ST. LOUIS, 1. M. & S. RY. CO.
v.
NEWCOM.
951
can be clearer than that the findings by the commission are not here decisive of the questions of fact. We have only to add that our conclusion is in hlU.'mony with that of the circuit court in the case of Kentucky & I. Bridge Co. v. Louisville & :No R. Co., 37 l<'ed. Rep. 567."
The court is to "investigate the merits of the whole controversy, and form an independent judgment," according to this last .decision; and according to Judge Jackson in the Case of Kentucky & 1. Bridge Co., 37 Fed. Rep. 614, the "court is not confined to a mere re-examination of the case as heard and reported by the commission, but hears and determines the case de novo, upon propel' pleadinb"'S and proof; the latter including not only the prima facie facts reported by the commission, but all such other and further testimony as eitner party may introduce, bearing upon the matters in controversy." The conclusion of the commission should undoubtedly be considered in connection with the facts on which that oonclusion was based; and the principal fact which seems to have been in the mind of the commission is satisfactorily explained here, as has been indicated. The evidence offered here on behalf of the railroads is, in the opinion of the court, sufficient to overcome any prima facie case that may have been made by the findings of the commission. On the whole testimony, as now before the court, it is not believed that the commission would have found the rate in question to be unreasonable. Certainly the court cannot so determine. It has been earnestly im,isted that the action of the commission as to the rate from Cincinnati to Atlanta is, in effect, making or fixing a rate, and that the order of the commission is, for that reason, beyond the authority granted it by the act of congress. In view of what has just been said, and the opinion of the court, before expressed, as to this rate, it is deemed unnecessary to go into a discussion of this subject. The conclusion is that the court would not be justified in granting the order prayed for by the commi,ssion, requiring the defendant corporations to desist from charging a greater rate than $1 per 100 pounds on first-class freight in less than car-load lots from Cincinnati to Atlanta. The court being of the opinion, therefore, that the complainants are not entitled to a decree enfordng either the order as to the Social Circle rate or the rate from Cincinnati to Atlanta, and that being the only relief prayed for, a decree must be entered di.smissing the bill. ST. LOUIS, I. ;\L & S. RY. CO. v. NEWCOM et al. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. June 28, 1893.) No. 2541. FEDERAl, COURTS PLEADING.
JURISDICTION -
DIVERSE CITIZENSIIIP- CORPORATION8-
In a suit by a citizen of Texas, an averment that defendant Is a corporation operaUn/.: a railway In Arkansas, and having an agent In the latter state, is not snfficient to give a federal court jurisdiction. 2. SAME-ARGUMENTATIVE PLEADING.
'Where there Is 1m averment that defendunt operates a railway and has an agent in a certain state, It cannot be inferred from the state laws
952
'l'EDERAL REPORTER.
vol. 56.
prohibiting or regulating foreign corporations that the corporation Is organized under the laws of that state, so as to give a federal court jurisdiction on the ground of diverse citizenship. The fact of incorporation cannot be argumentatively averred. S. SAME-REVERSAl. FOR WANT OF .JURISDICTION.
In a suit wherein federal jurisdiction depends wholly on diversity of citizeru;hip, and the record shows that such diversity has been insufficiently alleged, the judgment should be reversed in the appellate court for want of jurisdiction, although exception to the jurisdiction was not taken in the trial court. In such a case no amendment should be permitted in the appellate court. IN ApPELLATE COURT.
4.
In EJ'loor to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Arkansas. At Law. Action by W. ,T. Newcom and J. F. Hudson, partners as Newcom & Hudson, against the Texas Pacific Railway Company and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company. Defendants demurred, and plaintiffs amended their complaint, omitting the Texas Pacific Railway Company therefrom. Verdict and judgment were given for plaintiffs. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company brings error. Reversed. Statement by BREWER, Circuit Justice: This action was commenoed in the circult court of the United States for the eastern district of Arkansas, Texarkana division, by the filing of a complaint on July 29, 1891. The defendants in error were the plalntiffs below, and in their complaint alleged that they were citizens of Texas. 'rhey made the Texas Pacific Railway Company and the St. Lo·uls, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company defendants, and the only averment as to the citizenship of these defendants was as follows: "'L'he Texas Pacific Ry. Co., a corporation operating a railway as common carriel"S In the state of Texas, and having a local office in Miller county, Arkansas, and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern RailwtLy Company, a corporation operating a railway as common carriers In Arlmnsas." The Texas Pacific Railway Company demurred, one grO\md of <femurrer being that there was "no allegation of the residence, habitation, or citizenship" of either the plaintiffs or defendants. The Iron Mountain Company demurred, because, among other things, the complaint failed to "set up facts sufficient to give the court jurisdiction." Thereupon the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint dismissing the action as to the Texas Pacific Railway Company, and containing only this averment as to the citizenship of the remaining defendant: "'L'he St. Louis, Iron Mountaln & Southern Railway Co., a corporation operating a railway as common carriers through the state of Arkansas, and from Texarkana, in said state, to St. Louis, :1\10., which said line traverses the county of in said state of Arkansas, and has an office and agent In said connty of :WUller, and state aforesaid." To this complaint defendant answered. A tdal was had, which resulted in a verdict and judgment for the plaintiffs, and the defendant thereupon sued out a writ of error from this court.
Geo. E. Dodge and B. S. Johnson, for plaintiff in error. W. T. Hudgins and J. D. Cook, for defendants in error. Before BREWER, Circuit Justice, SANBORN, Circuit Judge, and THAYER, District Judge. BREWER, Circuit Justice, (after stating the facts.) The question of jurisdiction stands at the threshold of every case. As said by the
UNITED STATES V. HARSHA.
953
supreme court of the United States in Railway Co. v. Swan, 111 U. S. 379, 382, 4 Sup. Ot. Rep. 510: "The rule, springing from the nature and limits of the judicial power of the United States, is inflexible, and without exception, which requires this court, of its own motion, to <Ieny its own jurisdiction, and, in the exercise of its appellate power, that of all other courts of the United States, in all cases where such jurisdiction does not affirmatively appear in the record on which, in the exercise of that power, it is called to act. On every writ of error or appeal the first and fundamental question is that of jurisdiction, first of this court, and then of the court from which the record comes. This question the court is bound to ask and answer for itself, even when not otherwise suggested, and without respect to the relation of the parties to it."
The jurisdiction of the circuit court in this case rests solely on the ground of diverse citizenship. No federal question is presented. It is settled by many authorities that the fact of diverse citizenship must affirmatively and clearly appear, and cannot be inferred argumentatively. Brown v. Keene, 8 Pet. 112; Insurance 00. v. Rhoads, 119 U. S. 237, 7 Sup. Ot. Rep. 193; Menard v. Goggan, 121 U. S. 253, 7 Sup. Ct. Rep. 873; Kellam v. Keith, 144 U. S. 568, 12 Sup. Ot. Rep. 922; Roberts v. Lewis, 144 U. S. 653, 656, 12 Sup. Ot. Rep. 781; Wolfe v. Insurance 00., 148 U. S. 389, 13 Sup. Ot. Rep. 602; and cases cited in these various opinions. The citizenship of a corporation is that of the state which created it. Shaw v. Mining 00., 145 U. S. 444, 12 Sup. Ot. Rep. 935. There is in the complaint no other averment of the citizenship of the defendant than that quoted in the foreg-oing statement. That is not an express allegation of its citizenship. It does not affirm in what state the defendant was incorporated; non constat but that .it was a corporation created under and by the laws of the state of Texas. and operating a railroad in Arkansas. The statutes of Arkansas regulating foreign corporations operating railroads in that state, whatever of penalty they may impose for disobedience, do not of themselves work a local incorporation; and besides, the fact of incorporation and citizenship cannot be arg-umentatively inferred. Neither is there anything in the record elsewhere which throws any light on the question of the citizenship of the defendant. Whatever may be the :ltuct in respect thereto, no amendment can be permitted in this court. Insurance Co. v. Rhoads, 119 U. S. 237,240,7 Sup. Ot. Rep. 193. The judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.
UNITED STATES v. HARSHA, (three cases.) (Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. June 15, 1893.) Nos. 90, 91, 117.
1.
FEDERAL COURTS - CIRCUIT COURT AND CIRCUIT COURT 011' ApPEALS-SAME PERSON MAY BE CLERK 011' BOTII.
The clerk of a circuit court does not vacate his office, within the meaning of Act June 20, 1874, § 2, (18 Stat. 109,) by merely accepting the position of clerk of the circuit court of appeals for the same circuit.