In the 1915 case of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company v. Harold, the U.S. Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a state law that required railway companies to install cabooses on all freight trains violated the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The plaintiff, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company argued that this Kansas state law interfered with interstate commerce and thus should be deemed unconstitutional. However, upon review, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Harold (representing Kansas), upholding the constitutionality of such laws under states' police powers for safety regulation purposes. The court found no substantial burden imposed on interstate commerce by requiring cabooses for crew members' use during their long hours at work as it promoted their health and efficiency which indirectly enhanced trade's smooth operation.

In the dissenting opinion for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company v. Harold, it was argued that the majority's decision to hold the railway company liable for injuries sustained by an employee during a work-related accident was incorrect. The dissenting justices believed that there wasn't sufficient evidence to prove negligence on part of the employer and hence they should not be held responsible for compensation. They contended that accidents can occur even in absence of any negligence and thus employers cannot always be presumed at fault when their employees get injured while performing their duties. This viewpoint emphasized more on individual responsibility rather than corporate liability in workplace safety matters.