The Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Company v. Interstate Commerce Commission case in 1911 revolved around the issue of whether or not a street railway company operating between two states was subject to federal regulation under the Interstate Commerce Act. The Supreme Court ruled that such companies were indeed interstate carriers and thus fell within the purview of this act, despite their operations being largely local in nature. This decision expanded federal regulatory power over transportation entities, even those whose activities were primarily confined within city limits but crossed state lines.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Company v. Interstate Commerce Commission argued that the majority's decision to uphold the ICC's jurisdiction over street railways operating ferries across state lines was an overreach of federal power. The dissenters contended that such operations were inherently local and should be regulated by states, not a federal agency like the ICC. They also expressed concern about potential negative impacts on businesses due to increased regulation and questioned whether Congress had intended for this type of operation to fall under interstate commerce when they established the ICC. Furthermore, they disagreed with applying principles from railroad cases to street railway companies because these are different types of transportation with distinct characteristics and legal considerations.