
    436 F. 2d 480
    C & H TRANSPORTATION CO., INC. v. THE UNITED STATES
    [Nos. 373-65 and 210-68.
    Decided January 22, 1971]
    
      
      Ralph W. Pulley, Jr., for plaintiff. Carl L. Phmney, attorney of record for plaintiff in No. 373-65. Ralph W. Pulley, Jt., attorney of record for plaintiff in No. 210-68. Phimiey, Hallman, Pulley & Limingstone, of counsel.
    
      John O. Ranmey, with, whom was Assistant Attorney General WMiami D. RuoTeelshms, for defendant.
    Before Co wen, Chief Judge, Laramore, Durfee, Davis, Collins, Skelton and Nichols, Judges.
    
   Per Curiam:

This transportation suit was referred to Trial Commissioner Mastín G. White for preparation and filing of his opinion and recommended conclusion of law. The commissioner has done so in a report filed January 28, 1970. The plaintiff has requested review. The case has been submitted to the judges on oral argument and briefs. The Court agrees with the Trial Commissioner’s conclusion and bis recommended disposition but supplements bis opinion as follows:

Plaintiff challenges tbe Trial Commissioner’s conclusion that Item 187 of Tariff No. 2-G was a rate provision. Although the item was not a rate provision in the strict sense that it listed specific rates for various commodities, it nevertheless provided for an increase in the basic commodity rates otherwise set forth in the tariff in proportion to the value of each shipment as declared by the shipper. Item 187 was expressly tied to the commodity rates contained in plaintiff’s Tariffs 2-G and 2-H. The facts show that these commodity rates were generally higher than and were quite different from the scheme of rates contained in plaintiff’s Section 22 Tenders No. 100-L and No. 100-M. Tender No. 100-L, a 69-page document, contained 35 items of general rules and regulations, two items consisting of commodity descriptions, and two sections specifying rates, one covering commodity rates and another distance commodity rates. Therefore, we think that, although the case is not directly in point, Strideland, Transp. Co. v. United States, 334 F. 2d 172 (5th Cir. 1964), supports the Trial Commissioner’s opinion.

However, we reach the same result on additional grounds. Item 187 of plaintiff’s Tariff 2-G (the released value provision) did not become effective until September 25,1961, after plaintiff had submitted Tender 100-L to the various agencies of the Government. That tender, its supplements, and Tender No. 100-M, which superseded Tender No. 100-L, constituted continuing offers by the plaintiff to ship goods for the Government in accordance with the provisions of the various tenders.

'Between August 15, 1961 and May 1, 1962, eight supplements to Tender 100-L were issued but none contained a specific reference to Item 187 of plaintiff’s Tariff 2-G or other provisions clearly showing that released value provisions of Item 187 applied to the shipments of the radar units involved here. However, in Tender No. 100-M, which, became effective January 30, 1963, there was included Item 200, which provided that, upon request of the Government, “Special Easy Ride Equipment” would be furnished at the rates provided in Item 200. Note 3 of Item 200 stated that such rates would apply only when the commodities to be transported were released to a declared value not exceeding $2.50 per pound. Also, the same tender contained in Item 85 an “Exception,” stating that the rates and provisions of the tender did not apply on aircraft engines. Aircraft engines were placed in a special tender which contained released value rates only. If we were to accept plaintiff’s theory, these specific provisions in the tenders for released value rates would be both unnecessary and redundant. In view of these circumstances and the special nature of Section 22 Quotations, we conclude that the released value provisions of Item 187 in Tariff 2-G (or its counterpart in Tariff 2-H) did not apply to the shipments made under the tenders in these cases.

Finally, if we assume arguendo that plaintiff’s interpretation is reasonable, we would have to conclude, in the light of the discussion above, that the documents are unclear and subject to more than one reasonable interpretation. It is well settled that such ambiguities in tariffs are to be resolved against the carrier and in favor of the shipper. Bolin Drive-A-Way Co. v. United States, 151 Ct. Cl. 164, 283 F. 2d 697 (1960); Hayes Freight Lines, Inc. v. United States, 163 Ct. Cl. 265 (1963), and Hughes Transp., Inc. v. United States, 169 Ct. Cl. 63 (1965).

As supplemented by the foregoing discussion, the court agrees with the Trial Commissioner’s opinion and adopts his recommended conclusion as the basis for judgment in these cases. Plaintiff is not entitled to recover, and the petitions in both cases will be dismissed upon completion of the proceedings in these cases. Defendant is entitled to recover on its counterclaim in Case No. 210-68 and judgment is entered to that effect. The amount of the recovery will be determined pursuant to Rule 131 (c).

OPINION OP THE COMMISSIONER

White, Commissioner:

The plaintiff, a Texas corporation, operates under certificates from the Interstate Commerce Commission authorizing the plaintiff to transport the types of commodities that are involved in the present litigation. In these cases, which were consolidated for trial purposes, the plaintiff sues to recover sums of money which the defendant withheld from amounts otherwise due the plaintiff for transportation services. The withholdings were based upon the defendant’s view that the plaintiff was liable for the full amounts of the damages sustained by two shipments of the defendant while they were being transported by the plaintiff.

In Case No. 210-68, the defendant has filed a counterclaim against the plaintiff, alleging that it has not been fully compensated as yet for all the damage that was done to the particular shipment.

The plaintiff contends that under a released-value limitation in a tariff which the plaintiff had on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission, its maximum liability to the defendant in each case was limited to a figure arrived at by applying the formula of $250 per 100 pounds to the shipping package or loose article that was damaged in a particular shipment.

The legal question to be decided in each case is whether the released-value limitation previously mentioned was applicable to the damage that was done to the shipment involved in the particular case. The plaintiff argues that an affirmative answer to this question is required, while the defendant takes a contrary position.

It is my opinion that the defendant’s position is the legally correct one.

As the factual and legal issues in the two cases are similar, the discussion in this opinion will relate only to the earlier of the two cases, No. 373-65.

On or about May 14, 1962, the defendant tendered to the plaintiff, for movement in the normal course of business, a trailer-mounted pulse acquisition radar unit (Model S/N 00107) and auxiliary parts, weighing 8,397 pounds. The shipment was in good condition when it was tendered to the carrier, but it was in a damaged condition when it was delivered to the consignee on May 16,1962.

Because of the damage to the shipment mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the defendant deducted the sum of $7,557.87 from amounts otherwise due the plaintiff from the defendant for transportation services. The plaintiff does not question the figure of $7,557.87 as accurately reflecting the damage that was done to the shipment, but the plaintiff contends that the deduction was excessive to the extent of $6,375.37 in view of the plaintiff’s limited liability, and the recovery of the $6,375.37 is sought in Case No. 373-65.

The shipment in Case No. 373-65 moved under a standard-form government bill of lading, which had on its face the notation, “C & H 100 L EFF 11 Aug 61.” This notation referred to Tender No. 100-L, ICC No. 38, which was captioned “Bate Quotation on U.S. Government Freight.” Tender 100-L had been submitted by the plaintiff to various agencies of the defendant and had become effective in August 1961. It was still in effect when the shipment in Case No. 373-65 moved during May of 1962.

Tender No. 100-L was issued under the authority of Sections 22 and 217 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. §§ 22,317 (1958)), which permitted motor carriers to contract with the United States for transportation services either without charge or at rates less than those published and filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Tender No. 100-L consisted of some 69 pages. It contained a schedule of specific commodity rates, a schedule of distance commodity rates, general rules and regulations on the application of the rates, rules and regulations governing ac-cessorial services, and items describing in detail the scope of the operating rights of the plaintiff and its connecting carriers. None of the provisions of Tender 100-L stated that the rates quoted on radar equipment were contingent upon a declaration or release of value by the shipper.

However, Tender No. 100-L did contain the following statement as Item No. 130 under the heading of “General Buies and Begulations”:

Reference To Governing Tariffs

Except as otherwise provided herein, this tariff is governed by such rules and regulations, governing volume shipments, as are lawfully on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

At the time when the shipment in Case No. 373-65 moved during May of 1962, the plaintiff had its Local Joint Motor Freight Commodity Tariff No. 2-G, MF ICC No. 32, on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission. Item No. 187 of this tariff, as augmented by Supplement No. 18 effective September 25,1961, was under the heading of “General Rules and Regulations” and quoted released-value rates on several commodities that required the use of special equipment, namely, “Airplanes, Airplane Engines; Missiles; Missile Components; and Electrical, Electronic, Radar, Sonar and Scientific Machines and Machinery.” The item stated that the released value of such a commodity must he entered on the shipping order and bill of lading. It further provided that the rates were “to be applicable only when the value of the property as declared by the shipper in writing, or agreed upon in writing as the released value thereof is as follows,” and then followed a rate that was applicable when a shipment was “Released to a value not exceeding $250 per 100 pounds,” and a different rate that was applicable when a shipment was “Released to a value exceeding $250 per 100 pounds.”

It appears to be the plaintiff’s theory that Item No. 130 of Tender No. 100-L incorporated in the tender by reference all the rules and regulations which were contained in Tariff No. 2-G and were not duplicated in the tender; that Item No. 187 in Tariff 2-G was part of the tariff’s rules and regulations ; and, therefore, that since Item 187 provided for the transportation of radar equipment only on the basis of released values, this limitation was necessarily incorporated in Tender 100-L.

The plaintiff overlooks the introductory phrase of Item No. 130 “Except as otherwise provided herein,” which clearly indicated that it was not the intention of Item 130 to incorporate by reference in Tender No. 100-L any of the plaintiff’s rules and regulations on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission which were inconsistent with the express provisions of the tender itself.

Item No. 187 of Tariff No. 2-G, although physically located under the heading of “General Rules and Regulations,” was a rate provision. The plaintiff’s pronouncement to the general public in Item 187 that it would transport radar equipment only on the basis of released values was an integral part of the rate-fixing scheme in Item 187.

Tender 100-L, on the other hand, had its own rate-fixing provisions, which were detailed, complete, and, therefore, exclusive. Consequently, there is no sound basis for concluding that Item 130 of the tender incorporated in the tender by reference any rate provision from Tariff 2-G, even though one such provision, Item 187, was set out in the “General Rules and Regulations” portion of the tariff.

It should be mentioned here that if the rate under Item No. 187 of Tariff No. 2-G for the shipment involved in Case No. 378-65 had been lower than the rate prescribed in Tender No. 100-L for such shipment, then the Item 187 rate, together with the ancillary released-value limitation in that item, would have been applicable to the shipment. This would have been so in view of a standard condition which was contained in the government bill of lading covering this shipment and which stated as follows:

5. This shipment is made at the restricted or limited valuation specified in the tariff or classification at or under which the lowest rate is available, unless otherwisé indicated on the face hereof.

The purpose of the quoted condition was to obtain for the Government the lowest available rate, even if the lowest rate was available only upon the basis of a released value. However, condition 5 did not come into operation with respect to the shipment involved in Case No. 373-65 because the released-value rate quoted in Item No. 187 of Tariff No. 2-G ($6.91 per hundred pounds) was not lower than the rate quoted in Tender No. 100-L ($6.60 per hundred pounds) for this shipment.

In this connection, it was not necessarily incongruous for the plaintiff, without imposing any requirement regarding released values, to quote to the Government in Tender No. 100-L rates that were lower than those which the plaintiff offered to the general public in Item No. 187 of Tariff No. 2-G for similar transportation services, on the basis of released values only. Pertinent sections of the Interstate Commerce Act authorized the plaintiff and other carriers to offer the Government transportation services under arrangements that were different from, and more advantageous than, those offered to the general public.

It is concluded that the shipment in Case No. 373-65 did not move on the basis of a released value, and, accordingly, that the plaintiff is liable to the defendant for the full amount of the damage that was done to the shipment while it was being transported by the plaintiff.

A similar conclusion is required in connection with Case No. 210-68. In connection with this case, however, it should be stated that the rates on this shipment in Tender No. 100-M (which had superseded Tender 100-L) and in Item No. 235 of Tariff No. 2-H (which had superseded Item No. 187 of Tariff No. 2-G) were the same. This being so, the rate under Tender 100-M was more advantageous to the defendant than the rate under Item 235 of Tariff 2-H because the former was not conditioned upon any release of value. Thus, standard condition 5 of the bill of lading was inoperative in Case No. 210-68, as well as in Case No. 373-65.

For the reasons previously stated in this opinion, the plaintiff’s petitions in the two cases should be dismissed, and judgment should be entered for the defendant on its counterclaim in Case No. 210-68. Since the record before the court does not establish the actual extent of the damage that was done to the shipment in Case No. 210-68, the amount of the defendant’s recovery in that case must be determined in subsequent proceedings under Eule 131 (c).

Skelton, Judge,

dissenting:

At the time the shipments were made in these cases the bills of lading referred to Tender No. 100-L and its counterpart Tender No. 100-M, ICC No. 38, which was captioned “Eate Quotation on U.S. Government Freight.” This Tender consisted of 69 pages, containing a schedule of specific commodity rates, general rules and regulations on the application of the rates, rules and regulations governing accessorial services, a schedule of distance commodity rates, and items describing the operating rights of the plaintiff and its connecting carriers. Tenders 100-L and 100-M did not specifically state that the rates quoted on radar equipment were contingent upon a declaration or release of value by the shipper. However, in my opinion, this was accomplished by reference. Tenders 100-L and 100-M contained Item 130 under the caption of “General Eules and Eegulations” which provided as follows:

REPERENOE TO GOVERNING TARIPPS
Except as otherwise provided herein, this tariff is governed by such rules and regulations, governing volume shipments, as are lawfully on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

At the time these shipments moved, plaintiff had on file with the ICC its Local Joint Motor Freight Commodity Tariff No. 2-G and No. 2-H, respectively. Items Nos. 187 and 235, respectively, of these Tariffs, as amended by Supplement No. 18, contained released-value provisions on various commodities, which included “Electrical, Electronic, Eadar, Sonar, and Scientific Machines and Machinery.” This item provided that the released value of such a commodity must be shown on the bill of lading and shipping order.

Both Tenders 100-L and 100-M contained Item 150 which provided as follows:

Eeference herein to other publications includes reference to supplements thereto and successive issues thereof.

Paragraph (b) :

Eeference herein to items on pages in this or other publications includes reference to successive issues of such items or pages in such publications and in supplements thereto and the successive issues thereof, and the numbers of such items or pages are also inclusive.

Item 105 in Tenders 100-L and 100-M also refers to plaintiff’s tariffs published with the ICC.

In my opinion, Item 130, together with Item 150 and Item 105, incorporated in and made applicable to Tenders 100-L and 100-M, by reference, the provisions of Items 187 in the General Rules and Regulations of plaintiff’s published Tariff 2-G, and Supplement 18, and Item 235 in the General Rules and Regulations of plaintiff’s published Tariff 2-IT. It was not necessary that these provisions be physically copied in the Tenders. Defendant agrees that this is not only proper, but also that it is done all the time, and that this is the purpose of Item 130.

I do not agree that Items 187 and 235 of plaintiff’s Tariffs 2-G and 2-H contained separate released value “rates.” They were more in the nature of released value provisions which related to the base rates in the published tariffs and to the Tenders after they were incorporated therein by reference. The defendant agrees that had the released value provisions been physically copied into Tenders 100-L and 100-M, the shipments would have moved under released valuations at the base rate specified in the Tenders. The same result should follow from the incorporation of the provisions by reference, as was done here.

I would enter judgment for the plaintiff against defendant in Case No. 373-65 in the sum of $6,375.35 and in Case No. 210-68 in the sum of $109,773.52, and would deny recovery of defendant’s counterclaim and dismiss the same.

Nichols, Judge, joins in the foregoing dissenting opinion.

Findings or Fact

1. The plaintiff, C & H Transportation Co., Inc., is a Texas corporation. It holds — and at all times pertinent hereto it held — certificates of authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission to transport the commodities involved in these proceedings.

2. With respect to Case No. 373-65, the defendant, the United States, on or about May 14, 1962, tendered to the plaintiff, for movement in the normal course of business, a trailer-mounted pulse acquisition radar unit (Model S/N 00107) and auxiliary parts, weighing 8,397 pounds. The shipment was tendered to the origin carrier in good order and condition. It moved under a standard-form Government Bill of Lading No. B-4059954. The shipment was described as “outfits, radio mounted on trailer vehicles without GENERATING UNITS.”

3. With respect to Case No. 210-68, the defendant on or about April 30,1963, tendered to the plaintiff, for movement in the normal course of business, a trailer-mounted radar unit Model AN/MPS-19, Serial No. 157, and auxiliary parts, weighing 29,410 pounds. The shipment was tendered to the origin carrier in good order and condition. It moved under a standard-form Government Bill of Lading No. B-8701711. The shipment was described on the bill of lading as “radio OUTFITS MOUNTED ON TRAILER VEHICLES OR FREIGHT AUTOMOBILE bodies.” The shipment was to be transported from Rome, New York, to McClellan Air Force Base, California.

4. (a) The shipment moving under Bill of Lading B-4059954 in Case No. 373-65 was delivered to the consignee on May 23,1962, in a damaged condition.

(b) The shipment moving on Bill of Lading B-8701711 in Case No. 210-68 was damaged while in transit in the possession of the plaintiff on or about May 11, 1963.

5. (a) With regard to Case No. 373-65, the defendant, acting through its authorized agent, the Finance Center, U.S. Army, Indianapolis, Indiana, deducted the sum of $7,557.87 from revenue originally due the plaintiff for transportation charges, $6,375.37 of which represents the liquidated amount of the plaintiff’s claim that is made the subject matter of Case No. 373-65.

(b) The plaintiff does not question the figure of $7,557.87 as accurately reflecting the extent of the damage that was done to the shipment involved in Case No. 373-65.

6. (a) With regard to Case No. 210-68, the defendant, acting through its authorized agent, the Finance Center, IT.S. Army, Indianapolis, Indiana, deducted the sum of $109,713.52 from revenue originally due the plaintiff for transportation charges. In addition, the plaintiff has paid to the defendant the sum of $23,832.70, claiming this sum to be the maximum amount due from the plaintiff to the defendant by reason of the damage to the shipment referred to in findings 3 and 4(b).

(b) The record before the court does not show the actual extent of the damage that was done to the shipment involved in Case No. 210-68.

7. (a) The face of the government bills of lading covering these shipments did not contain any statement of declared or reduced value.

(b) The reverse side of each bill of lading bore the following printed standard condition:

5. This shipment is made at the restricted or limited valuation specified in the tariff or classification at or under which the lowest rate is available, unless otherwise indicated on the face hereof.

8. On the face of the Bill of Lading B-4059954 involved in Case No. 373-65, the notation, “C & H 100 L EFF 11 Aug 61,” appeared. This referred to Tender No. 100-L, ICC No. 38, captioned “Bate Quotation on U.S. Government Freight.” This tender was issued on June 30,1961, and became effective on August 15,1961. The tender was issued under the authority of Sections 22 and 217 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. §§ 22,317). These sections permit motor carriers to contract with the United States for transportation services either free or at rates less than those published and filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

9. (a) Tender No. 100-L consisted of some 69 pages. It contained 26 items describing in detail the scope of the operating rights of the plaintiff and its connecting carriers. In addition, it contained some 35 items of general rules and regulations, describing in considerable detail the application of the rates set forth in the tender. Two items of the tender consisted of commodity descriptions, and the rates were found in sections 1 and 2 of the tender. Section 1 set forth specific commodity rates, and section 2 set forth distance commodity rates. Section 3 of the tender contained rules and regulations governing accessorial services.

(b) During the period from August 15, 1961 to May 1, 1962, eight supplements to Tender 100-L, totaling 37 pages, were issued.

(c) Tender 100-L, as supplemented did not contain any statement that the rates covering radar and sonar were contingent upon declared or released value.

10. On the face of Bill of Lading B-8701711 involved in Case No. 210-68, the notation, “Tender 100-M EFT 1/30/63,” appeared. This referred to Tender No. 100-M, ICC No. 51, captioned “Bate Quotations on U.S. Government Freight.” This tender was issued on December 20, 1962, and became effective on January 30, 1963. Tender 100-M was a successor to Tender 100-L, ICC No. 38, which is referred to in findings 8 and 9.

11. There were no negotiations with the pertinent government agencies at the time, or prior to the time, when the respective Tenders 100-L and 100-M became effective. There were no provisions in either tender that were negotiated.

12. Upon completion of the preparation of Tenders 100-L and 100-M by the plaintiff, the tenders were submitted to the pertinent government agencies and were accepted by those agencies, including the Military Traffic Management and Terminal Service, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the General Accounting Office (“GAO”), as their needs required.

13. (a) Tender 100-L and Tender 100-M each contained an Item No. 130 reading as follows:

REFERENCE TO GOVERNING TARIFFS

Except as otherwise provided herein, this tariff is governed by such rules and regulations, governing volume shipments, as are lawfully on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

(b) This Item 130 was under the “General Rules and Regulations” in each tender.

(c) The tariffs which the plaintiff had on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission at the times in question contained numerous rules and regulations governing volume shipments which were not duplicated among the “General Hules and Regulations” contained in Tenders 100-L and 100-M.

(d) The purpose of inserting Item 130 in both Tender 100-L and 100-M was to incorporate the pertinent rules and regulations of the plaintiff’s published tariffs into the tenders, except as otherwise provided in the tenders.

14. Item No. 60. of Tender 100-L and Item No. 90 of Tender 100-M, under the title “General Rules and Regulations” and the subtitle “General Application,” provided as follows:

* * * Except as otherwise provided herein, the rates, rules, regulations, and charges shown in this tariff cover service to be rendered on U.S. Government traffic by C & H Transportation Co., Inc., locally throughout its authorized territory on its own line to the extent authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission, to the extent and in the territory covered by Item #5 and jointly with all participating carriers to the extent provided in Item #’s 92 to 100 inclusive, etc.

15. Item No. 105 in both Tender 100-L and Tender 100-M under the title “General Rules and Regulations” and the subtitle “Alternative Application,” provided as follows:

* * * Except as otherwise provided herein, if the total charges on any shipment moving on one bill of lading accruing under the rates named herein are higher than the total charges under volume rates that are lawfully on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission for such account of participating carriers, such lower charges will apply.

16. Item No. 200 in Tender No. 100-M provided that, upon request of the Government, the plaintiff would furnish “Special Easy Ride Equipment” at certain rates specified in the item. Item 200 contained a Note 3 stating as follows:

Rates apply only when the commodity or commodities to be transported are released to a declared value not exceeding $2.50 per pound.

17. (a) By means of an order dated July 25, 19.6¡1, and served August 2,1961, tbe Released Rates Board of the Interstate Commerce Commission in MC-480 authorized the plaintiff, and its connections, to publish and file released value rates on, among other commodities, electrical, electronic, radar, sonar, and scientific machines and machinery, and aircraft engines.

(b) The plaintiff filed such released value rates with the Commission in its Supplement No. 18 to its Local Joint Motor Freight Commodity Tariff No. 2-G, MF ICC No. 32. This supplement was issued on August 17,1961, and became effective on September 25,1961. The released-value rate provision was inserted in the tariff as Item No. 187 of the “General Rules and Regulations” of the plaintiff’s published tariff.

(c) Item 187 provided as follows:

Commodity rates in this tariff, subject to minimum weights of not less than 7,000 pounds, to the extent that they apply for the transportation of: Commodities which, because of size or weight, require the use of special equipment, namely: Airplanes, Airplane Engines; Missiles; Missile Components; and Electrical, Electronic, Radar, Sonar and Scientific Machines and Machinery, said rates to be applicable only when the value of the property as declared by the shipper in writing, or agreed upon in writing as the released value thereof is as follows:
Released Rates Order No. MC-480
Released Valuation Rate Basis
Released to a value not exceeding $250 per 100 pounds. Base Rate.
Released to a value exceeding $250 per 100 pounds. Base Rate with a value charge of 5 cents for each $100 or fraction thereof by which the released value exceeds that for which the base rate applies.
The released value must be entered on the shipping order and bill of lading in the following form:
The agreed or declared value of the property is hereby specifically stated by the shipper to be not exceeding_per 100 pounds.
If shipper fails or declines to execute above statement, shipments of the named Commodities will not be accepted for transportation.
The released value shall be deemed to relate to the gross weight of each shipping package separately if shipped in packages or to the weight of each loose article not enclosed in a package, and not to the shipment as a whole. In case of loss or damage to a portion of the contents of a shipping package, the amount recoverable will be the released value per 100 pounds multiplied by the gross weight of the package but not more than the actual loss or damage.
Nates herein on released value have been authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission in Neleased Nates Order No. MC-480 of July 25,1961, subject to complaint or suspension.

18. (a) The released rates order issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission upon the petition of plaintiff in MC-480 had as one of its primary purposes the elimination of the fact that the plaintiff was being tendered items having a very high or excessive value, far and above the value of commodities normally transported by the plaintiff.

(b) In the ICC proceedings, specific reference was made to such items as radar, sonar, and aircraft engines.

(c) In its petition before the ICC seeking the released rate order, the plaintiff stated:

A representative example of shipments tendered which are valued at extremely high value are trailer-mounted radar units, which weigh approximately 18,000 pounds and are of such dimensions as to require special equipment. These units are often valued at $1 million each, which is extremely high in relation to the average value of commodities normally transported for which the commodity rate scales were established. Another example is the radial or jet-propulsion (aircraft) engines, which were approximately 8,000 pounds as tendered for shipment and are valued in excess of $250,000 each.

(d) After approval of the released rates petition by order in MC-480, it was published in the plaintiff’s Tariff No. 2-G on file with the ICC and became effective on September 25, 1961.

19. Before the ICC, the plaintiff took the position that the principal shipper of commodities on which it was seeking released value rates was the Government. The plaintiff asserted that the Government was the principal, though not the exclusive, shipper of these articles.

20. The petition which the plaintiff filed with the ICC for a released rates order included aircraft engines as well as trailer-mounted radar units. Aircraft engines were specifically excluded from the application of Tender 100-M and were placed in a special tender or tariff which contained released value rates only.

21. The publication of the released value rates with the Interstate Commerce Commission in Supplement No. 18 to the plaintiff’s Local Joint Motor Freight Commodity Tariff No. 2-G, MF ICC No. 82, was replaced and canceled by Local Joint Motor Freight Commodity Tariff No. 2-H, MF ICC No. 38, which was issued on September 8, 1962, and became effective on October 15,1962. This tariff was in effect at the time when the shipment which is the subject of cause No. 210-68 was transported by the plaintiff. Item No. 235, which was contained under the “General Eules and Eegula-tions” of Tariff 2-H, was precisely the same as the released value provision which had been contained in the plaintiff’s published Tariff 2-G as Item 187 (see finding 17).

22. (a) The plaintiff’s Tariff 2-G or Tariff 2-H was lawfully on file with the ICC at all times material to these cases.

(b) Tariff 2-G, Supplement 18 to Tariff 2-G, and Tariff 2-H were published for the account of the plaintiff.

(c) The Tenders 100-L and 100-M were made to the defendant for the account of the plaintiff.

23. The principal shipper of commodities named in the released value provision, such as radar, sonar, and scientific instruments, is the Government, with the shipments moving-on government bills of lading.

24. Tlie plaintiff furnished copies of all of its tenders and tariffs to the pertinent agencies of the defendant, including the GAO.

25. The GAO keeps on file copies of the tenders and tariffs of transportation companies with which the defendant does business; and it specifically had on file at all times material herein the tenders and tariffs of the plaintiff.

26. There are employees of the GAO who were and are familiar with the tenders and tariffs of the plaintiff as a part of their regular responsibilities.

27. As long as Tenders 100-L and 100-M were in effect, they were continuing offers to the Government by the plaintiff.

28. At the time when the shipments involved here were tendered and government bills of lading were issued and accepted by the plaintiff, contracts were made with the defendant.

29. (a) With respect to the shipment involved in Case No. 873-65, the rate under Tender No. 100-L was $6.60 per 100 pounds at a minimum of 14,000 pounds, while the rate under Item No. 187 of Tariff No. 2-G was $6.91 per 100 pounds at a minimum of 14,000 pounds.

(b) With respect to the shipment involved in Case No. 210-68, the rates were the same under Tender No. 100-M and under Item No. 235 of Tariff No. 2-H.

30. In Case No. 373-65, if the plaintiff prevails, it will be entitled to a judgment against the defendant for $6,375.37. If the defendant prevails, the plaintiff’s petition should be dismissed.

31. In Case No. 210-68, if the plaintiff prevails, the plaintiff will be entitled to a judgment for $109,773.52 against the defendant. If the defendant prevails, the issue of the proper amount of damages which the defendant should receive will remain to be determined in further proceedings pursuant to Eule 131 (c).

Conclusion op Law

Upon the foregoing findings of fact and opinion, which are adopted by the court and made a part of the judgment herein, the court concludes as a matter of law that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover, and the petitions in Cases Nos. 373-65 and 210-68 will be dismissed upon completion of the proceedings in these cases.

The court further concludes as a matter of law that the defendant is entitled to recover on its counterclaim in Case No. 210-68, and judgment is entered to that effect.' The amount of the recovery will be determined in subsequent proceedings under Rule 131 (c). 
      
      The dissenting opinion of Skelton, Judge, in which Nichols, Judge, joins, follows the opinion of the Trial Commissioner which has been adopted by tbe court.
     
      
       See p. 11 of defendant’s brief.
     