Frank Crocker v. United States

• Decision Date: 31 January 1916
• Docket Number: No. 77,77
• Citation: 240 U.S. 74,36 S.Ct. 245,60 L.Ed. 533
• Parties: FRANK CROCKER, Trustee in Bankruptcy, etc., Appt., v. UNITED STATES
• Court: U.S. Supreme Court

240 U.S. 74

36 S.Ct. 245

60 L.Ed. 533

FRANK CROCKER, Trustee in Bankruptcy, etc., Appt.,

v UNITED STATES.

No. 77.

Argued December 1 and 2, 1915.

Decided January 31, 1916.

Mr. James H. Hayden and Robert C. Hayden for appellant.

Assistant Attorney General Thompson for appellee.

Mr. Justice Van Devanter delivered the opinion of the court:

This is a claim for furnishing letter carriers' satchels under a contract with the Postmaster General. The contractor was a New Jersey corporation and its trustee in bankruptcy is the present claimant. In the court of claims a small part of the claim was sustained and the balance rejected. 49 Ct. Cl. 85. Only the claimant appeals, so the part sustained is not here in controversy.

As shown by the findings the facts are these: By public advertisement in May, 1902, the Postmaster General solicited bids for furnishing letter carriers' satchels for the free delivery service for a period of four years. Shortly after the advertisement the New Jersey company and one Lorenz entered into a written agreement whereby the company employed him to assist in securing for it the contract for furnishing the satchels, it being particularly stipulated that he and the company's vice president, one Crawford, should determine the bid to be made, and should present it in the company's name; that, if the company got the contract, Lorenz should receive all profits arising out of the same in excess of 25 cents on each satchel, and that, if the company did not get the contract, he was to accept $1 as full payment for his services. Lorenz and Crawford then entered into a secret arrangement with one Machen, who was superintendent of the free delivery service and charged with important duties relating to the purchase of the satchels, whereby, in the event the company got the contract, Lorenz's share of the profits was to be divided among them on the basis of one half to Machen and one fourth to each of the others. After this arrangement was made a bid for the satchels was prepared and submitted in the company's name, and was accepted by the Postmaster General. The contract sued upon followed in regular course, the company agreeing therein to furnish the satchels in such quantities and at such times as the postoffice authorities might direct. The satchels were to be of three classes, those of classes A and C to have shoulder straps and those of class B to be without straps. The prices to be paid by the government were $2.19 for each satchel of class A; $3.16 for each of class B., and $3.15 for each of class C. This included the shoulder straps on those of classes A and C. The company was not a manufacturer of satchels or of the materials used in making them, and to enable it to comply with the contract it arranged, through Crawford, to have the satchels made by a manufacturer at Hartford, Connecticut. But, as the manufacturer could not supply shoulder straps of the type required, the company and Lorenz entered into a further agreement to the effect that Lorenz should supply the shoulder straps, that out of what was paid by the government for the satchels the company should pay him 45 cents on each satchel of class A, $1.19 on each of class B, and 84 cents on each of class C, as his share of the profits and to reimburse him for supplying the straps. Crawford and Machen had conferred about the straps, and Machen had said that the government would get the straps, pay for them, send them to the company's manufacturer, and adjust any difference afterwards.

Thereafter and prior to March 17, 1903, the company furnished over 10,000 satchels pursuant to the terms of the contract, save that the shoulder straps on those of classes A and C, which were in excess of $5,000, were provided and paid for by the government, through Machen, at a cost of 39 1/2 cents each. These satchels were all paid for by the government, through Machen, at the contract rates without any deduction for the straps. Out of the moneys so received the company paid Lorenz 45 cents on each satchel of class A, $1.19 on each of class B, and 84 cents on each of class C, and he in turn divided what he received with Machen and Crawford.

Between March 17 and April 30, 1903, the company furnished 6,201 more satchels, pursuant to the terms of the contract, save that the shoulder straps on those of classes A and C, of which there were 4,912, were provided and paid for by the government, through Machen, at a cost of 39 1/2 cents each. These satchels were accepted and retained by the postoffice authorities. But when payment for them under the contract was requested, it was refused. This was because the Postmaster General had then learned of the corrupt arrangement giving Machen an interest in the profits, and had rescinded the contract and stopped further payments under it.

No shoulder straps were furnished by the company, through Lorenz or otherwise, and both he and Crawford knew that the straps were purchased and supplied by the government. Before the rescission by the Postmaster General the company did not know that Machen was to share or was sharing in the profits, or that the government was supplying the shoulder straps, save as the company may have been chargeable with the knowledge of Lorenz and Crawford, who represented it in securing and executing the contract.

It was for furnishing the 6,201 satchels after March 17, 1903, that a recovery was sought in the court of claims, and the part of the claim rejected was for the 4,912 satchels of classes A and C, the rejection being put on the grounds (a) that no recovery could be had upon the contract, because it called for satchels with shoulder straps and the company did not furnish the straps, and (b) that no recovery could be had upon a quantum valebat, because the value of the satchels as furnished was not shown.

In the briefs reference is made to portions of the opinion delivered in the court of claims as if they were not in accord with the findings. We do not so read the opinion, but deem it well to observe, as was done in Stone v. United States, 164 U. S. 380, 382, 383, 41 L. ed. 477, 478, 17 Sup. Ct. Rep. 71, that 'the findings of the court of claims in an action at law determine all matters of fact precisely as the verdict of a jury,' and that 'we are not at liberty to refer to the opinion for the purpose of eking out, controlling, or modifying the scope of the findings.' See also Collier v. United States, 173 U. S. 79, 80, 43 L. ed. 621, 622, 19 Sup. Ct. Rep. 330; United States v. New York Indians, 173 U. S. 464, 470, 43 L. ed. 769, 771, 19 Sup. Ct. Rep. 487.

We are of opinion that in the transactions out of which the claim arose there was an obvious departure from recognized legal and moral standards. It began when the company employed Lorenz, upon a compensation contingent upon success, to secure the contract for furnishing the satchels, and it persisted until its discovery by the Postmaster General led to the rescission of the contract. Because of their baneful tendency as here illustrated, agreements like that under which Lorenz was employed are deemed inconsistent with sound morals and public policy, and therefore invalid. Dealing with such an...