The U.S. Supreme Court case Wilmington Transportation Company v. Railroad Commission of the State of California in 1914 revolved around a dispute between the Wilmington Transportation Company and the state's railroad commission over rates for ferry services provided by the company. The transportation company argued that it was not subject to regulation by the commission because its operations were maritime, thus falling under federal jurisdiction rather than state control. However, this argument was rejected by both lower courts and eventually reached the Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of California’s Railroad Commission, stating that while Congress has authority over interstate commerce including navigation, it does not exclude all state power to regulate matters of local concern even if they involve some form of navigation or shipping activities within their borders unless there is direct conflict with acts passed by Congress on such subjects. This decision upheld states' rights to regulate certain aspects related to maritime transport when these are considered matters of local concern and do not interfere with federal laws or regulations governing interstate commerce.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Wilmington Transportation Company v. Railroad Commission of the State of California argued that the majority's decision to uphold a state regulation on ferry rates was incorrect. The dissenters believed that this ruling interfered with interstate commerce, which is under federal jurisdiction according to the Constitution. They contended that because ferries are an integral part of interstate travel and trade, their operation should not be subject to individual state regulations but rather fall under national control. Furthermore, they expressed concern about potential harm caused by varying regulations across different states and emphasized a need for uniformity in such matters related to interstate commerce. Thus, they disagreed with upholding California's authority over setting ferry rates within its borders.