Grays Ferry Brick Co. v. United States
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court:
In this case plaintiff seeks to recover $2,441.59 as reimbursement for certain increased costs incurred by it by reason of its compliance with the provisions of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, 48 Stat. 195, and the President’s Reemployment Agreement thereunder in furnishing material for use in constructing a Post Office Building in Philadelphia. The suit is brought under the act of June 25, 1938, chap. 699, 52 Stat. 1197, which conferred upon this court jurisdiction to hear, determine, and enter judgments against the United States upon claims of the contractors, including ■completing sureties and all subcontractors and materialmen performing work or furnishing material to the contractor or another subcontractor, whose contracts were entered into on or before August 10, 1933, “for increased costs incurred as .a result of the enactment of the National Industrial Recovery Act.” The act further provided that it should not be interpreted as raising any presumption or conclusion of fact or
Both parties have made and submitted full and complete audits of plaintiff’s operations prior and subsequent to the enactment of the Becovery Act and the signing of the President’s Beemployment Agreement, and there is no dispute between the parties as to the accuracy of the figures in either audit but the parties disagree, first, as to the period of operations prior to the signing of the Beemployment Agreement to be used in determining manufacturing costs to be deducted from such costs incurred subsequent to the signing of such agreement; second, as to the number of bricks supplied for use on the Government contract to which the increased cost a thousand bricks after the signing of the Beemployment.'Agreement should be applied; and, third, the amount of that portion of plaintiff’s claim resulting in increased costs through loss of efficiency by reason of the necessity of having to employ new and untrained men in operating the plant in fulfillment of the contract for furnishing materials for use in construction of the Post Office Building at Philadelphia in conformity with restrictions, and requirements of the Beemployment Agreement.
December 8, 1932, and prior to the enactment of the National Industrial Becovery Act plaintiff entered into an agreement with John B. Kelly, Inc., brick mason subcontractor for the Philadelphia Post Office Building, for future delivery to Kelly of approximately 2,500,000 sand lime bricks as required and called for by Kelly in connection with the subcontract construction work. The evidence shows, without dispute, that plaintiff accepted the order of Kelly and agreed to furnish the necessary number of bricks for $9.50 a thousand in order to help keep its plant running, thus saving losses from inaction of the plant, although plaintiff expected to derive little or no profit from the contract at that price. During the year 1932 plaintiff’s brick plant was operated only to the extent necessary to fill such orders as it received and during the last six months of 1932 the plant was operated only two or three days a month. Plaintiff did not have sufficient open area at its plant to store a large quantity of
Both parties agree that plaintiff’s direct labor cost in manufacturing and furnishing bricks in the construction of the Philadelphia Post Office was $3.1274 a thousand after the enactment of the Recovery Act and the signing of the Reemployment Agreement; and while the parties are not in disagreement as to the direct labor cost for manufacturing bricks prior to signing of the Reemployment Agreement, they are not in accord as to the period prior to the signing of such agreement which should be used for the purpose of determining the average direct labor cost per thousand to be applied to the costs subsequent to the date on which plaintiff
The next item in plaintiff’s claim relates to the number of' bricks to which the subsequent National Industrial Eecovery Act increased cost of $1,358 a thousand should be applied. The plaintiff contends that this increased direct labor cost should be applied to the cost of manufacturing 1,575,656 bricks instead of 1,393,906, or a difference of 181,750 bricks,, for the reason that the last-mentioned number of bricks was manufactured for the Philadelphia Post Office prior to enactment of the National Industrial Eecovery Act and was subsequently delivered; and that it should be permitted to replenish its inventory, and include costs of so doing as a part of its increased cost after the signing of the Eeemployment Agreement. We think this item of the claim cannot be allowed under the provisions of the act of June 25, 1938. The bricks were not manufactured and delivered under conditions imposed by the Eecovery Act and the Eeemployment Agreement, and the act of June 25, 1938, does not authorize the enti'y of judgment for loss of a possible profit on material previously manufactured which might otherwise have been disposed of. Cf. David Pollock, et al. v. United States, 91 C. Cls. 257. Moreover, it is clear that if plaintiff had manufactured all the brick necessary to the fulfillment of its contract with the John B. Kelly Company prior to enactment of the National Industrial Eecovery Act and the signing of the President’s Eeemployment Agreement no basis would exist for entry of judgment in favor of plaintiff merely because such brick was delivered after enactment of the Eecovery Act and the signing of the Eeemployment Agreement. This item of plaintiff’s claim in the amount of $246.82 is therefore denied.
The next item of plaintiff’s claim is for $547.57, made up of $262.57, wages paid to an extra foreman after the signing of the Eeemployment Agreement, and made necessary by reason of compliance therewith, and $285, increased cost due to and resulting from decreased efficiency in operations due to the necessity of having to employ an extra shift of new and inexperienced laborers in order to comply with the Eeem-
Upon the facts disclosed, and for the reasons stated, plaintiff is entitled to recover $2,441.59, and judgment will be entered in its favor for that amount. It is so ordered.
The David Hummel Building Co., (A Corf oration).
The court made special findings of fact substantially as follows:
Plaintiff, an Ohio corporation, on April 17, 1933, entered into a subcontract with the Great Lakes Construction Company, as general contractor, to furnish all limestone required by the prime contract for use in the construction of the Federal Narcotic Farm, at Lexington, Ky., which contract was completed by the general contractor and final settlement authorized by the Treasury Department.
On August 17,1933, when plaintiff had supplied 34.7% of the total stone under its subcontract, it signed and entered into an agreement with the President of the United States known as the President’s Reemployment Agreement duly
Plaintiff paid out in increased costs from and after-August 17, 1933, up to May 11, 1934, on which date it completed its said subcontract, on account of increased direct labor costs in its plant for the production and fabrication of the cut limestone delivered between August 17, 1933, and May 11, 1934, the sum of $2,670.90; paid increased wages to. its truck driver's in the delivery of said materials the sum of" $673.00; paid,the- sum of $31.20 for compensation insurance, on said increased pay rolls; and paid to the Code Authority-in assessments the sum of $242.42, or a total sum of $3,617.52. All these increased costs resulted from compliance by plaintiff" with the agreement referred to above.
The court decided that the plaintiff was entitled to recover;
Littleton, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court: The plaintiff, as a subcontractor for the Great Lakes Construction Company, the prime contractor engaged by the defendant to construct the Federal Narcotic Farm at Lexington, Kentucky, had completed 34.7% of its work on August 17, 1933, on which date it signed the President’s Reemployment Agreement as authorized by the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, 48 Stat. 195. Plaintiff complied with this agreement and in so complying it incurred excess and increased costs as set forth in the findings in the-amount of $3,617.52 in the execution of its subcontract from and after August 17, 1933, in furnishing the cut limestone specified and called for by the prime contract between the-defendant and the Great Lakes Construction Company.
Plaintiff duly filed a claim with the Department concerned" pursuant to the act approved June 16,1933, within the period
Electric Boat Company, A Corporation.
The court made special findings of fact substantially as follows, upon the stipulation of the parties:
On June 29, 1931, plaintiff entered into an agreement, being Contract NOD-311, with defendant through its representative, C. F. Adams, Secretary of the Navy, for the construction of a fleet submarine (cruiser type) not to exceed 1,150 tons standard displacement, later known as the U. S. S. Cuttlefish.
Pursuant to the National Industrial Becovery Act a code of fair competition known as the “Code of Fair Competition for the Shipbuilding and Shiprepairing Industry” (hereinafter referred to as the- Shipbuilding Cod.e) was approved by the President of the United States on July 26,1933, and, as amended,' ivas thereafter enforced as a law of the United States until declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on May 27,1935.
The plaintiff became a party to the Shipbuilding Code on August 5,-1933, and in accordance with the provisions thereof commenced on August 6, 1933, to operate its plants and yards, including its yard at Groton, Connecticut, where the U. S. S. Cuttlefish was being constructed, and continued to so operate its plants and yards until the National Industrial Becovery Act and the Shipbuilding Code, promulgated pursuant thereto, were declared unconstitutional.
It was also found by the court that the increased costs as a result of compliance with the said code, between August 6, 1933, and October 27, 1934, when the IT. S. S. Cuttlefish was substantially completed, was $45,358.23 for direct labor and for compensation and liability insurance, and $5,799.25 for supervision and other items, which are set forth in the findings, totaling $51,157.58.
Owing also to the reduction in hours, an extension of 77 calendar days was granted by the Secretary of the Navy for the completion of the contract.
The court decided that the plaintiff was entitled to recover.
delivered the opinion of the court:
The facts in this case have been stipulated and disclose that the Secretary of the Navy, upon the completion of the ■contract, made a finding of fact that the plaintiff had been delayed by reason of its compliance with the Shipbuilder’s Code and, in addition, had incurred increased costs by reason of the reduction of hours, the employment of additional •employees, and the establishment of a shift system in carrying out the provisions of the National Industrial Eecovery Act, June 16,1933,48 U. S. 195.
The items sought to be recovered are not in dispute and are included within the terms of the act of June 16, 1934 (U. S. C., Title 41, § 28-33, as amended by the Act of June 25, 1938, 52 Stat. 1197).
The plaintiff is entitled to recover the sum of $51,157.58. It is so ordered.
Anchor Goal Company, A Corporation.
The court made special findings of fact substantially as follows:
Plaintiff, a Missouri corporation, engaged in the retail coal business with its principal place of business in St. Louis, Mo., on May 26, 1933, submitted a bid to supply 400 tons of two-inch bituminous lump coal at $2.50 per ton to* the United States Appraisers Stores, Treasury Department,. St. Louis, during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1933,. which bid was'’duly accepted, subject to revision in accordance with the National Industrial Recovery Act of June-16, 1933.
On July 27, 1933, plaintiff signed the President’s Reemployment Agreement under said act. On September 18,. 1933, a Code of Fair Competition for the Bituminous Coal Industry was approved by the President and became effective October 2,1933.
Plaintiff’s bid price of $2.50 per ton was predicated on an agreement with W. L. Miller, a salesman for the Eldnar Coal Mine at Belleville, Illinois, to furnish the coal at the mine at $1.15 per ton subject to the National Industrial Recovery Act, on an agreement with a trucker that the drayage from the mine to the building would be 800. per ton and on a current agreement with laborers under which plaintiff was paying them storage or wheeling-in charges at the rate of 200 per ton. The balance of 350 per ton was to be for overhead and profit.
During the months of August and September 1933 plaintiff received the coal for this contract from the Eldnar Coal Mine at $1.15 per ton. For the rest of the coal for this contract plaintiff was required to pay $1.95 per ton, which was the price fixed under the Bituminous Coal Industry Code.
The Code of Fair Competition for the Retail Solid Fuel Industry provided that employees engaged in storing coal on a tonnage basis should be paid not less than the 1929 tonnage rate, which was 500 per ton. Before this code went into effect plaintiff paid for storing the coal 200 per ton, and afterwards 500 per ton.
In accordance with the contract, plaintiff delivered to the defendant 395.335 tons of coal and was paid therefor the bid price of $2.50 per ton, making a total of $988.34.
It was found by the court that for the reasons and in the circumstances set forth in the findings the plaintiff, in the performance of its contract, incurred increased costs to deliver the coal to the defendant at the United States Appraisers Stores in St. Louis, Missouri, to wit: 800 per ton on 130 tons of coal at the mine on and after October 11, 1933; 200 per ton for the hauling of 357.22 tons of coal from the mine to the building on and after October 11, 1933; and 300 per ton for the storage of 156 tons of coal on and after March 1, 1934, a/s follows:
Hauling 130 tons at 200 per ton-$26.00
Storing or wheeling-in 156 tons at 300 per ton- 46. 80
Host of coal at mine, 357.22 tons at 800 per ton- 285.78
Total_ 358.58
The court decided that the plaintiff was entitled to recover the sum of $253.67, as follows:
Hauling 130 tons at 200 per ton-$26. 00
Storing or wheeling-in 156 tons at 200- 31.20
Increased cost at mine, 357.22 tons, 550-196. 47
Total_ 253. 67
delivered the opinion of the court:
The Anchor Coal Co. instituted this suit to recover the increased costs to which it claims it was subjected in complying with a contract to deliver coal to an agency of the ■Government during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1933.
These increased costs were alleged to be the direct result of the National Industrial Recovery Act, which was approved June 16, 1933. (48 Stat. 195.)
Section 3 of the jurisdictional act is as follows:
Judgments or decreep, if any, under this Act, shall be allowed upon a fair and equitable basis, and notwithstanding the bars or defenses of any alleged settlement or adjustment heretofore made, res adjudicata, laches, or any provisions of Public Act Numbered 369, as enacted on June 16, 1934.
The contract was entered into prior to August 10, 1933, .-and provided for the delivery of 400 tons of coal during •the then current fiscal year at $2.50 per ton.
The proof shows that the plaintiff actually incurred increased costs of $404.02 above the' prices that prevailed at the time of entering into the contract.
The evidence ip conflicting, but supplemented by the exhibits establishes the facts set out in the Commissioner’s report.
The bid price of $2.50 per ton was based on an agreement with W. L. Miller, salesman for the Eldnar Coal Company of Belleville, Illinois, to furnish the coal at the mine for $1.15 per ton, an agreement with a trucker for drayage to the building at 800 per ton and an agreement with laborers that the storage or wheeling-in charge would 'be 200 per ton, the remaining 35(4 being allowed for overhead and profit.
After October 1, plaintiff was required to pay $1.95 per ton for coal at the mine, which was the price fixed by the .Bituminous Coal Industry Code.
Of thip increase of 800 per ton the proof shows that 250 per ton was attributable to the seasonal and usual change in prices following the summer months.
The increase of 550 per ton was the result of the enactment •of the National Industrial Recovery' Act and it is fair and
The Code for the Retail Solid Fuel Industry provided that employees engaged in connection with the storing of coal should be paid not less than the 1929 tonnage rates, which were 500. While plaintiff at the time the contract was entered into was paying only 200 per ton for wheeling-in charges, that was shown to be the lowest price that prevailed at any time, and even so, usually applicable only to-large contracts. Plaintiff had no reasonable right to expect such low wages to remain through a year’s period.
An allowance of 200 per ton to cover the increased cost of storage or wheeling-in charges due to the National Industrial Recovery Act is fair and equitable under the facts of this, case.
The plaintiff had a contract with a trucking company to do hauling at 800 per ton. This company hauled approximately 130 tons after October 11, 1933, at $1.00 per ton.. The evidence shows that this increase was due to the enactment of the National Industrial Recovery Act.
As to the remaining part of the coal that was delivered' after October 11,1933, the evidence is so indefinite as to who-employed those who did the hauling, and as to how muchi and by whom they were paid, a¡s to be wholly unsatisfactory.. It is insufficient as a basis for any affirmative finding.
Plaintiff is entitled to recover $253.67.
It is so ordered.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting in part.
I do not think that the circumstances set forth in the-findings of fact with reference to the cost of trucking the coal bring the increase in the cost of trucking within the 1938 act, as increases occurring, in a legal sense, “as a result of the enactment of the National Industrial Recovery Act.”' I would therefore eliminate from the judgment any allowance for such an increase.
William G. Eeiner and 0. Lawrence Evans, Trustees of National Radiator Oorf oration.
The court made special findings of fact in part as follows, upon a stipulation of the parties:
1. The National Radiator Corporation is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, and is engaged in the manufacture of heating equipment with its plant and principal office at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
2. William G. Heiner and C. Lawrence Evans are the duly appointed and qualified trustees of the National Radiator Corporation * * *.
3. On February 6, 1933, the defendant entered into a contract with John McShain, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as general contractor, for the construction, in accordance with drawings and specifications, for the defendant as owner, of a federal building at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the United States Naval Hospital and related Buildings, said contract being Contract No. NOy-1717.
4. On March 30, 1933, the general contractor, John McShain, entered into a subcontract with Daniel J. Keating, Inc., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the furnishing and installation by the subcontractor of all plumbing and heating-work called for and required by the prime contract.
5. On April 21, 1933, the National Radiator Corporation entered into a subcontract with Daniel J. Keating, Inc., under which it agreed for a fixed price for future delivery when required to furnish radiators for 56,000 feet of radiation required by the' prime contract in the construction of the Naval hospital and related buildings.
6. Before any of the radiators could be produced under the agreement of April 21,1933, with Daniel J. Keating, Inc., the National Industrial Recovery Act was enacted and approved on June 16, 1933, and pursuant to the terms of said Act, the plaintiff entered into an agreement with the President known as the “President’s Reemployment Agreement” authorized by Section 4a of said Act. On February 3,1934, the plaintiff became bound by the Code of Fair Competition for the Cast Iron Boiler and Cast Iron Radiator Industry,
Reporter's Statement of the Case duly approved by the President under the authority of the act of June 16, 1933.
7. The plaintiff complied with and adhered to the agreement with the President and applicable code of fair competition in the manufacture and production of its products. In so complying, the plaintiff shortened its total weekly hours of work in its plants, and made increases and adjustments of the pay of its employees, which resulted in its incurring increased and added costs in the manufacture and production of the radiators.
8. As a result of the operation of the plaintiff’s plants pursuant to the provisions of the President’s reemployment agreement and code of fair competition as above set forth, plaintiff’s direct labor costs on the radiators manufactured after August 25,1933, and delivered to Daniel Keating, Inc., for use in the Naval hospital and related buildings, was the sum of $670.22 over and above what it would have been otherwise, all incurred as a result of tire enactment of the National Industrial Recovery Act, approved June 16, 1933, and the promulgation of the President’s Reemployment Agreement and applicable code pursuant thereto. The above amount does not include increased salaries of officials or employees in executive or managerial positions earning $35.00 per week or more. Plaintiff complied with the memorandum and order as to procedure in submitting proof of increased costs issued by the Court on February 1, 1939.
•í» H* H»
The court decided that the plaintiff was entitled to recover the sum of $670.22.
Hanleyj Company, A Corporation.
The court made special findings of fact in part as follows, upon a stipulation of the parties:
1. Plaintiff is a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal office at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and is engaged in the manufacture of brick and structural clay units. The brick
2. On February 6, 1933, the defendant entered into a contract with John McShain, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as general contractor, for the construction, in accordance with drawings and specifications, for the defendant as owner, of a federal building at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the United States Naval Plospital and related Buildings, said contract being Contract No. NOy-1717.
3. On February 24, 1933, the general contractor, John McShain, entered into a subcontract with John B. Kelly, Inc., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the performance by the subcontractor of the brick work required by the prime contract.
4. On or about April 6, 1933, plaintiff accepted written order No. B711-4 of the subcontractor, John B. Kelly, Inc., for future delivery at a fixed price per thousand bricks for various grades named in the order for approximately 2,356,-000 bricks required and called for by the prime and subcontracts. Plaintiff fulfilled the above order by manufacturing and delivering the bricks required in the construction of the United States Naval Hospital and related buildings.
■5. Before plaintiff could manufacture and deliver the bricks required by John B. Kelly, Inc., under the order of April 6,1933, the National Industrial Recovery Act wag enacted and approved on June 16, 1933, and pursuant to the terms of said Act plaintiff, on July 29, 1933, entered into an agreement with the President known as the “President’s Reemployment Agreement” authorized by Section 4a of said Act. On December 7, 1933, plaintiff became bound by the Code of Fair Competition for the Structural Clay Products Industry, as amended May 1, 1934, and November 5, 1934, duly approved by the President under the authority of the act of June 16, 1933.
6. On and after August 1, 1933, plaintiff complied with and adhered to the agreement with the President and applicable code of fair competition in the manufacture and production of its products. Plaintiff shortened the total weekly hours of employment of its employees, increased the pay of its employees to the minimum required by the agreement and
7. As a result of the operation of the plaintiff’s plant pursuant to the provisions of the President’s reemployment agreement and code of fair competition as above set forth, plaintiff’s direct labor costs on the materials manufactured by the plaintiff after August 1, 1933, and delivered to John B. Kelly, Inc., for use in the construction of the United States Naval Hospital and related buildings, was the sum of $1,120.56 over and above what it would have been otherwise, all incurred as a result of the enactment of the National Industrial Recovery Act, approved June 16, 1933, and the promulgation of the President’s reemployment agreement and applicable code pursuant thereto.
$ $ $ $ $
The court decided that the plaintiff was entitled to recover the sum of $1,120.56.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.