The United States Supreme Court case, United States at the Relation of Kansas City Southern Railway Company v. Interstate Commerce Commission (1919), centered around a dispute between the Kansas City Southern Railway Company and the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The railway company challenged an order from ICC that required it to cease charging higher rates for shorter distances than longer ones on its line, arguing this was in violation of their rights under the Due Process Clause of Fifth Amendment. However, ICC justified its decision citing public interest considerations and need for fair trade practices. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of ICC stating that such regulatory actions were within its powers granted by Congress to ensure just and reasonable freight rates. It held that there was no constitutional right allowing railroads to charge more for short hauls than long ones if it resulted in unjust discrimination against shippers or localities.

In the dissenting opinion for the case between Kansas City Southern Railway Company and Interstate Commerce Commission, it was argued that the court majority had overstepped its jurisdiction by interfering with administrative decisions made by a governmental agency. The dissenting justices believed that the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) should have been allowed to exercise its own discretion in determining whether or not to reopen an investigation into railway rates. They contended that such matters were better left to experts within agencies like ICC who are more familiar with complex regulatory issues than courts of law. Furthermore, they expressed concern about setting a precedent where judicial bodies could override administrative decisions without sufficient cause or expertise.