In the case of Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company v. Minnesota, 1901, the U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor of the railroad company and against a state law that had set maximum rates for transportation services provided by railroads within Minnesota's borders. The court found that this law violated due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment because it did not allow for judicial review or appeal before being enforced on rail companies operating within the state. This decision reinforced federal supremacy over states' rights when it comes to regulating interstate commerce, as well as established an important precedent regarding due process protections for corporations.

In the dissenting opinion for Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company v. Minnesota, Justice Harlan argued that the court majority had overstepped its authority by invalidating a state law on grounds of unreasonableness without sufficient evidence to support such a claim. He contended that it was not within the purview of federal courts to determine whether or not a state regulation is reasonable unless there's clear proof of an abuse of power leading to injustice and wrong. Harlan believed that in this case, no such proof existed and thus, he felt it inappropriate for the Supreme Court to interfere with Minnesota's legislative judgment regarding railroad rates within its borders.