The U.S. Supreme Court case Kansas City Southern Railway Company et al. v. United States et al., 1930, revolved around the issue of whether a railroad company could be compelled to provide service on an unprofitable line under the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA). The Kansas City Southern Railway Company and other railroads were ordered by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to continue providing services on certain lines despite their claims that these operations were not profitable and thus unreasonable for them to maintain. The railway companies challenged this order in court, arguing it was beyond ICC's authority under ICA as it forced them into involuntary servitude contrary to the Thirteenth Amendment rights. However, the Supreme Court upheld ICC's decision stating that Congress had given ICC power over such matters through ICA with an aim of ensuring public convenience and necessity even if individual routes might operate at a loss.

In the dissenting opinion for Kansas City Southern Railway Company v. United States, it was argued that the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) had overstepped its authority by ordering a reduction in rates without sufficient evidence of unreasonableness or discrimination. The dissenters contended that while Congress granted ICC power to regulate railroad rates, this did not include an arbitrary ability to lower them based on mere suspicion or belief of unfairness. They believed that such action required substantial proof which they felt was lacking in this case. Furthermore, they expressed concern about potential economic harm to railroads and warned against undermining their financial stability through excessive regulation. This viewpoint emphasized respect for private property rights and cautioned against unwarranted government interference in business operations.