Facts of the Case

The railroad's policy did not supply enough coal cars to meet the demand from the mines along its right of way. The ICC ordered the railroad to end its practice. The railroad refused to obey the ICC order.

Question

Is the ICC order valid?

Conclusion

Though the Court had engaged in second-guessing the ICC, in this case the justices signaled that they would review commission orders only with regard to constitutional issues, construction of the statute, and the practical substance of the order. In upholding the order, Chief Justice White declared for the Court that the "[p]ower to make the order and not the mere expediency or wisdom of having made it is the question."