Granger Cases Law and Legal Definition
Granger cases refer to six legal cases that reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 1877. In these cases, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the government’s right to regulate fees charged by common carriers, warehouses, and grain elevators. It also upheld state laws granting protection to farmers and agricultural workers against monopolistic railroads and grain elevators.
Several state legislatures passed statutes regulating the rates. The affected businesses sued to have the statutes overturned on grounds that they violated the Commerce Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. However, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected these claims, holding that the activities involved affected the public interest and were therefore subject to the government’s regulatory authority.
Garner cases stemmed from the following:
1.movements started after American Civil War by Oliver Hudson Kelly;
2.local units called Granges held meetings that urged legislatures to fix maximum rates charged by railroads and grain-storage.
