In the Missouri Pacific Railway Company v. United States case of 1902, the Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving railway freight rates. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) had ordered the Missouri Pacific Railway Company to reduce its rates for transporting goods, arguing that they were unreasonable and discriminatory. The railway company challenged this order in court, claiming it was an unconstitutional interference with their right to set prices as a private business entity. However, the Supreme Court upheld ICC's decision stating that under the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, ICC has authority over railroad rate regulation and can intervene when charges are deemed unjust or unfair. This ruling reinforced federal regulatory power over interstate commerce activities.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Missouri Pacific Railway Company v. United States argued that the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) did not have the authority to set rates for railway companies, as this power was reserved for Congress under the Constitution. The justices contended that while Congress could regulate commerce between states, it could not delegate its legislative powers to an administrative body like ICC. They believed that allowing such delegation would violate separation of powers principles and infringe upon individual liberties by giving too much power to a non-elected entity. Furthermore, they expressed concern over due process rights being violated if railroads were forced to comply with rates set by ICC without judicial review or opportunity for appeal.