Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

United States v. George S. Bush & Co.

310 U.S. 371

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1940-05-20
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • delegating the President authority to make “necessary or appropriate” modifications to the tariff schedule precluded judicial review
  • “For the judiciary to probe the reasoning which underlies [an application of administrative discretion] would amount to a clear invasion of the legislative and executive domains”
  • "[T]he judgment of the President ... on the facts ... is no more subject to judicial review ... than if Congress itself had exercised that judgment."
  • where “the President acted in full conformity with the statute,” “[n]o question of law is raised when the exercise of his discretion is challenged” (emphasis added)
  • “No one has a legal right to the maintenance of an existing rate or duty.” (quoting Norwegian Prods. Co. v. United States, 288 U.S. 294, 318 (1933)). 12 Holbrook responds with an argument based on the language of the APA. Holbrook argues that (1

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UpLaw has not yet analyzed United States v. George S. Bush & Co.. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by
164 opinions
UNITED STATESv. BUSH CO.,310 U.S. 371(1940)
60 S.Ct. 944
UNITED STATESv. GEORGE S. BUSH CO., INC.
CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CUSTOMS AND PATENT APPEALS.
No. 613.
Argued April 23, 24, 1940.
Decided May 20, 1940.
The President, acting on a report and recommendation of the Tariff Commission pursuant to the flexible tariff provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, proclaimed an increase of duty on a Japanese product, to equalize the difference between Japanese and domestic costs of production. In fixing the increase, foreign cost of production was determined, under § 336(e), on the "weighted average of the invoice prices or values for a representative period," taking as representative the period from December 1, 1930, to September 30, 1932; but, as the invoice prices were in yen and as § 336 contains no provision for conversion of currency, the Commission, in order to compare those prices with domestic cost, had converted them into dollars at the average rate of exchange for 1932, selecting that period because the value of yen in dollars had declined steadily from December 1931 to November 1932.Held:1. There is no express provision in the Act requiring that the rate of exchange be taken from the same period as the invoice prices, and none can be implied. P. 378. 2. The President's judgment in the matter is not subject to scrutiny by the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals or by this Court. P. 379. 3. Section 501 of the Act does not permit judicial examination of the judgment of the President that the rates of duty recommendedPage 372by the Commission are necessary to equalize the differences in domestic and foreign costs of production. P. 379. 4. Under § 336, the Commission serves the President as an adviser. It is the judgment of the President on the facts submitted to him by the Commission that determines whether or not the recommended rate will be promulgated. P. 379. 5. In substance, and to a large extent in form, the action of the Commission and the President is but one stage of the legislative process. P. 379. 27 C.C.P.A. ___;104 F.2d 368, reversed.
CERTIORARI,309 U.S. 643, to review a judgment of the Court of
Customs and Patent Appeals ordering a reappraisement under § 501
of the Tariff Act of 1930.
Mr. Warner W. Gardnerargued the cause, andSolicitorGeneral Biddle, Assistant Attorney General Oliver, Messrs.Charles D. Lawrence, Richard H. Demuth, John R. Benney, andEdwin G. Martinwere on the brief, for the United States.

The action taken by the President and the Commission was in substance one stage of the legislative process.NorwegianNitrogen Products Co. v.United States,288 U.S. 294. Such action is not subject to judicial impeachment if the prescribed forms of legislation have been regularly observed.Id. Here the investigation conducted by the Commission, the hearing which it held after due notice to all interested parties, its report to the President, and his proclamation approving the Commission's recommendation, constituted a full and regular observance of the forms prescribed.

Moreover, it does not appear from the proclamation whether the President accepted the reasoning of the Tariff Commission or predicated his approval of the Commission's recommendation upon his own conclusions drawn from the facts set forth in the Commission's report. If the reasoning of the Commission was in fact based on an erroneous interpretation of the statute, the presumptionPage 373that the President acted properly requires the courts to assume that he followed the latter course.

The holding of the court below that, under § 336(e)(2)(A), if the weighted average of the invoice prices for a representative period is used to determine foreign costs of production, those prices must be converted into terms of dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing during that period, has no warrant in the provisions of the Act and to a very large extent nullifies the intention of Congress in enacting the flexible tariff provision.

Sec. 336 contains no mention of conversion of currency. In the absence of express statutory provision it seems clear that in converting foreign costs into dollars the Commission may, as it did in this case, use the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of its investigation, since this rate reflects the then existing differences in costs of production. If, as held by the court below, the Commission is required to convert foreign costs into dollars at the rate of exchange which prevailed during the period used to ascertain the foreign costs but which, due to subsequent exchange fluctuations, is not the rate prevailing at the time of the investigation, the Commission will be utterly unable to perform its function of determining what change in duty will equalize the differences in costs of production at the time when the change becomes effective. Although the legislative history of § 336 shows plainly that fluctuating foreign exchange was one of the important factors which Congress considered as creating the need for a flexible tariff law, the decision below renders the provision largely useless for this purpose.

Even if the construction by the court below is correct, the action of the Commission was still authorized under other provisions of § 336.Mr. George R. Tuttlefor respondent.

Neither the Tariff Commission, nor the President in his review of the facts submitted by the Commission, compliedPage 374with the provisions of § 336 when they ascertained the foreign cost of production, the differences in cost of production between the foreign and domestic article, and the "duties expressly fixed by statute."

If the procedure followed by the Commission and the President is not in violation of the terms of § 336, then the statute is an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power in that it grants to an administrative agent discretion as to what the law shall be.

The conversion from yen into dollars at the average rate of exchange for the year 1932 was illegal, for by this action the Commission obtained a value which did not represent the cost of production referred to in the statute, i.e., the cost for the selected "representative period."

In violation of § 336(a) the Commission failed to ascertain the amount of "duties expressly fixed by statute" and to compare this amount with the differences in costs of production. Although the Commission found that "foreign value" was dutiable value, it disregarded § 402(c) of the Act, requiring the date of exportation to be taken in ascertaining foreign value, and also disregarded § 522 requiring foreign currency to be converted to dollars in a particular manner.

The Commission failed to compare the amount of duty based on the American selling price as defined in § 402(g), with the difference in cost of production computed as of the same period of time.

The Commission did not ascertain the required facts from "the investigation," but ascertained them by use of an unauthorized and illegal currency-conversion factor.

The Commission did not specify in its report to the President such increase or decrease in rate of duty or change in basis of value as was "shown by the investigation" to be necessary to equalize the differences in cost of production.Page 375

As to the court's power to review, see:Hamptonv.UnitedStates,276 U.S. 394,409;Robertsonv.Frank,132 U.S. 17,24;Muserv.Magone,155 U.S. 240,247;United Statesv.Passavant,169 U.S. 16,21;Waitev.Macy,246 U.S. 606;Norwegian Nitrogen Products Co. v.United States,288 U.S. 294;Mossv.United States, 26 C.C.P.A. 381, 385;103 F.2d 395;Fosterv.United States, 20 C.C.P.A. 15, 23;Fox RiverButter Co. v.United States, 20 C.C.P.A. 38, 45;UnitedStatesv.Sears, Roebuck Co., 20 C.C.P.A. 295, 301; cert. den.290 U.S. 633.

As to what constitutes "legal investigation" by the Tariff Commission, and "proceeding in conformity with law" by the President, the following decisions are pertinent:Fosterv.United States, 20 C.C.P.A. 15, 22, 25-6;Zeissv.UnitedStates, 23 C.C.P.A. 7, 14;Norwegian Nitrogen Products Co. v.United States, 20 C.C.P.A. 27, 34-5;288 U.S. 294;Fox RiverButter Co. v.United States, 20 C.C.P.A. 38, 45;Mossv.United States, supra.

As both decisions by this Court in cases pertaining to the flexible-tariff provisions (Hamptonv.United States, supra, andNorwegian Nitrogen Products Co. v.United States, supra), and many of the decisions by the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals in similar litigation, relate to actions brought under the Tariff Act of 1922 (§ 315), rather than the Act of 1930 (§ 336), the differences in the respective provisions of the two Acts must be kept in mind when considering the present case in the light of these decisions.
MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of the Court.
The Court of Customs and Patent Appeals held invalid the Proclamation made by the President of the United States on May 1, 1934, increasing the duty on canned clams imported from Japan.104 F.2d 368. We granted certiorari because of the importance of that decisionPage 376to the administration of the flexible tariff provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (46 Stat. 590).

In compliance with § 336(a) of that Act. the Tariff Commission, in response to an application for an increased duty on canned clams, instituted an investigation in June 1932, gave public notice of the hearing, held the hearing in October 1932 and gave interested parties an opportunity to be present, to produce evidence, and to be heard. As a result of that investigation the Commission found that the statutory duty of 35%ad valoremon the foreign dutiable value1did not equalize the difference in the costs of production of the domestic article and the Japanese article. On such a finding the Commission was authorized by § 336(a) to recommend to the President an increase or decrease in the statutory rate but not in excess of 50 per cent; or in case the differences could not be equalized in that manner, it was empowered by § 336(b) to specify suchadvaloremrate of duty based upon the American selling price2of the domestic article as it found necessary to equalize such differences. In the latter event, however, the statutory rate could not be increased. The Commission found that the rate of duty on foreign value which would be necessary to equalize the difference in costs exceeded the then existing statutory rate by more than 50 per cent. Accordingly it proceeded under § 336(b) to specify anad valoremrate based on American selling price, and recommended to the President an increase in the duty, to be effected by assessing the rate of 35 per centad valoremon the American selling price.

It is provided in § 336(c) that the President "shall by proclamation approve the rates of duty and changes in classification and in basis of value specified in any report of the commission under this section, if in his judgmentPage 377such rates of duty and changes are shown by such investigation of the commission to be necessary to equalize such differences in costs of production." The Proclamation referred to the report and findings of the Commission and concluded that the change in duty recommended was "in the judgment of the President" necessary for that purpose. After the President issued his Proclamation, respondent imported some canned clams and they were appraised on the basis of the American selling price. It was on an appeal for reappraisement pursuant to § 501 that the Proclamation was held invalid by the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Its invalidity, according to that court, flowed from the basis on which the Commission computed the Japanese cost of production. By § 336(e)(2) the Commission was authorized, when the cost of production of a foreign article was not "readily ascertainable," to accept as evidence thereof the "weighted average of the invoice prices or values for a representative period." The Commission took the weighted average of such prices for the period from December 1, 1930, to September 30, 1932. Those prices were in Japanese yen. Sec. 336 contains no provision for conversion of currency. But the Commission in order to compare those prices with domestic costs converted them into United States dollars, at the average rate of exchange for 1932. That period was selected because Japan went off the gold standard in December 1931 and the value of the yen in terms of United States dollars declined steadily from that date to November 1932.3Page 378

The Court of Customs and Patent Appeals held that it was error to convert invoice prices for one period into United States dollars at the average rate of exchange for another period. In its view the phrase "weighted average of the invoice prices or values for a representative period" contained in § 336(e)(2) must be construed as though it read, "weighted average of the invoice prices or values in United States currency for a representative period." The government, however, urges that if the Commission were forced to take the conversion rate for the earlier period, to which it had to resort in order to obtain the invoice prices, it would use a rate which had merely an historical interest and which did not reflect the conditions which made desirable an increase in the duties, viz. the depreciation in the value of the yen.

The determination of foreign exchange value was prescribed, in the procedure outlined by Congress, neither for the action of the Commission nor for that of the President.4There is no express provision in the Act that the rate of exchange must be taken for the same period as the invoice prices. To imply it would be to add whatPage 379Congress has omitted and doubtless omitted in view of the very nature of the problem. The matter was left at large. The President's method of solving the problem was open to scrutiny neither by the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals nor by us. Whatever may be the scope of appellate jurisdiction conferred by § 501 of the Tariff Act of 1930,5it certainly does not permit judicial examination of the judgment of the President that the rates of duty recommended by the Commission are necessary to equalize the differences in the domestic and foreign costs of production.

The powers which Congress has entrusted to the President under the Act of 1930 do not essentially differ in kind from those which have been granted him under the tariff acts for well over a century. SeeNorwegian Nitrogen Products Co. v.UnitedStates,288 U.S. 294,308et seq., for a review of the statutes. Since its creation in 1916 the Commission has acted as an adviser to the Congress or to the President. Under § 336 of the Act of 1930 the Commission serves the President in that role. It does not increase or decrease the rates of duty; it is but the expert body which investigates and submits the facts and its recommendations to the President. It is the judgment of the President on those facts which is determinative of whether or not the recommended rates will be promulgated. In substance and to a great extent in form (Norwegian Nitrogen Products Co. v.United States, supra) the action of the Commission and the President is but one stage of the legislative process.HamptonCo. v.United States,276 U.S. 394. "No one has a legal right to the maintenance of an existing rate or duty."NorwegianNitrogen Products Co. v.United States, supra, p. 318. And the judgment of thePage 380President that on the facts, adduced in pursuance of the procedure prescribed by Congress, a change of rate is necessary is no more subject to judicial review under this statutory scheme than if Congress itself had exercised that judgment. It has long been held that where Congress has authorized a public officer to take some specified legislative action when in his judgment that action is necessary or appropriate to carry out the policy of Congress, the judgment of the officer as to the existence of the facts calling for that action is not subject to review.Martinv.Mott, 12 Wheat. 19;Monongahela Bridge Co. v.UnitedStates,216 U.S. 177;Dakota Central Telephone Co. v.SouthDakota,250 U.S. 163;United Statesv.Chemical Foundation,Inc.,272 U.S. 1. As stated by Mr. Justice Story inMartinv.Mott, supra, pp. 31-32: "Whenever a statute gives a discretionary power to any person, to be exercised by him upon his own opinion of certain facts, it is a sound rule of construction, that the statute constitutes him the sole and exclusive judge of the existence of those facts."

For the judiciary to probe the reasoning which underlies this Proclamation would amount to a clear invasion of the legislative and executive domains. Under the Constitution it is exclusively for Congress, or those to whom it delegates authority, to determine what tariffs shall be imposed. Here the President acted in full conformity with the statute. No question of law is raised when the exercise of his discretion is challenged.

The other points raised are so unimportant as not to merit discussion.Reversed.

MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS is of the opinion that the judgment below should be affirmed.Page 381
  1. Page 376 § 1, Sch. 7, Par. 721(b). ↩
  2. Page 376 As defined in § 402(g). ↩
  3. Page 377 The Commission in its report to the President, dated April 5, 1934, stated on this point:

    "The years 1931 and 1932 are representative with respect to the domestic cost of production of canned clams and the invoice prices of Japanese canned clams, in terms of Japanese currency. During most of 1931 the exchange rate of the Japanese yen for the dollar was not much below par, whereas since that time it has been much Page 378 below par. For this reason the invoice prices of the Japanese product imported in 1931, when converted to dollars at the then current rate of exchange, are not representative of the present or probable future invoice values in terms of dollars. The Commission has, therefore, used, for comparison with the domestic costs, the invoice prices in yen as evidence of costs of the Japanese product during 1931 and 1932, converted to dollars at the average rate of exchange for 1932. Although the exchange rate of the yen has risen since April 1933, the rate now prevailing is not much higher than the average rate for 1932." ↩
  4. Page 378 Sec. 522(b) provides that for "the purpose of the assessment and collection of duties" upon imports, foreign currency shall be converted at values proclaimed by the Secretary of the Treasury for the quarter in which the merchandise was exported. This section clearly has no application to the issue here, since it applies only to assessment and collection of duties — matters outside the functions and duties of the Tariff Commission. ↩
  5. Page 379 That section gives either party a right to appeal to the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals on "a question or questions of law only." ↩