Tillson v. United States

Supreme Court of the United States
Tillson v. United States, 11 Ct. Cl. 758 (1875)

Tillson v. United States

Opinion of the Court

Nott, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court:

A majority of the court are of the opinion that the damages resulting to the claimants from their inability to purchase on a rising market in consequence of the Government’s delay in making payments, are too remote to be the subject of judicial relief within the intent and meaning of the private act passed for the claimants’ relief on the 23d June, 1874, and in that conclusion I concur. A majority of the court are also of the opinion that the claimants should not recover the discount paid by them on the certificates of indebtedness which they voluntarily accepted in part payment of their accounts against the Government, and in that conclusion I also concur. A majority of the court also are of the opinion that the delays in auditing the claimants’ accounts in th'e Treasury Department did not constitute a breach of the contracts before referred to, and, therefore, that nothing is equitably due to the claimants within the intent and meaning of the private act for the failure of the Government to-keep and perform the contracts as to the time of payment, inasmuch asin contracting with the Government the parties submitted themselves to the regular routine of the public business. In that conclusion I am unable to concur, being of the opinion that the delay was unreasonable and in violation of the terms of the contracts, and that the private act was intended to make the claimants whole in this particular, and that they should recover interest upon the payments thus delayed ; but in the absence *761of our brother, Mr. Justice Richardson, it is impossible to render final judgment without my concurrence, and as the claimants’’ counsel have intimated a desire to take the case to the Supreme Court, I unite with the majority of the court in directing judgment to be entered in favor of the defendants.

Reference

Full Case Name
Robert Tillson v. United States
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published
Syllabus
The claimants enter into express contracts vjith the Ordnance Department for the sale and delivery of horse equipments and infantry accoutrements. By the terms of the contracts, “ payments in such funds as the Treasury Depiartment may provide for each delivery are to be made on certificates of inspection and receipt by tbe United States inspectors.” The Ordnance Department without delay inspect the goods and transmit vouchers to the Treasury. In the Treasury delays occur, varying from seven to one hundred and fourteen days. The claimants’ business 'necessities compel them to borroio money at a high rate of interest by hypothecating the vouchers. When payment is made it is in part by certificates of indebtedness sent by mail. The claimants neither solicit nor object to therm, but they are below par in the market and occasion loss to the claimants. Congress pass aprivaie act for their relief. Where a private aot authorizes tbe court to “investigate” a claim and i!to ascertain, determine, and adjudge the amount equitably due, if any, for such loss and damage,” tbe claimants cannot recover remote damages resulting from their inability to purchase on a rising market; nor a discount paid by them on certificates of indebtedness which they accepted in part payment without objection; nor interest for the delay in payment while their accounts were being audited at the Treasury in the regular routine of the public business. (Act 23 June, 1874,18 Stat. L., p. 614.)