Polk Company v. Glover, 305 U.S. 5 (1938)

U.S. Supreme Court

Polk Company v. Glover, 305 U.S. 5 (1938) Polk Company v. Glover

No. 29

Argued October 20, 1938

Decided November 7, 1938

305 U.S. 5

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

Syllabus

1. In deciding a motion to dismiss a bill upon the ground that it fails to state a cause of action, the court is not at liberty to consider affidavits or other evidence produced in support of an accompanying application for an interlocutory injunction, but must decide upon the facts set up in the bill. P. 305 U. S. 9.

The motion was accompanied also by answers; but plaintiffs did not submit the case to be decided upon the merits upon the bill, answers, and affidavits.

2. Before deciding grave constitutional questions, the essential facts upon which they depend should be determined after a hearing in due course upon the issues raised by the pleadings. P. 305 U. S. 9.

A Florida statute required that the labels upon containers of canned citrus fruit or fruit juice name the State or country where the contents were produced, and, if produced in Florida, that the name "Florida" be in or embossed upon the substance of each container. Violation was made punishable as a crime and by confiscation. Canners of citrus products grown in Florida attacked the statute upon the ground that its present enforcement would inflict immediate and irreparable injury because of the cost of sorting, classifying, and overprinting large stocks of labels on hand, and because the tinned containers on hand, of great value, could not be embossed as required without impairing the protective coating of tin, so that subsequent use would result in spoilage of contents and much loss to the plaintiffs' business. It is held, without intimating any opinion on constitutional issues, that the facts alleged in the bill were such as to entitle plaintiffs to an opportunity to prove their case, and that the court below should not have undertaken to dispose of those issues in denial of that opportunity. The allegations as to trade conditions and practices, and as to the effect of the required embossing of cans, raised particular questions which could hardly be said to lie within the range of judicial notice.

22 F. Supp. 575 reversed.

Page 305 U. S. 6

Appeal from a decree of a District Court of three judges denying an interlocutory injunction and dismissing the bill, in a suit to enjoin enforcement of a statute relating to the labeling &c. of canned citrus products.

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiffs, engaged in the business of canning citrus products grown in the Florida, challenged by this suit the validity of Chapter 17,783 of the Acts of 1937 of that State upon the ground that the statute violated the state constitution and also the commerce clause, and the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, of the Federal Constitution. An interlocutory injunction was sought, and a court of three judges was convened.

Reciting that certain persons are engaged in importing into Florida citrus fruit and citrus juice produced and canned elsewhere, and in labeling the same in Florida whence it is sold, with the result that dealers are deceived and producers and canners in Florida are injured, the statute provides that every label upon any container of canned citrus fruit or juice shall show accurately the name of the State or country in which the fruit or juice was produced, and that every container used for such fruit or juice produced in Florida "shall have stamped into or embossed upon the tin, glass or other substance of which such container is made" the word "Florida," and it is made unlawful for anyone to use any container

Page 305 U. S. 7

bearing the name "Florida" for any canned citrus fruit or juice produced elsewhere. The Florida Citrus Commission is authorized to prescribe the method of marking the labels and embossing the containers. Violation of the Act is punishable by imprisonment or fine, or both, and by confiscation of all goods misbranded.

The Act was approved June 10, 1937, and provided that it should take effect immediately. On September 4, 1937, the Commission resolved that, "for the present," it felt that "an educational and adjustment period" was necessary before the labeling provisions were enforced. On October 4, 1937, the Commission adopted regulations prescribing the method of stamping or embossing the cans.

The bill of complaint set forth facts relating to the character of the trade, the process of canning, and the trade practices as to labeling. It alleged that plaintiffs were without knowledge as to the authority of the Commission to postpone the enforcement of the labeling provisions of the Act, and had no assurance from any enforcement officer that failure to comply therewith would not result in criminal prosecution or in the confiscation of products packed; that the "classification, sorting, and overprinting of both packer and private brand labels now on hand" would result in immediate increased cost to each of the plaintiffs in an amount in excess of $3,000; that, as to the required embossing, the statute made no provision for the use of the tin containers not so embossed which the plaintiffs had on hand in a value in excess of $33,000; that these containers would no longer be usable in the packing of canned citrus products if the statute were enforced; that the embossing of the tin plate of the can would cause what is known as "hydrogen flippers" due to action of the acid in the fruit upon the sheet steel underlying the tin plate through the weakening or penetration of the tin covering; that this would result in "untold

Page 305 U. S. 8

spoilage, swelling of cans, unmarketability and loss of products, loss of consumers' good will, and other damage," in an amount not presently calculable, and that the requirement of embossing would cause each of the plaintiffs a loss in excess of $3,000 because of the refusal of distributors to purchase and handle cans so embossed. The effect of the Act upon plaintiffs' trade was described in support of the claim that the enforcement of its provisions would inflict immediate and irreparable injury.

Defendants, including the Florida Citrus Commission (which intervened) and other officials, filed answers putting in issue the allegations as to the injurious operation of the statute. They also moved to dismiss the bill of complaint upon the ground that it failed to state a cause of action. On the application for interlocutory injunction, the parties submitted affidavits setting forth facts in support of their respective contentions. At the same time, the court heard the motions to dismiss. Injunction was denied, the motions to dismiss were granted, and a final decree was entered accordingly. 22 F. Supp. 575. This is a direct appeal from the decree of dismissal. 28 U.S.C. § 380.

The District Court made findings. After reciting the statements in the preamble of the statute, the court found that no sufficient facts had been shown by affidavits or otherwise to overcome the findings of fact so made by the legislature; that the statute was enacted in pursuance of the police power of the State, and that all citrus fruit canners in Florida were affected by its provisions, without exceptions; that plaintiffs had on hand unembossed containers of a value in excess of $33,000 which would no longer be usable if the Act were enforced, but that "such containers could be used for packing of vegetables or commodities other than citrus products," and that there was no showing "that they could not be exchanged with the manufacturer for properly embossed

Page 305 U. S. 9

cans at little or no extra expense;" that, if the practices and abuses as found by the legislature were not stopped "the price which the producer of citrus fruit grown in Florida receives for his product will be greatly reduced" and he will "ultimately be forced out of business;" that it did not sufficiently appear that the embossing of cans would be injurious or harmful to the citrus contents; that,

"apart from the conflicting affidavits, numerous embossed cans were produced before the court, some of which were used for canning citrus products, and there was no showing that the contents of such cans had been injuriously affected by the embossing."

At the same time, the court made an order restraining the enforcement of the statute pending this appeal, upon the plaintiffs' giving a bond. That order recited that the court was of the opinion "that the questions involved are novel and of great importance," and further that the plaintiffs "will suffer irreparable loss and damage during said appeal" if the Florida statute is enforced and this Court should reverse the decree.

We are of the opinion that the District Court erred in dismissing the bill of complaint. Plaintiffs did not submit the case to be decided upon the merits upon the bill, answers, and affidavits. Defendants' motion to dismiss, like the demurrer for which it is a substitute (Equity Rule 29) was addressed to the sufficiency of the allegations of the bill. For the purpose of that motion, the facts set forth in the bill stood admitted. For the purpose of that motion, the court was confined to the bill, and was not at liberty to consider the affidavits or the other evidence produced upon the application for an interlocutory injunction. But the findings of the court indicate that that evidence, in part at least, underlay the final decree it entered.

We think that the facts alleged in the bill were sufficient to entitle the plaintiffs to an opportunity to prove

Page 305 U. S. 10

their case, if they could, and that the court should not have undertaken to dispose of the constitutional issues (as to which we intimate no opinion) in advance of that opportunity. The allegations of the bill as to trade conditions and practices, and as to the effect of the required embossing of cans, raise particular questions which can hardly be said to lie within the range of judicial notice. The salutary principle that the essential facts should be determined before passing upon grave constitutional questions is applicable. See Borden's Farm Products Co. v. Baldwin, 293 U. S. 194, 293 U. S. 211-213, and cases cited. And that determination requires a hearing in due course upon the issue raised by the pleadings.

The decree is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.

Reversed.

MR. JUSTICE BLACK, dissenting.

A Florida law designed to prevent fraud requires that citrus products grown and canned in Florida carry the label, "Made in Florida," and that containers of these products be embossed with the single word, "Florida." The majority do not decide that this State law violates the Federal Constitution. Nor do they decide that proof of the allegations of petitioners' bill of complaint will show that the Florida law violates the Constitution. While petitioners are held entitled to produce evidence, they are not held entitled to relief if they prove their entire bill. If, on remand, petitioners prove every allegation in their complaint, still -- after time and State funds have been spent in taking evidence -- either the District Court or this Court may decide that the complaint did not allege facts sufficient to invalidate the law. In the meantime, the State of Florida is forced to litigate the validity of its duly enacted law, with no decision on its

Page 305 U. S. 11

substantial defense that petitioners' bill is wholly defective because of "insufficiency of fact to constitute a valid cause of action" [Footnote 1] or "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." [Footnote 2]

The important consequences of this remand raise far more than mere questions of procedure. State laws are continually subjected to constitutional attacks by those who do not wish to obey them. Accordingly, it becomes increasingly important to protect State governments from needless expensive burdens and suspensions of their laws incident to Federal Court injunctions issued on allegations that show no right to relief. The operation of this Florida law has been suspended. Complaints seeking to invalidate and suspend the operation of State law by invoking the "vague contours" of due process [Footnote 3] can irreparably injure State governments if we accept as a "salutary principle" the rule that all such complaints -- though failing to state a cause of action -- raise "grave constitutional questions" which require that "the essential facts shall be determined." Under this declared "salutary principle" specially applying to bills attacking the constitutionality of legislative acts, such bills must be defended against even though they fail to state a cause of action. This is contrary to the traditional general rule that fatally defective bills are dismissed on motion (formerly demurrer) in order to prevent needless litigation, delay, and expense. [Footnote 4] The application of this special principle

Page 305 U. S. 12

to bills attacking State legislation seriously undermines the historical presumption of the validity of State acts. [Footnote 5] A refusal to determine whether or not the allegations of the bill are sufficient to strike down an act until evidence has been heard adds a special burden to the defense of State legislation, as though legislation were to be presumed invalid. I do not believe this principle leads to salutary results, and I am of the opinion that we should now determine whether the allegations of the bill, if proven, would entitle petitioners to relief.

The bill alleges that the Florida statute violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution [Footnote 6] and the Due

Page 305 U. S. 13

Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court below held in the alternative that petitioners failed to make

"sufficient showing either by affidavit or by the allegations of the bill to uphold the contention that the Act deprives the plaintiffs of their property without due process of law."

Even according to the presently prevailing interpretation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, I do not believe that the averments of petitioners' bill can sustain invalidation of this duly enacted Florida statute. The statute contains a legislative finding that "certain persons, firms and corporations in the State of Florida" had engaged "in the practice" of deceiving customers into the belief that non-Florida canned citrus products had been produced in Florida. The legislature further found that this practice operated to "the injury and detriment of the producers and canners of citrus fruit and citrus juices in the State of Florid . . . ," and concluded that an effective method to prevent this fraudulent practice was to require the publication of the truth upon labels and containers. Averments of petitioners' bill, in their strongest light, go no further than to deny this legislative finding. They say to require publication of the truth in this manner on the cans and labels is burdensome, [Footnote 7] and violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. They further charge here that this finding of the legislature is a "feigned" assumption, and that

"the facts alleged [in petitioners' bill] not only show the nonexistence of any basis for such assumption, but demonstrates that the law will cause serious injury to

Page 305 U. S. 14

the packer and marked curtailment of the sale of citrus products grown and canned in Florida."

Petitioners' argument for reversal largely involves

"this disputed question as to the existence of facts concerning the basis for the law, and . . . the preamble statement of the alleged evil which gave rise to its enactment. . . ."

Because, it is said, the embossing and labeling requirements raise grave constitutional issues, the State of Florida will be required to defend against two issues raised by petitioners' bill. The State must answer the charges first, that -- contrary to the legislative finding -- there was no fraudulent practice under which the dealers in canned citrus products were led to believe that they were buying Florida products when, in fact, the canned goods were produced outside that State; second, that truthful labeling and embossing as required by the statute would financially injure citrus growers, producers, canners, and the people of Florida, rather than benefit them, as found by the legislature.

In attacking the legislative finding that the act would bestow benefits on the State of Florida, petitioners allege that the law would require petitioners to spend extra money for labels; might cause them to lose some business; would afford the opportunity for spoiling and swelling of some cans on the theory that embossing without spoiling is difficult, and could weaken the tin of containers, thereby permitting acid to corrode the steel underneath the tin; that petitioners will suffer loss because they have on their hands cans that have not been embossed, and that Florida already has laws adequate to protect itself from fraudulent sales.

With reference to a State law regulating containers (for lard). this Court has already said: [Footnote 8]

"This may involve a change of packing by the company and the cost of that change, but this is a sacrifice

Page 305 U. S. 15

the law can require to protect from the deception of the old method."

The real issue raised by petitioners' bill is not the cost incident to changing from the old method of labeling and embossing, but whether the Florida legislature -- convinced that fraud existed -- had the constitutional right to determine the policy which it believed would protect the people of Florida from that fraud. The cause is now sent back to a Federal District Court to review the facts underlying the policy enacted into law by the legislature.

Under our constitutional plan of government, the exclusive power of determining the wisdom of this policy rested with the legislature of Florida, subject to the veto power of Florida's governor. [Footnote 9] This Court has taken judicial notice of the fact that citrus fruits support one of the great industries of the Florida, and held that it

"was competent for the legislature [of Florida] to find that it was essential for the success of that industry that its reputation be preserved in other states wherein such fruits find their most extensive market. [Footnote 10]"

The legislators of Florida are peculiarly qualified to determine the

Page 305 U. S. 16

policies relating to one of their State's greatest industries. Legislatures, under our system, determine the necessity for regulatory laws, considering both the evil and the benefits that may result. Unless prohibited by constitutional limitations, their decisions as to policy are final. In weighing conflicting arguments on the wisdom of legislation, they are not confined within the narrow boundaries of a particular controversy between litigants. Their inquires are not subject to the strict rules of evidence which have been found essential in proceedings before courts. Legislators may personally survey the field and obtain data and a broad perspective which the necessary limitations of court litigation make impossible.

The legislative history of the Florida statute under review indicates that it was given the careful and cautious consideration which regulation of one of the State's major industries deserved. [Footnote 11] Companion measures were offered in the Florida House and Senate on the same day -- April 28, 1937. In the House, the measure was referred to the Committee on Citrus Fruits. The existence of such a standing committee is itself indicative of a legislative procedure designed to give careful consideration to legislation concerning this important industry. May 4, 1937, the House Committee voted to report the bill favorably, sixteen ayes, no nays, six members absent. June 1, the bill was made the special order of business, and, on June 2, the companion Senate bill, previously passed by that body by a vote of twenty-four to one, was substituted for the House measure and passed by a vote of seventy to nothing. [Footnote 12]

Page 305 U. S. 17

In the face of this history, petitioners insist that this statute, duly passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor of Florida, violates the Due Process Clause as an unreasonable, capricious, unjust, harsh, and arbitrary measure. Therefore, if petitioners are to obtain relief on this theory, it must be found that this statute was

"fixed or arrived at through an exercise of will, or by caprice, without consideration or adjustment with reference to principles, circumstances or significance,"

or that it was "despotic, autocratic [or] high-handed," or that it is "irrational, senseless," or passed by those "not endowed with reasoning ability, nonconformable to reason," or that it is capricious or freakish which "denotes an impulsive seemingly causeless change of mind, like that of a child or a lunatic." [Footnote 13]

The cause is remanded for the court below to determine whether the legislative requirement that cans and labels to truthfully marked is arbitrary, unreasonable, capricious, unjust or harsh. This makes it necessary for the court to weigh and pass upon the relative judgment, poise, and reasoning ability of the one legislator who voted against the law, as contrasted with the ninety-four legislators and the governor who favored it. I do not believe that obedience to this carefully considered legislative enactment would violate any of petitioners' property rights without due process of law, or that -- even under prevailing doctrine -- the averments of the complaint indicate that no known or supposed facts could sustain it. [Footnote 14] The allegations of the complaint in this cause raise no more than questions of policy for legislative determination, which the Florida legislature has already considered and which can be presented to other legislatures in the future.

Page 305 U. S. 18

This case offers an appropriate opportunity to return to the wholesome principle stated by this Court in 1888 in Powell v. Pennsylvania, 127 U. S. 678, 127 U. S. 686, in the following language:

"If all that can be said of this legislation is that it is unwise, or unnecessarily oppressive to those manufacturing or selling wholesome oleomargarine as an article of food, their appeal must be to the legislature, or to the ballot box, not to the judiciary. The latter cannot interfere without usurping powers committed to another department of government."

The majority opinion apparently does not decide the Florida has no power to require that the origin of citrus products canned in Florida shall be truthfully shown. [Footnote 15] Petitioners' bill insists that Florida exercised its power so unwisely as to violate rights of property without due process because, as alleged, canning frauds did not exist, and could be prevented by a wiser statute, less expensive and burdensome to petitioners. Thus, they challenge the wisdom of the Florida legislation. On remand of petitioners' bill which fails to show that the Florida law is invalid, may the Court, on evidence outside the bill, hold that the law violates due process because the court is convinced that the legislature might have chosen a

Page 305 U. S. 19

wiser, less expensive, and less burdensome regulation? If a court in this case and under this bill has this power, the final determination of the wisdom and choice of legislative policy has passed from legislatures -- elected by and responsible to the people -- to the courts. [Footnote 16] I believe in the language of the Powell case, supra, that, since all that has been "said of this legislation is that it is unwise, or unnecessarily oppressive to those" canning citrus products, that petitioners' "appeal must be to the legislature, . . . not to the judiciary." I would affirm.

[Footnote 1]

Rule 29, Rules of Practice for the Courts of Equity of the United States, effective February 1, 1913.

[Footnote 2]

Rule 12(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

[Footnote 3]

Cf. Mr. Justice Holmes dissenting in Adkins v. Children's Hospital, 261 U. S. 525, 261 U. S. 568.

[Footnote 4]

Story's Equity Pleadings (10th Ed.) §§ 446, 447, 526. The

". . . proper rule of pleading would seem to be that, when the case stated by the bill appears to be one in which a court of equity will refuse its aid, the defendant should be permitted to resist it by demurrer. . . . 'If the case of the plaintiff as stated in the bill will not entitle him to a decree, the judgment of the court may be required on demurrer whether the defendant ought to be compelled to answer the bill.' . . ."

This principle is calculated "to save the parties from useless expense and trouble in bringing (a suit) to issue. . . ." Maxwell v. Kennedy, 8 How. 210, 49 U. S. 222-223; cf. Southern Pacific Co. v. Campbell, 189 F. 182, aff'd, 230 U. S. 230 U.S. 537; Missouri Pacific R. Co. v. Norwood, 42 F.2d 765, aff'd, 283 U. S. 283 U.S. 249; Pacific States Co. v. White, 9 F. Supp. 341, aff'd, 296 U. S. 296 U.S. 176; Isbrandtsen-Moller Co. v. United States, 14 F. Supp. 407, aff'd, 300 U. S. 300 U.S. 139.

[Footnote 5]

See Ogden v. Saunders, 12 Wheat. 213, 25 U. S. 270.

"The complaint contains much by way of argument, assertions as to questions of law, together with inferences and conclusions of the pleader as to matters of fact. These are not deemed to be admitted by motion to dismiss. . . . The state laws [regulating train crews and assailed as violative of the Federal Constitution] are presumed valid. . . . The burden is on the plaintiff by candid and direct allegations to set forth in its complaint facts sufficient plainly to show the asserted invalidity."

Missouri Pacific R. Co. v. Norwood, 283 U. S. 249, 283 U. S. 254-255. "Every exertion of the police power, either by the legislature or by an administrative body, is an exercise of delegated power. . . ." Where

"the regulation is within the scope of authority legally delegated, the presumption of the existence of facts justifying its specific exercise attaches alike to statutes, to municipal ordinances, and to orders of administrative bodies."

Pacific States Co. v. White, 296 U. S. 176, 296 U. S. 185-186.

[Footnote 6]

The asserted conflict with the Commerce Clause does not rest upon proof of fact. It must be decided by a comparison of the Florida law and the Federal Pure Food and Drug Act and regulations thereunder. That question can -- and should -- be decided now on the allegations of the bill. The court below found no conflict, and I agree with its findings. See Savage v. Jones, 225 U. S. 501, 225 U. S. 533.

[Footnote 7]

"We may not test in the balances of judicial review the weight and sufficiency of the facts to sustain the conclusion of the legislative body, nor may we set aside the ordinance because compliance with it is burdensome."

Standard Oil Co. v. Marysville, 279 U. S. 582, 279 U. S. 586.

[Footnote 8]

Armour & Co. v. North Dakota, 240 U. S. 510, 240 U. S. 516.

[Footnote 9]

"The power of a state to prescribe standard containers in order to facilitate trading, to preserve the condition of the merchandise, to protect buyers from deception, or to prevent unfair competition is conceded. Such regulation of trade is a part of the inspection laws; was among the earliest exertions of the police power in America; has been persistent, and has been widely applied to merchandise commonly sold in containers. . . ."

"Different types of commodities require different types of containers, and as to each commodity there may be reasonable difference of opinion as to the type best adapted to the protection of the public. Whether it was necessary in Oregon [Florida?] to provide a standard container for raspberries and strawberries [citrus products?]; and, if so, whether that adopted should have been mandatory, involve questions of fact and of policy the determination of which rests in the legislative branch of the state government."

Pacific States Co. v. White, 296 U. S. 176, 296 U. S. 181, 182.

[Footnote 10]

Sligh v. Kirkwood, 237 U. S. 52, 237 U. S. 61.

[Footnote 11]

As to an "added reason for applying the presumption of validity" where a statute has been carefully enacted, compare Pacific States Co. v. White, supra, p. 296 U. S. 186.

[Footnote 12]

Journal of the Senate of Florida, Reg.Sess.1937, 508; Journal of the House of Florida, Reg.Sess.1937, 837.

[Footnote 13]

See, Webster's New International Dictionary, 2d Ed., 1939.

[Footnote 14]

^14 Cf. Standard Oil Co. v. Marysville, 279 U. S. 582; Hebe Co. v. Shaw, 248 U. S. 297, 248 U. S. 304.

[Footnote 15]

"Recognized elements of inspection laws have always been quality of the article, form, capacity, dimensions, and weight of package, mode of putting up, and marking and branding of various kinds. . . ."

In

"the exercise of . . . [legislative] discretion, and of . . . [a state's] power to prescribe the method in which its products shall be fitted for exportation, it may direct that a certain product, while it remains 'in the bosom of the country' and before it has become an article 'of foreign commerce or of commerce between the states,' shall be encased in such a package as appears best fitted to secure the safety of the package and to identify its contents as the growth of the state, and may direct that the weight of the package and the name of the owner of it contents shall be plainly marked on the package. . . ."

Turner v. Maryland, 107 U. S. 38, 107 U. S. 55.

[Footnote 16]

With reference to a State law regulating labels and containers for condensed milk, this Court said,

"If the character or effect of the article as intended to be used 'be debatable, the legislature is entitled to its own judgment, and that judgment is not to be superseded by the verdict of a jury,' or, we may add, by the personal opinion of judges, 'upon the issue which the legislature has decided.'"

Hebe Co. v. Shaw, 248 U. S. 297, 248 U. S. 303.