The Berwind-White Coal Mining Company v. Chicago and Erie Railroad Company case in 1914 revolved around a dispute over freight rates for the transportation of coal. The Berwind-White Coal Mining Co., a Pennsylvania-based company, sued the Chicago and Erie Railroad Co., alleging that it was charging unjustly high rates to transport its coal from mines in Pennsylvania to markets in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. They argued this violated the Interstate Commerce Act which prohibits unreasonable charges by railroads for interstate commerce. However, the Supreme Court ruled against Berwind-White Coal Mining Co., stating that they failed to provide sufficient evidence proving that these rates were indeed unreasonable or discriminatory under federal law.

In the dissenting opinion for Berwind-White Coal Mining Company v. Chicago and Erie Railroad Company, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a contract between two private corporations as valid under federal law was incorrect. The dissenting justices believed that this ruling violated principles of free competition by allowing one company to monopolize coal transportation in violation of antitrust laws. They contended that such contracts should be subject to scrutiny under these laws, which are designed to prevent anti-competitive practices and protect consumers from price gouging or other unfair business tactics. Furthermore, they disagreed with the majority's interpretation of "public interest," arguing instead that public interest is best served when markets are open and competitive rather than controlled by powerful monopolies.