Hugo Black

“ We are asked to read the words 'six years after the right accrued' as though Congress intended to say 'six years after the effective date of the Act when it is applied to pre-existing causes of action.' Precedents are cited in which, to avoid retroactive barring of suits, courts have refused to give 'accrued' its normal meaning and have instead given it a special meaning-the date a new statute of limitations becomes effective. ”

“ But no constitutional question is raised by applying this six year time limit to pre-existing claims of the Government. Congress has unquestioned power to bar recovery on Government claims if it sees fit. ”

“ The Government has used the Commodity Credit Corporation in business transactions since 1933. Probably many claims have accrued in the intervening years. Maybe others, like this one, are for comparatively small amounts. All, whether large or small, could have been sued on as they arose. We think that Congress might well have believed it wise to bar all stale claims by the Government against its agents and others who dealt with it in the past. For and against such a view arguments can be made that are based on common notions of fairness and justice. ”