In the case of Mobile Transportation Company v. Mobile, 1902, the U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city of Mobile. The dispute arose when a transportation company claimed that it was unjust for them to pay wharfage fees imposed by the city on vessels using its public wharves. They argued that they had been granted an exemption from such charges through their charter and also contended that these charges were unconstitutional as they violated interstate commerce laws. However, upon review, the court found no evidence supporting this claim within their charter or any violation against interstate commerce regulations. Therefore, it held upholding municipal rights to impose reasonable charges for use of its facilities and services provided at public docks.

In the dissenting opinion for Mobile Transportation Company v. Mobile, Justice Harlan disagreed with the majority's decision that a city ordinance requiring steamships to pay wharfage fees was not in violation of federal law. He argued that such an ordinance interfered with interstate commerce and thus fell under federal jurisdiction, not local or state authority. According to him, this case presented a clear example of how local regulations could potentially disrupt national trade if allowed unchecked power over matters related to interstate commerce. Therefore, he believed it was necessary for Congress to regulate these issues instead of leaving them up to individual cities or states which might enact laws detrimental to nationwide commercial interests.