Powers v. McCullough

• Decision Date: 08 February 1966
• Docket Number: Nos. 51796,51797,s. 51796
• Citation: 140 N.W.2d 378,258 Iowa 738
• Parties: Richard POWERS, Plaintiff, v. Honorable W. A. McCULLOUGH, a Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Clinton, Clinton County, Iowa, Defendant. Richard POWERS and G. W. Danielson, Plaintiffs, v. Honorable W. A.McCULLOUGH, a Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Clinton, Clinton County, Iowa, Defendant.
• Court: Iowa Supreme Court

Page 378

140 N.W.2d 378

258 Iowa 738

Richard POWERS, Plaintiff, v. Honorable W. A. McCULLOUGH, a Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Clinton, Clinton County, Iowa, Defendant.

Richard POWERS and G. W. Danielson, Plaintiffs, v. Honorable W. A.McCULLOUGH, a Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Clinton, Clinton County, Iowa, Defendant.

Nos. 51796, 51797.

Supreme Court of Iowa.

Feb. 8, 1966.

Frank W. Davis and Frank W. Davis, Jr., Des Moines, for plaintiffs.

Lawrence Scalise, Atty. Gen., and Dan L. Johnston, Asst. Atty. Gen., for defendant.

RAWLINGS, Justice.

This case comes before us on certiorari which was permitted to review orders entered by the trial court overruling motions to dismiss and demurrers filed in criminal proceedings. The propriety of this review is not challenged. See Chicago & N. W. Ry. Co. v. Fachman, 255 Iowa 989, 125 N.W.2d 210.

Four informations were filed in the Municipal Court of Clinton, charging plaintiff Richard Powers with failure to report accidents, in violation of section 88.12, Code, 1962.

Two informations were filed in the same court charging plaintiffs Richard Powers and G. W. Danielson with hindering and deterring an inspector in performance of his duties, in violation of section 91.16(1), Code, 1962.

Presumably both plaintiffs are employed by a railroad or railroads engaged in interstate commerce.

Identical motions to set aside the informations, filed by plaintiffs in all cases, were overruled.

At the same time identical demurrers, filed by plaintiffs in all cases, were overruled For the purpose of this review only, the various cases are consolidated.

We have held a trial de novo is not permitted on certiorari and only questions of law are presented. City of Iowa City v. White, 253 Iowa 41, 48, 111 N.W.2d 266. Stated otherwise, we entertain these proceedings on assigned errors.

By the demurrers filed, plaintiffs contended the informations were fatally defective in that: (1) they did not substantially conform to the requirements of the Code of Iowa, and (2) they contained matter which, if true, would constitute a legal defense or bar to the prosecution.

However, plaintiffs now stand only upon that portion of their demurrers by which they claim the informations contain matter which serves to bar prosecution. Our review is confined accordingly.

In this respect, plaintiff Powers asserts Section 88.12, Code, 1962, is in conflict with federal statutes involving the same subject matter; that the Congress of the United States has pre-empted the same field.

Both plaintiffs then contend section 91.16(1) is so vague and uncertain as to be unconstitutional; and each information filed charging plaintiffs violated this law asserts two separate and distinct offenses against them.

These assigned errors will be considered in the order presented.

I. We find no merit in the assertion by plaintiff Powers that he is not subject to the provisions of Code section 88.12 because Congress has pre-empted the same field.

At the outset, it is evident no determination of the problem at hand can be had without resort to those specific legislative enactments here involved.

Relevant provisions of the Code of Iowa, 1962, provide in substance as follows:

88.11 Record of Accidents. Manufacturers, manufacturing corporations, or corporations operating any mercantile establishment, mill, workshop or business house shall keep careful records of accidents resulting in death of an employee or which will prevent him from returning to work within two days.

88.12 Report of accidents--evidence. Within forth-eight hours after such accident, a report thereof shall be made to the state commissioner of labor, any statement in such report is privileged.

88.13 Penalties. Any person, corporation, firm, agent or superintendent violating section 88.11 and 88.12 above shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

Those acts of the Congress which plaintiff Powers invokes are set forth in Title 45 U.S.C.A., and so far as here concerned provide substantially as follows:

§ 38. Monthly reports of railroad accidents; duty of carrier.

Every general manager, superintendent, or other officer of every common carrier engaged in interstate or foreign commerce by railroad shall submit a monthly report of all collisions, derailments or other accidents to the Interstate Commerce Commission, stating the nature, causes and circumstances thereof.

§ 39. Penalty for failure to make report.

Any failure to make such report to the Interstate Commerce Commission within thirty days after the end of any month shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

§ 40. Investigation by commission of accidents; cooperation with State commissions; reports of investigations.

The Interstate Commerce Commission shall have authority to investigate any such accidents, and do all things necessary as a part thereof: 'Provided, That when such accident is investigated by a commission of the State in which it occurred, the Interstate Commerce Commission shall, if convenient make any investigation it may have previously determined upon, at the same time as, and in connection with, the State commission investigation.'

The question now presented is whether the cited laws of Iowa are in strict conflict with the cited acts of Congress.

Admittedly, any power the states may exercise which relates to interstate commerce, ceases to exist from the moment Congress asserts its paramount authority over the same subject by any legislative enactment which is in direct conflict with, or repugnant to a state statute. 15 Am.Jur.2d, Commerce, section 23, page 655, and 15 C.J.S. Commerce § 6, page 260.

However, it still remains the various states, in the exercise of their police powers, may enact statutes to protect the public health, public morals, public safety, and public convenience, concurrent with laws passed by Congress in the exercise of its jurisdiction over the same subjects, provided such laws are local in their character, affect interstate commerce only incidentally or indirectly, and do not conflict with federal legislation or the Federal Constitution.

An exercise by a state of its police power, which would be valid if not superseded by federal action, is superseded only where the repugnance or conflict is so direct and positive the two acts cannot be reconciled or consistently stand together. Fleming v. Richardson, 237 Iowa 808, 830-831, 24 N.W.2d 280; Southern Pac. Co. v. State of Arizona, 325 U.S. 761, 65 S.Ct. 1515, 89 L.Ed. 1915; Terminal R. Ass'n of St. Louis v. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, 318 U.S. 1, 63 S.Ct. 420, 87 L.Ed. 571, 15 Am.Jur.2d, Commerce, section 69, page 714; and 15 C.J.S. Commerce § 11, page 266.

II. With these precepts in mind, we must determine whether there is direct conflict or irreconcilable repugnance between the state statutes and the acts of Congress here involved.

Plaintiff Powers refers to Fleming v. Richardson, supra, contending it supports his view. This is at best doubtful. In the cited case, the question for determination was the validity of an Iowa statute requiring a platform at each end of a caboose. A divided court there held the state law had not been superseded by the federal act. And, for the most part, that case so treats the subject as to materially aid respondent in the case now at hand.

This plaintiff also cites and relies upon Brown v. Chicago, R. I. and P. R. Co., D. C., 108 F.Supp. 164. We find no basis for argument with that case. In fact, it appears to be a classic example of direct and irreconcilable conflict between an applicable federal act and a state statute. There the Iowa law required headlights on locomotive engines of greater power than that prescribed by federal law. In effect, the court there held the engine on a train could not feasibly be equipped with a headlight which at the same time complied with two standards of brilliancy. We agree.

However, the factual situation in the case now before us serves to clearly distinguish it from Brown v. Chicago, R. I. and P. R. Co., supra.

The term 'direct conflict' means hostile encounter, contradictory, repugnant, so irreconcilably inconsistent, each with the other, as to make one actually inoperable in the face of the other. Head v. New Mexico Bd. of Examiners, 374 U.S. 424, 83 S.Ct. 1759, 10 L.Ed.2d 983; International Ass'n of Machinists v. Gonzales, 356 U.S. 617, 78 S.Ct. 923, 2 L.Ed.2d 1018; International Union, etc. v. Russell, 356 U.S. 634, 78 S.Ct. 932, 2 L.Ed.2d 1030; Pacific Discount Co. v. Jackson, 37 N.J. 169, 179 A.2d 745, 747; and 15 Am.Jur.2d, Commerce, section 69, page 715.

There is no apparent reasonable basis upon which to conclude an interstate carrier is unable to comply with both the federal act and the state law here concerned.

We are satisfied section 88.12, Code, 1962, is not in such conflict with Title 45 U.S.C.A., section 38, that the former is rendered inoperable as to plaintiff Richard Powers.

This conclusion finds substantial support in the federal law, 45 U.S.C.A., section 40. That act specifically provides for cooperative effort by and between state commissions and the interstate commerce commission in any investigations pertaining to accidents where a common carrier engaged in interstate or foreign commerce by railroad is involved.

Most certainly sections 88.11 and 88.12 cast no undue burden upon interstate commerce. These wholesome statutes could at most affect interstate commerce only incidentally or indirectly, if at all. Huron Portland Cement Co. v. City of Detroit, 362 U.S. 440, 80 S.Ct. 813, 4 L.Ed.2d 852, and 15 Am.Jur.2d, Commerce, section 69, page 715.

It is thus evident the Congress did not intend to pre-empt that field of the law, having for its purpose the study, control and possible reduction of collisions and accidents and their various causes. Huron Portland Cement Co. v. City of Detroit, supra, and Gulf, C. § S. F. Ry. Co....