blodgett holden argued october decided november modified mark norris grand rapids plaintiff alfred wheat washington defendant per curiam equal division opinion among eight justices heard considered matter renders impossible categorically answer certified question two questions think essential statements views justices enough show tax exacted blodgett sustained sections revenue act usca comp enable circuit appeals readily reach proper decision cause remanded appropriate action justice mcreynolds circuit appeals sixth circuit certified three questions asked instructions respect title section necessary answer one follows provisions sections revenue act stat usca comp unconstitutional far impose levy tax upon transfers property gifts inter vivos made contemplation death made prior june date act approved direct tax unapportioned takes property without due process public use without compensation violation fifth amendment revenue act approved june provides calendar year calendar year thereafter tax equal sum following hereby imposed upon transfer resident gift calendar year property wherever situated whether made directly indirectly upon transfer nonresident gift calendar year property situated within whether made directly indirectly per centum amount taxable gifts excess etc gift made property fair market value thereof date gift shall considered amount gift property sold exchanged less fair consideration money money worth amount fair market value property exceeded consideration received shall purpose tax imposed section deemed gift shall included computing amount gifts made calendar year section allows certain deductions donations charitable purposes etc section unimportant person within year calendar year thereafter makes gift gifts excess deductions allowed section shall day march file collector return oath duplicate listing setting forth therein gifts contributions made calendar year tax imposed section shall paid donor day march shall assessed collected paid manner subject far applicable provisions law tax imposed section act february stat usca section revenue act amended read follows sec calendar year calendar year tax equal sum following hereby imposed upon transfer resident gift calendar year property wherever situated whether made directly indirectly upon transfer nonresident gift calendar year property situated within whether made directly indirectly per centum amount taxable gifts excess succeeding percentages less higher specified act subdivision section shall take effect june calendar year prior june plaintiff blodgett resident transferred gifts inter vivos contemplation death property valued june made gifts valued collector exacted tax prescribed act amended transfers suit seeks recovery sum paid claim taxing act applicable circumstances stated conflicts fifth amendment argument counsel blodgett affirmed transfers prior june really made month january accuracy statement questioned circumstances treat affirmation part recital facts brief behalf collector sets legislative history gift tax provisions revenue act shows presented consideration congress prior february year must therefore determine whether congress power impose charge upon donor gifts fully consummated provisions came nichols coolidge may pointed statute purporting lay tax may arbitrary capricious enforcement amount deprivation property without due process law within inhibition fifth amendment gifts blodgett made january think challenged enactment arbitrary reason invalid seems wholly unreasonable one entire good faith without slightest premonition consequence made absolute disposition property gifts thereafter required pay charge determination cause require us consider objections statute advanced unnecessary express opinion concerning validity statute transfers subsequent june gifts within exemption granted far revenue act undertakes impose tax gifts made january arbitrary invalid due process clause fifth amendment chief justice justice van devanter justice butler concur opinion justice holmes although research shown practice established futility charge usurpation undertook declare act congress unconstitutional suppose agree gravest delicate duty called perform upon among considerations rule settled two possible interpretations statute one unconstitutional valid plain duty adopt save act even avoid serious doubt rule delaware hudson standard brewery texas eastern texas bratton chandler panama johnson words strained need strained order avoid doubt jin fuey moy different sphere embodying general attitude construction see goelet revenue act june stat tax laid gifts calendar year calendar year thereafter code words calendar year title latter phrase brings think obvious without aid purpose general one indicate periods regarded distinguished fiscal years necessarily run counter usual understanding statutes direct future past transactions reynolds mcarthur pet ed shwab doyle lewellyn frick statute passed well recognized congress power tax past gifts think trouble reading act meant operate date tax gifts thereafter made right read way revenue act act february stat act amended rates taxation reduced provided section shall take effect june date earlier act passed reasonable interpretation reduction tax operate alike gifts date taking statutes account principles construction referred think tolerably plain act read referring transactions taking place passed disregard rule impose unexpected liability known might induced concerned avoid use money ways lewellyn frick ed general question whether power tax gifts express opinion agree result plaintiff entitled recover taxes paid respect gifts made statute went effect justice brandeis justice sanford justice stone concur opinion