griffin oceanic contractors argued april decided june title obligating master owner vessel making coasting foreign voyages pay seaman unpaid wages within specified periods discharge provides master owner fails make payment without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum equal two days pay every day payment delayed beyond respective periods petitioner injured working aboard respondent vessel foreign waters brought suit jones act general maritime law federal district respondent refused pay medical expenses furnish transportation back addition damages petitioner sought recover penalty wages respondent failure pay earned wages allegedly due upon discharge found inter alia petitioner discharged respondent employ day injury respondent failure pay petitioner without sufficient cause assessing penalty wages held period penalty runs determined sound discretion district depends equities case determined appropriate penalty period period date discharge date petitioner began work another company petitioner appealed award damages inadequate appeals affirmed held district courts discretion limit period wage penalty assessed imposition penalty mandatory day payment withheld violation pp words chosen congress given plain meaning leave room exercise discretion either deciding whether exact payment choosing period days payment calculated district found respondent refused pay petitioner balance earned wages promptly discharge refusal without sufficient cause nothing language vested discretion limit penalty assessment period petitioner unemployment pp type case literal application statute thwart obvious purpose section evident purpose secure prompt payment seamen wages thus protect harsh consequences arbitrary unscrupulous action employers class peculiarly exposed collie fergusson although statute purpose remedial congress chosen secure purpose use potentially punitive sanctions designed deter negligent arbitrary delays payment legislative history confirms congress intended statute mean exactly plain language says pp literal application case precluded asserted ground produce absurd unjust result congress intended even though penalty respondent failure promptly pay wages computed basis period petitioner discharge date respondent actually paid wages satisfying district judgment awards made intended merely compensatory since district found respondent refusal pay petitioner following discharge without sufficient cause since made finding respondent continuing delay payment beyond period petitioner unable work sufficient cause decision limit penalty error pacific mail schmidt pp rehnquist delivered opinion burger brennan white marshall powell joined stevens filed dissenting opinion blackmun joined post robert chaffin argued cause filed briefs petitioner theodore goller argued cause filed brief respondent justice rehnquist delivered opinion case concerns application requires certain masters vessel owners pay seamen promptly discharge authorizes seamen recover double wages day payment delayed without sufficient cause question whether district courts exercise discretion may limit period wage penalty assessed whether imposition penalty mandatory day payment withheld violation statute february petitioner signed employment contract respondent new orleans agreeing work senior pipeline welder board vessels operated respondent north sea contract specified petitioner employment extend december oceanic pipeline committal north sea fulfilled whichever shall occur first app contract also provided respondent pay transportation worksite petitioner quit job prior termination date services terminated cause charged cost transportation back respondent reserved right withhold petitioner first four paychecks cash deposit payment return transportation event become obligated payment march petitioner flew antwerp belgium reported work respondent vessel lay barge berthed antwerp harbor repairs april petitioner suffered injury working deck vessel readying sea two days later underwent emergency surgery antwerp april petitioner discharged hospital went respondent antwerp office spoke jesse williams welding superintendent provided physician statement fit duty williams refused acknowledge petitioner injury denied respondent liable medical hospital expenses maintenance unearned wages williams also refused furnish transportation back continued retain earned wages deducted petitioner first three paychecks purpose petitioner returned home houston next day expense examined physician determined able resume work may may petitioner began working welder another company operating north sea brought suit respondent jones act stat amended general maritime law seeking damages respondent failure pay maintenance cure unearned wages repatriation expenses value certain personal effects lost board respondent vessel petitioner also sought penalty wages rev stat amended respondent failure pay earned wages allegedly due upon discharge district found petitioner awarded damages totalling several findings made particularly relevant appeal first found petitioner injury proximately caused unseaworthy condition respondent vessel app second found petitioner discharged respondent employ day injury termination employment caused solely injury third found respondent failure pay petitioner earned wages without sufficient cause finally found petitioner exercised due diligence attempting collect wages assessing penalty wages held period penalty runs determined sound discretion district depends equities case app determined appropriate period imposition penalty date discharge april date petitioner reemployment may period days applying statute computed penalty petitioner appealed award damages inadequate appeals fifth circuit affirmed concluded inter alia district erred limiting assessment penalty provided period beginning april ending may recognized statute required payment penalty day wages withheld date actually paid case occur september respondent satisfied judgment district see app nevertheless believed bound prior decisions within circuit left calculation penalty period sound discretion district courts concluded district case abused discretion assessing penalty period petitioner unemployed granted certiorari resolve conflict among circuits regarding proper application wage penalty statute reverse judgment appeals issue ii language statute first obligates master owner vessel making coasting foreign voyages pay every seaman balance unpaid wages within specified periods discharge provides every master owner refuses neglects make payment manner hereinbefore mentioned without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum equal two days pay every day payment delayed beyond respective periods district found respondent refused pay petitioner balance earned wages promptly discharge refusal without sufficient cause respondent challenges neither findings although two statutory conditions satisfied however district obviously assess double wages every day payment delayed instead limited assessment period petitioner unemployment nothing language statute vests courts discretion set limitation nevertheless respondent urges legislative purpose statute best served construing permit choice determining length penalty period respondent view purpose statute essentially remedial compensatory thus interpreted literally produce monetary award far excess equitable remedy punitive respondent however unable support view legislative purpose reference terms statute course persuasive evidence purpose statute words legislature undertook give expression wishes american trucking see caminetti nevertheless rare cases literal application statute produce result demonstrably odds intentions drafters intentions must controlling reserved scope adopting restricted rather literal usual meaning words acceptance meaning thwart obvious purpose statute commissioner brown quoting helvering hammel however exceptional case recognized collie fergusson evident purpose statute secure prompt payment seamen wages thus protect harsh consequences arbitrary unscrupulous action employers class peculiarly exposed accomplished imposition liability exclusively compensatory designed prevent coercive effect arbitrary refusals pay wages induce prompt payment payment possible thus although sure purpose statute remedial congress chosen secure purpose use potentially punitive sanctions designed deter negligent arbitrary delays payment legislative history statute leaves little doubt understanding correct law owes origins act july ch stat passed first congress although statute originally enacted gave every seaman right collect wages due contract soon voyage ended provide recovery additional sums encourage compliance provision added shipping commissioners act ch stat provided payment sum exceeding amount two days pay days exceeding ten days payment delayed act obviously established ceiling days period penalty assessed use words exceeding left courts discretion choose appropriate penalty within period congress amended law amended read relevant part every master owner refuses neglects make payment manner hereinbefore mentioned without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum equal one day pay every day payment delayed beyond respective periods act ch stat statute amended last time increase severity penalty doubling wages due day payment earned wages delayed seamen act ch stat suggestion committee reports floor debates congress intended reinvest courts discretion removed act resort legislative history therefore merely confirms congress intended statute mean exactly plain language says iii respondent argues however literal construction statute case produce absurd unjust result congress intended district found daily wage used computing penalty statute applied literally petitioner receive twice amount day discharge september respondent satisfied district judgment petitioner receive simply respondent improperly withheld wages respondent view congress intended seamen receive windfalls nature without regard equities case true interpretations statute produce absurd results avoided alternative interpretations consistent legislative purpose available see american trucking haggar helvering refusing nullify statutes however hard unexpected particular effect said laws enacted good intention put test frequently surprise law maker turn mischievous absurd otherwise objectionable case remedy lies law making authority courts crooks harrelson think use language indicates purpose protect seamen delayed payments wages imposition liability exclusively compensatory designed prevent coercive effect arbitrary refusals pay wages induce prompt payment payment possible collie fergusson finally note holding consistent pacific mail schmidt employer case challenged decision appeals apply wage penalty delay district judgment occasioned employer appeal held facts case application penalty beyond date district judgment error contrary respondent assertion however holding reflect discretionary tailoring penalty equities case instead held delay pending appeal without sufficient cause required statute penalty attach explained earlier condition imposition wage penalty finding delay payment without sufficient cause extent equities situation considered see collie fergusson supra bear finding calculation penalty period finding made iv district found respondent refusal pay petitioner earned wages following discharge without sufficient cause applied wage penalty period nonpayment petitioner unable work made finding however respondent continuing delay payment beyond period sufficient cause plain language statute therefore decision limit penalty period error judgment appeals affirming decision accordingly reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes also found defendant begin thorough investigation plaintiff claim september investigation made reasonable diligence defendant failure pay maintenance cure repatriation expenses cost personal effects earned unearned wages plaintiff constituted arbitrary unreasonable callous willful disregard plaintiff rights app found daily wage rate used calculating penalty accordance statute assessed penalty twice rate days penalty period courts appeals third ninth circuits interpreted statute mandate imposition penalty day wages paid leave room district exercise discretion swain isthmian lines larkins hudson waterways thomas ss santa mercedes courts appeals first second fourth circuits adopted interpretation followed fifth circuit mavromatis greek shipowners forster oro navigation supp sdny southern cross firipis cert denied noted conflict american foreign matise petitioner questioned holdings appeals case respondent appeal judgment district certiorari statute reads full master owner vessel making coasting voyages shall pay every seaman wages within two days termination agreement shipped time seaman discharged whichever first happens case vessels making foreign voyages port atlantic port pacific vice versa within hours cargo discharged within four days seaman discharged whichever first happens cases seaman shall entitled paid time discharge account wages sum equal part balance due every master owner refuses neglects make payment manner hereinbefore mentioned without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum equal two days pay every day payment delayed beyond respective periods sum shall recoverable wages claim made section shall apply masters owners vessel seamen entitled share profits cruise voyage section shall apply fishing whaling vessels yachts act act provided basis revised statutes codified section read follows master owner every vessel making voyages port atlantic port pacific vice versa shall pay every seaman wages within two days termination agreement time seaman discharged whichever first happens case vessels making foreign voyages within three days cargo delivered within five days seaman discharge whichever first happens cases seaman shall time discharge entitled paid account sum equal part balance due every master owner neglects refuses make payment manner hereinbefore mentioned without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum exceeding amount two days pay days exceeding ten days payment delayed beyond respective periods sum shall recoverable wages claim made section shall apply masters owners vessel seamen entitled share profits cruise voyage act substantially identical legislation passed house previous congress favorably reported senate failed come vote end session thus house report legislation enacted contained little reproduction house report previous congress relevant senate report also dates congress respondent assumes penalty run september since date finally paid petitioner brief respondent petitioner hand apparently assumes penalty period expired may date district judgment brief petitioner construction statute district entry judgment toll running penalty period unless delays beyond date explained sufficient cause see pacific mail schmidt holding appeal taken reasonable grounds penalty apply delays payment beyond date district decree entered since delays supported sufficient cause appeals fourth circuit southern cross firipis appeals third circuit swain isthmian lines interpreted decision pacific mail permit employer toll running penalty period placing hands allegedly unlawfully withheld wages found employer strong reasonable ground believing statute held apply work seaman claimed unpaid wages occur voyage result oral contract justice stevens justice blackmun joins dissenting final analysis question statutory construction requires judge decide legislature intended enactment apply case hand language statute usually sufficient answer question reports full cases legislature reflected literal reading words chosen opinion case qualifying language supports much narrower construction adopts years statute recent amendment federal judges consistently construed avoid absurd result sanctions today reading statute consistent specific purposes achieved amendments well meaning statute award unearned wages first authorized april petitioner welder suffered temporarily disabling injury aboard respondent vessel april petitioner met respondent welding superintendent refused acknowledge respondent responsible injury also refused pay petitioner earned wages petitioner fully recovered injury may two days later obtained comparable work another employer filed action february settled respondent responsible petitioner injury respondent wrongfully refused pay april question statutory construction us sum shall recoverable wages compensate petitioner respondent refusal pay april district computed sum doubling daily wage multiplying amount number days injury april petitioner reemployment may district award thus amounted holds sum recoverable wages amounts least ii pertinent part provides follows every master owner refuses neglects make payment seaman earned wages within four days seaman discharge without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum equal two days pay every day payment delayed beyond period sum shall recoverable wages claim made emphasis added fixing amount award double wages district case may reasoned respondent sufficient cause delay paying earned wages petitioner obtained employment another shipmaster sufficient cause failure make payment time although reasoning conflicts literal reading perfectly consistent contemporary construction statute pacific mail schmidt teaching justice holmes opinion case wrongful character initial refusal pay mean subsequent delay payment also without sufficient cause within meaning statute controversy pacific mail arose statute provided sum recoverable wages measured one day pay rather double amount day wages withheld without sufficient cause statute otherwise exactly today seaman discharged october withheld wages believed responsible loss silverware filed action october november obtained judgment wages additional sum representing sum recoverable wages period october november district decree established proposition vessel owner defenses constitute sufficient cause refusing pay wages requiring seaman sue recover vessel owner prosecuted unsuccessful appeal appeals affirmed decision district also added additional recovery daily wages period entry original judgment november actual payment disputed wages appeals thus read statute literally ordered result district finding seemed dictate however set aside additional recovery reaching conclusion reconciled wooden literal reading statute concurrent findings district appeals established refusal make wage payment due without sufficient cause justice holmes brethren accepted finding purposes decision reasoned sufficient cause owner decision appeal refusal pay appeal pending curious character conclusion reasons insufficient justify refusal pay trial decision somehow became sufficient justify subsequent refusal pay significant point justice holmes opinion case primarily significant holding squared literal reading statute even though initial refusal without sufficient cause statutory wages necessarily recoverable entire period payment made either seaman stakeholder subsequent event even though expressly mentioned statute may foreshorten recovery period pacific mail subsequent event vessel owner decision appeal finding event provided sufficient cause delay november made sua sponte case subsequent event reemployment petitioner comparable job may finding event coupled failure make additional demand almost two years thereafter sufficient cause delay may made district true judge expressly frame decision terms actual decision fits precisely mold established pacific mail cases give flexible reading sufficient cause language statute differ respect nature subsequent event respect departure statutory text second case construed collie fergusson also focused meaning phrase without sufficient cause case unpaid seamen claimed financial necessities owner constitute sufficient cause delay wage payments contention surely consistent plain language statute nevertheless denied recovery construing statute implicitly containing requirement refusal sense arbitrary wilful least failure attributable impossibility payment adopted nonliteral construction statute recognized significance provision seaman claim shall recoverable wages claim made see proceeding arising insolvency vessel owner provision accords type claim priority general creditors various lienors stronger equitable claims limited assets construction words without sufficient cause narrow protection statute consistent intent congress even though involved rather flexible reading text statute third occasion interpret mccrea construed statute narrowly time taking literal approach case seaman citing specific sections federal legislation demanded shipmaster discharge earned wages benefits master unfamiliar cited sections asked seaman meet noon next day informed discussion demands seaman missed appointment left country without contacting master return seaman filed action claimed entitlement inter alia earned wages double wages delay payment district affirmed appeals held owner ship immune provision double wages constituted penalty granted seaman petition certiorari avoided decision sovereign immunity question holding sufficient cause failure shipmaster make wage payment within four days seaman discharge rejected seaman rather reasonable argument even shipmaster cause withhold payment four days sufficient cause continued refusal seaman filed action formally made claim earned wages without citing pacific mail held master failure pay earned wages time specified statute justified sufficient cause fact later refused pay pursuant proper demand give rise statutory liability even though sufficient cause subsequent refusal early interpretations dispel notion statute means exactly says construed statute effect purpose isbrandtsen johnson early cases demonstrate purpose statute always require award double wages amount statute literally specifies flexibility also characterized applications statute rendered lower federal courts decades courts consistently concluded congress intended allow judicial discretion play part determining amount recovery whether decisions entirely consistent meaning grammarian might placed statute less significant fact entirely consistent decisions one another fact holdings must come attention congress contrary reading statute adopted third circuit swain isthmian lines another eight years case followed another circuit deny wisdom rule construction mandates close adherence literal statutory text also true consistent course judicial construction become much part statute words inserted legislature construction consistently followed federal judiciary presumably acceptable congress find persuasive literal reading places entire reliance moreover since result construction produces case absurd palpably unjust one cases exercise judgment dictates departure literal text order faithful legislative iii construction permitting district exercise discretion tailoring award particular equities case consistent legislative history new literal approach statute congress authorized recovery additional wages seamen paid within five days discharge used word shall make clear recovery must awarded allowed district courts limited discretion setting amount recovery judge discretion amount limited two ways statutory wage rate double amount seaman daily wage period statutory wage awarded exceed days subsequent amendments statute remove requirement recovery shall awarded modify limits judge discretion respect wage rate congress first specified equal daily rate rather double daily rate later specified rate double rate respect period statutory wage payable amendment simply removed limit amendment subject two different interpretations one represent rather unremarkable change drastic dramatic unremarkable change amount nothing removal narrow limit scope judge discretion word shall continue nothing require recovery amount fixed judge recognition reality seamen might stranded days recovery period extend beyond days sort unremarkable change consistent purpose statute well legislative history fails make comment significance justice rehnquist perceptively observed another context fact dog bark significant construction amendment however drastic dramatic instead effecting modest enlargement judge discretion justice cases construction effects complete prohibition judicial discretion instead permitting recoveries period somewhat longer days amendment construed command even unresolved dispute persists two three years without special hardship seaman automatic recovery must ordered entire period regardless equitable considerations may arise shipmaster initial mistake made major change potential amount statutory recovery character judge authority normally explained committee reports debates intended iv ironic seven justices today transfixed literal reading days ago blithely ignored text tax injunction act order reach conclusion federal jurisdiction entertain suit declaratory judgment secretary labor determine whether federal statute violates federal constitution california grace brethren church inconsistency approach task statutory construction two cases less troublesome however failure case consider whether conclusion reasonably thought represent congress persuaded amendment removing limit scope trial judge discretion intended read command award seaman paid wages due respectfully dissent familiar rule thing may within letter statute yet within statute within spirit within intention makers often asserted reports full cases illustrating application substitution judge legislator frequently words general meaning used statute words broad enough include act question yet consideration whole legislation circumstances surrounding enactment absurd results follow giving broad meaning words makes unreasonable believe legislator intended include particular act holy trinity church statute quoted full ante appeals held award constitute abuse discretion figure computed reference period april date discharge may date judgment see ante omits italicized clause statute quotes statute text opinion ante wage claims unlike penalties consistently accorded high priority insolvency proceedings employers seems clause pertinent task discerning intent congress authorizing award double wages see also infra petition rehearing pointing adopted interpretation statute urged briefs opinions lower courts seaman argued according grammatical natural unambiguous meaning conveyed words section congress limited running penalties sufficient cause original earned wages sufficient cause operating prevent penalties ever beginning accrue penalties begin run nothing short actual payment tender suffice prevent continuous accrual per diem penalties pet rehearing petitioner argues literal application yield harsh results shipmaster may toll period delay tendering disputed wage claim registry brief petitioner petitioner words master may make constructive payment wages seems accept argument see ante neither petitioner seems recognize acceptance minimal tolling rule conflicts literal reading statute tender wages constructive payment wages added reasonable gloss statute today read pacific mail requiring finding made expressly either follow justice holmes lead making comparable finding remand district additional findings issue district finding arbitrariness case view holding collie necessary penalty wage recovered must read context actual award clearly erroneous find refusal pay petitioner arbitrary unemployed surely equally arbitrary ensuing period employed competitor renew demand see mystic stromland district limiting right recovery days libel filed effect placed limitation amount recovery statute objection think rehearing denied cert denied mavromatis greek shipowners language given somewhat free reading accord courts considerable margin discretion adjusting duration penalty equities particular case prindes african pilgrim period penalty accumulates determined equities particular case southern cross firipis regard liability double pay doctrine developed mccrea case continued present time district measure discretion application equitable principles determining number days double wages assessed cert denied caribbean federation lines dahl time penalty provision runs rests within sound discretion depends upon equities case cert denied mcconville florida towing wide equitable discretion fixing time penalty provision runs chester md spite seeming rigidity statute still left courts certain discretionary power limit penalties victoria supp sdny spite seeming rigidity statute still discretionary power limit penalties rev grounds forster oro navigation supp sdny number days defendant must pay double wages rests discretion depends equities particular case aff samad etivebank supp ed number days respondents must pay double wages rests discretion depends upon equities particular case spero steamship argodon supp ed well settled number days respondents must pay double wages rests discretion depends upon equities particular case kontos ss sophie supp ed although penalty applicable duration seems committed discretion trial judge tailor equities particular case ventiadis thibodeaux supp sd tex time penalty provision runs rests within sound discretion depends upon equities case see also swanson torry lake galewood md aff cert denied see southern cross firipis supra see despite rather precise statutory directive cases uncovered question whether section statute may still read measure judicial discretion supposed equitable considerations present considered found proper balancing statutory language judicial sense equities case see escobar ss washington trader vacated remanded grounds sub nom american trading transportation escobar see recently weinberger stevens dissenting based interpretation sufficient cause collie fergusson part upon conclusion reached practical unanimity lower federal courts several occasions within last years construe statutes conflicts reasonable intention literal meaning occurred refused nullify statutes however hard unexpected particular effect unambiguous language called logical sensible result course properly condemned judicial legislation however construe statutes avoid results glaringly absurd long judicial function language susceptible construction preserves usefulness section judicial duty rests upon give expression intendment law armstrong paint varnish works footnotes omitted version provided pertinent part master owner neglects refuses make payment seaman earned wages within five days seaman discharge without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum exceeding amount two days pay days exceeding ten days payment delayed beyond period sum shall recoverable wages claim made act june ch stat version provided pertinent part every master owner refuses neglects make payment seaman earned wages within four days seaman discharge without sufficient cause shall pay seaman sum equal one day pay every day payment delayed beyond period sum shall recoverable wages claim made act stat amendment substituted two days pay one day pay see act mar stat justice cardozo member new york appeals explained purpose statute purpose least predominant one punishment master owner compensation seaman delay means loss opportunity ship upon another vessel means hardship term waiting sufferer often improvident stranded far home fairness recover amount due wages earned calvin huntley mass cox lykes brothers district award case tolling period computing double wages date petitioner obtained employment another seagoing vessel also perfectly consistent statutory purpose harrison ppg industries dissenting opinion cf conan doyle silver blaze complete sherlock holmes house report description amendment increases amount balance wages due seaman entitled immediately upon discharge general provides prompter payment wages seamen noteworthy first change described respecting part seaman wages entitled time discharge every case rather trivial see full text statute ante description provision prompter payment wages likely refers amendment time period shipmaster pay seaman full wages order avoid provision cases seamen vessels making foreign voyages time period changed five days see supra four days see supra