Newton v. Consolidated Gas Company of New York Consolidated Gas Company of New York/Opinion of the Court

The Consolidated Gas Company was organized in 1884 by consolidation of six corporations then manufacturing, distributing and selling gas in New York City and has continued to carry on the business making additions and extensions as required by the increasing demand. Chapter 125, Laws of New York 1906, required it to sell gas with illuminating power of 22 candles, at no more than 80 cents per 1,000 cubic feet. A suit brought soon after this act became effective to enjoin its enforcement, because confiscatory, was finally dismissed without prejudice (Willcox v. Consolidated Gas Co., 212 U.S. 19, 29 Sup. Ct. 192, 53 L. Ed. 382, 48 L. R. A. [N. S.] 1134, 15 Ann. Cas. 1034), and for many years thereafter the company supplied gas at the prescribed rate. January 16, 1919, it instituted the present proceeding against the Attorney General and other public officers. The bill alleges that the statutory rate is confiscatory-prevents and will continue to prevent a fair return on the property used-and prays for an injunction.

A master, appointed in May, 1919, heard testimony from day to day for eight months-about 20,000 printed pages-and presented this to the court with his report and opinion, May 5, 1920. Having considered the results of actual operations during all of 1918 and the first eight months of 1919, and wellknown subsequent conditions, he concluded:

'On the basis of the prices, rates of pay, and costs     prevailing during the eight months beginning January 1, 1919,      the cost of making and distributing gas has been such as to      allow a very small, if any return, on even the actual      investment; and since September 1, 1919, the cost of making      and distributing gas has been increased in a number of      respects so that the fair inference is that the complainant      company now finds itself without any return upon the      investment.

The conditions found by me have existed for more than a year     last past, and to a lesser degree for at least a year before      that time, and will continue for at least a considerable      period of time, the end of which cannot now be forecast. Upon     such a situation and such a prospect. I think that the     complainant company has shown itself, clearly and beyond all      reasonable doubt, entitled to relief from the statutory      limitation on its rates, but that its rate of return should      be calculated, not upon the present high reproduction cost of      its property, with or without the deduction of observed or      actual depreciation, in whatever manner computed, but upon      the actual, reasonable, investment in the property devoted to      the service of the complainant's consumers.'

In a carefully prepared opinion, while disagreeing with the master concerning some valuations and resolving all doubts against the company, the court held the prescribed rate had been confiscatory since January 1, 1918, and would continue so to be. 267 Fed. 231; 274 Fed. 986.

An amended decree-entered August 11, 1920-enjoined enforcement of the act upon condition 'that until March 1, 1921, or until the earlier promulgation of a gas rate applicable to the plaintiff by some competent authority of the state of New York, the plaintiff shall neither charge nor collect for the sale of gas in the city of New York more than the sum of one dollar and twenty cents per thousand cubic feet,' and also upon the further condition that it should impound, or adequately secure, collections above 80 cents per 1,000 cubic feet, for ultimate distribution in accordance with any rate so established.

A broad appeal was allowed in No. 257 September 9, 1920. In No. 258 an appeal allowed November 10, 1920, brings up those parts of the August decree which imposed conditions upon continuation of the injunction.

February 28, 1921, the trial court undertook to modify the August decree by directing that the excess derived from sales above 80 cents per 1,000 feet should be impounded until three months after determination of the appeal here, or until a rate should be fixed by competent state authority, and, further, that such sums should be subject to ultimate distribution 'as nearly as may equitably be done' in accordance with that rate and the approved principles and findings relative thereto. The appeal from this order is No. 288.

Equity rules 75 and 76 (33 Sup. Ct. xl, xli) direct that records on appeal shall not set forth the evidence fully but in simple condensed form and require omission of nonessentials and mere formal parts of documents. Without apparent attempt to comply with these rules and with assent of appellee's counsel, appellants in No. 257 have filed a record of 21 volumes-20,000 printed pages-made up largely of stenographic reports of proceedings before the master with hundreds of useless exhibits and many thousand pages of matter without present value. This is indefensible practice, which we shall hereafter feel at liberty to punish to the limit of our discretion-possibly by dismissal of the appeal. These rules were intended to protect the courts against useless, burdensome records and litigants from unnecessary costs and delay. Counsel ought to comply with them, and trial courts should enforce performance of this plain duty.

The fundamental question presented for determination was whether the 80-cent rate had been confiscatory under conditions existing during 1918 and 1919 and probably would continue so to be. Considering the rulings here in Willcox v. Consolidated Gas Company and other cases, the answer required little more than an appreciation of facts not very difficult to ascertain. The master's report and opinion disclose careful and intelligent consideration of the whole matter. 'Resolving all doubts against the plaintiff' and using valuations 'pared down unsparingly,' the trial court agreed with the master's ultimate findings and ruled that to enforce the statute would result in confiscation. Since March 30, 1921, the Public Service Commission has had power to prescribe rates for appellee unrestricted by the maximum specified in the act of 1906; but no such action has been taken. It did, however, authorize a rate of $1.40, instead of 80 cents, for another company operating in New York City, effective after August 1, 1920, and has thus indicated its informed judgment. See Morrell v. Brooklyn Borough Gas Co. (Appeal No. 1, July 14, 1921) 231 N. Y. 405, 132 N. E. 130. We are, of course, aware of the enormous increase in cost of labor and materials since this court declared that appellee might possibly earn 6 per centum under the 80-cent rate. In view of all these things, only very cogent reasons would justify complete reversal of the challenged decree. The points relied upon by appellants in No. 257 and their supporting arguments have been considered, and we think no such reasons are shown. To discuss all of these would subserve no sufficient purpose-only a few present questions of general interest.

Appellants earnestly insist that they were denied fair and impartial trial both by the master and the court. So far as it relates to the court, we dismiss the suggestion as frivolous. Undoubtedly during the many months devoted to hearings the master talked too much and often unwisely; but, manifestly, appellants' counsel made the situation unnecessarily difficult and failed to support the master's earnest efforts promptly to ascertain the essential facts. Looking at all the circumstances we are unable to conclude that any substantial right was denied. The size of the record, eight months of almost daily hearings and the master's reiterated offers to hear properly prepared and helpful evidence show that abundant opportunity was given for presentation of appellants' cause. The master wiseld sought to exclude ill-advised cross-examinations and other unimportant matter.

Since 1907 the Gas Company has been subject to supervision by a commission empowered to prohibit unreasonable rates and the presumtion is that any profits from its business were lawfully acquired. Municipal Gas Co. v. Public Service Commission, 225 N. Y. 89, 99, 121 N. E. 772. Mere past success could not support a demand that it continue to operate indefinitely at a loss. The public has no such right in respect of private property although dedicated to public use. When it became clear that the prescribed rate had yielded no fair return for more than a year, and that this condition would almost certainly continue for many months, the company was clearly entitled to relief.

The claim that appellee had failed to supply gas of the prescribed candle power, and therefore came into court with unclean hands and should not be heard, is without merit. The company was subject to official control; the facts as to candle power of the gas actually furnished are in dispute; the calorific quality had become more important to most consumers than the illuminating one; the master reached the conclusion that the statutory standard had been substantially complied with; it had earnestly tried under very diffcult circumstances to meet its customers' requirements. It sought relief from an unlawful burden the fundamental wrong arose from the statute-and we find nothing which could justify refusal to consider its demand.

Complaint is also made because the master admitted appellee's books in evidence. These books were kept in the ordinary course under general supervision of the commission, appeared free from suspicion of dishonesty, were submitted to appellants' experts, and were the only readily available sources of detailed information concerning the company's affairs. In the circumstances we think no harm resulted from admitting them as prima facie evidence. Rowland v. Boyle, 244 U.S. 106, 108, 37 Sup. Ct. 577, 61 L. Ed. 1022.

The general doctrine applicable when rates are alleged to be confiscatory has been so often stated that present discussion of it is unnecessary. Knoxville v. Water Co., 212 U.S. 1, 29 Sup. Ct. 148, 53 L. Ed. 371; Willcox v. Consolidated Gas Co., 212 U.S. 19, 29 Sup. Ct. 192, 53 L. Ed. 382, 48 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1134, 15 Ann. Cas. 1034; Des Moines Gas Co. v. Des Moines, 238 U.S. 153, 35 Sup. Ct. 811, 59 L. Ed. 1244; Rowland v. Boyle, 244 U.S. 106, 37 Sup. Ct. 577, 61 L. Ed. 1022; Denver v. Denver Union Water Co., 246 U.S. 178, 38 Sup. Ct. 278, 62 L. Ed. 649; Lincoln Gas Co. v. Lincoln, 250 U.S. 256, 39 Sup. Ct. 454, 63 L. Ed. 968.

In No. 258 the Gas Company complains of the limit of $1.20 per 1,000 cubic feet up to March 1, 1921, as a condition to continuation of the injunction, and also because sums above 80 cents per 1,000 were impounded for ultimate distribution in accordance with nay rate which might be fixed thereafter by competent state authority.

It was within the court's discretion to grant the injunction upon terms and we cannot now say that the limitation upon charges amounted to abuse. But grave injustice may result from action of this kind and the power should be very cautiously exercised. See Morrell v. Brooklyn Borough Gas Company (Appeal No. 1, July 14, 1921) 231 N. Y. 405, 132 N. E. 130. It was error to direct ultimate distribution of the impounded funds in accordance with any subsequently approved rate. Rate making is no function of the courts and should not be attempted either directly or indirectly. After declaring the 80-cent rate confiscatory, the court should not have attempted, in effect, to subject the company for an indefinite period to some unknown rate to be proclaimed in the future upon consideration of conditions then prevailing.

The amendatory decree of February was obtained long after appeals from the August decree had been granted and when the court had very limited power over the litigation. 'One general rule in all cases (subject, however, to some qualifications) is that an appeal suspends the power of the court below to proceed further in the cause.' Undoubtedly, after appeal the trial court may, if the purposes of Justice require, preserve the status quo until decision by the appellate court. Hovey v. McDonald, 109 U.S. 150, 157, 3 Sup. Ct. 136, 27 L. Ed. 888. But it may not finally adjudicate substantial rights directly involved in the appeal. Merrimack River Savings Bank v. Clay Center, 219 U.S. 527, 534, 31 Sup. Ct. 295, 55 L Ed. 320, Ann. Cas. 1912A, 513. See First Nat. Band v. State Bank, 131 Fed. 430, 65 C. C. A. 414. The precise result of the February decree is somewhat doubtful, but we may treat it as an attempt to preserve the status quo in order that this court might finally and completely dispose of the whole matter. Thus interpreted the decree (No. 288) was within the court's discretion and as there was no abuse of this discretion it must be affirmed.

All impounded funds should be promptly released to the Gas Company subject only to deductions for such costs as are clearly assessable to the prevailing party. Costs of appeal No. 257 will be taxed to appellants; in No. 258 to the appellees. Modified as here indicated, the decree below is affirmed. The cause will be remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.

It seems proper to add that we do not intend by anything said herein to intimate what would have been a reasonable rate for the sale of gas under the circumstances disclosed. The 80-cent rate was confiscatory; the $1.20 maximum imposed by the court during a specified period as a condition to the injunction was a limitation in favor of the consumers.