearances for appellees in Nos. 13,090, 13,091, 13,106 and 13,107.

Mr. Narvin B. Weaver, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,092 and 13,093.

Mr. John H. Pratt, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,094 and 13,095.

Mr. Francis J. O'Hara, Jr., Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,096 and 13,097.

Messrs. William W. Beckett and James M. Desmond, Washington, D. C., were on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,098 and 13,099.

Mr. Lawrence C. Moore, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in Nos. 13,100 and 13,101.

Mr. Raymond C. Cushwa, Washington, D. C., was on the brief and Messrs. Alfons B. Landa and James T. Welch, Washington, D. C., entered appearances for appellee in Nos. 13,104 and 13,105.

Before PRETTYMAN, WILBUR K. MILLER and WASHINGTON, Circuit Judges.

WILBUR K. MILLER, Circuit Judge.

In these actions, certain tire manufacturers and dealers asked the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to declare invalid and enjoin the enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission's Quantity-Limit Rule 203-1, which is as follows:

"The quantity limit as to replacement tires and tubes made of natural or synthetic rubber for use on motor vehicles as a class of commodity is twenty thousand (20,000) pounds ordered at one time for delivery at one time."

The Commission promulgated the Rule purportedly pursuant to authority conferred upon it by § 2(a) of the Clayton Act, as amended by the Robinson-Patman Act.¹ This section provides that "the Federal Trade Commission may * * * fix and establish quantity limits * * * as to particular commodities or classes of commodities, where it finds that available purchasers in greater quantities are so few as to render differentials on account thereof unjustly discriminatory or promotive of monopoly in any line of commerce * * *."

The District Court dismissed the complaints for lack of jurisdiction and also for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. On appeal we held to the contrary on both grounds, reversed the order of dismissal, and remanded the cases to the District Court.² Then that court, after considering cross motions for summary judgment, granted the motion of the plaintiff manufacturers and dealers, holding that "the statutory finding expressly required by the Act of Congress as a basis for the order has not been made and that, therefore, the order should not stand."³ The Federal Trade Commission and some of its members — Anderson, et al. — appeal.

It is clear from the language of § 2(a) that the Commission has no power to fix and establish quantity limits unless it first makes the finding required by the quantity-limit proviso thereof, quoted above. The primary question is, therefore, whether the District Court correctly held the requisite finding was not made. For if it was not, the matter is at an end, and we need not consider the contentions of appellees that they were denied procedural rights when the Rule was made and that the Rule itself, based not on factual findings but on unwarranted inference from the borrowed experience of the Interstate Commerce Commission, is arbitrary and capricious.

The Commission concedes that the three formal findings, upon which it said in the order of promulgation it was basing the Rule,⁴ do not include a finding that available purchasers in quantities greater than a carload are so few as to render differentials on account thereof unjustly discriminatory or promotive of monopoly. Instead of dealing directly with that question...