Federal Trade Commission v. American Tobacco Company (274 U.S. 543)/Opinion of the Court

by James Clark McReynolds

United States Supreme Court

274 U.S. 543

Federal Trade Commission  v.  American Tobacco Company (274 U.S. 543)

 Argued: April 19, 20, 1927. --- Decided: May 31, 1927

The statement of the petition for certiorari that the judgment and opinion below might seriously hinder future administration of the law was grave and sufficiently probable to justify issuance of the writ.

Proper decision of the controversy depends upon a question of fact. Did the American Tobacco Company become party to the unlawful combination of tobacco jobbers at Philadelphia to maintain prices? After considering much evidence the commission gave affirmative answer to that query; but the Circuit Court of Appeals thought there was nothing to support their view. American Tobacco Co. v. Federal Trade Commission, 9 F. (2d) 570.

It now appears to us that this matter of fact is of no general importance. Accordingly, we adhere to the usual rule of noninterference where conclusions of Circuit Courts of Appeals depend on appreciation of circumstances which admit of different interpretations, and upon that ground alone we affirm the judgment below.

The opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals is of uncertain intendment and is not satisfactory as an exposition of the law. What this court has said in many opinions indicates clearly enough the general purpose of the statute and the necessity of applying it with strict regard thereto.

Affirmed.

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