The U.S. Supreme Court case Sunshine Anthracite Coal Co. v. Adkins, Collector of Internal Revenue in 1939 revolved around the issue of whether or not a tax imposed on coal producers by the Bituminous Coal Conservation Act was constitutional. The plaintiff, Sunshine Anthracite Coal Co., argued that this act violated their Fifth Amendment rights as it unfairly targeted them for taxation and interfered with interstate commerce regulations. However, the court ruled against them stating that Congress had full authority to impose such taxes under its power to regulate interstate commerce and protect public interest in maintaining fair competition among businesses involved in producing bituminous coal - a vital national resource at that time.

In the dissenting opinion for Sunshine Anthracite Coal Co. v. Adkins, it was argued that the Bituminous Coal Act of 1937 violated constitutional principles by delegating legislative power to private entities - in this case, coal producers and their representatives on a National Bituminous Coal Commission who were tasked with setting minimum prices for coal sales. The dissenters contended that such delegation is unconstitutional as it allows private interests to determine public policy without adequate governmental oversight or control. They also expressed concern about potential abuses of power and conflicts of interest inherent in allowing an industry to regulate itself through price-fixing mechanisms which could potentially harm consumers and other stakeholders not represented on the commission.