Payne v. State Kansas Brewster

Decision Date09 December 1918
Docket NumberNo. 49,49
Citation63 L.Ed. 153,39 S.Ct. 32,248 U.S. 112
PartiesPAYNE et al. v. STATE of KANSAS ex rel. BREWSTER, Atty. Gen
CourtU.S. Supreme Court

Mr. Ray Campbell, of Wichita, Kan., for plaintiffs in error.

Messrs. J. L. Hunt and James P. Coleman, both of Topeka, Kan., and T. F. Railsback, of Kansas City, Kan., for defendant in error.

Memorandum opinion by Mr. Justice McREYNOLDS.

The validity of chapter 371, Laws of Kansas 1915'An act in relation to the sale of farm produce on commission'—is challenged by certain grain dealers carrying on business in that state. It forbids the sale of farm produce on commission without an annual license, to be procured from the State Board of Agriculture upon a proper showing as to character, responsibility, etc., and a bond conditioned to make honest accounting. A fee of $10 is required.

Plaintiffs in error maintain that the statute is class legislation which abridges their rights and privileges, that it deprives them of the equal protection of the laws and also of their property without due process of law—all in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Manifestly, the purpose of the state was to prevent certain evils incident to the business of commission merchants in farm products by regulating it. Many former opinions have pointed out the limitations upon powers of the states concerning matters of this kind and we think the present record fails to show that these limitations have been transcended. Rast v. Van Deman & Lewis, 240 U. S. 342, 36 Sup. Ct. 370, 60 L. Ed. 679, L. R. A. 1917A, 421, Ann. Cas. 1917B, 455; Brazee v. Michigan, 241 U. S. 340, 36 Sup. Ct. 561, 60 L. Ed. 1034, Ann Cas. 1917C, 522; Adams v. Tanner, 244 U. S. 590, 37 Sup. Ct. 662, 61 L. Ed. 1336, L. R. A. 1917F, 1163, Ann. Cas. ,1917D, 973.

The judgment of the court below is affirmed.

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36 cases
  • Baker v. Hayden
    • United States
    • Kansas Supreme Court
    • July 2, 2021
    ...controversies between rival litigants." State, ex rel. Brewster v. Mohler , 98 Kan. 465, 471, 158 P. 408 (1916), aff'd 248 U.S. 112, 39 S. Ct. 32, 63 L. Ed. 153 (1918). Having an actual controversy is key; an abstract controversy does not meet the constitutional standard because courts do n......
  • Jaarda v. Van Ommen
    • United States
    • Michigan Supreme Court
    • February 1, 1934
    ...to give bonds for honest accounting to prevent evils incident to the business of dealing in farm products. Payne v. Kansas, 248 U. S. 112, 39 S. Ct. 32, 63 L. Ed. 153.’ The Court of Appeals held (page 699 [4, 5-7] of 186 N. E., 262 N. Y. 259): ‘State courts should uphold state regulation wh......
  • Franklin v. State ex rel. Alabama State Milk Control Board
    • United States
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • June 11, 1936
    ... ... laws for workmen on municipal contracts have been upheld ... Atkin v. Kansas, 191 U.S. 207, 24 S.Ct. 124, 48 ... L.Ed. 148; Austin v. City of New York, 258 N.Y ... 113, ... to the business of dealing in farm products. Payne v ... Kansas, 248 U.S. 112, 39 S.Ct. 32, 63 L.Ed. 153. *** ... "We ... are unable to ... ...
  • State ex rel. Tomasic v. Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan.
    • United States
    • Kansas Supreme Court
    • March 6, 1998
    ...determine controversies between rival litigants." State, ex rel., v. Mohler, 98 Kan. 465, 471, 158 P. 408 (1916), aff'd 248 U.S. 112, 39 S.Ct. 32, 63 L.Ed. 153 (1918); see U.S.D. No. 380 v. McMillen, 252 Kan. 451, Syl. p 5, 845 P.2d 676 (1993) ("[t]he judiciary interprets, explains, and app......
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