United Dredging Co. v. City of Los Angeles

Plaintiff is engaged in operating a dredge for the purpose of deepening navigable waters in the harbor of Los Angeles, under contract with the United States government. Defendant city, by its- ordinance, has created a board of mechanical engineers, which board is required to examine and license operators of steam boilers and steam-generating apparatus. By the ordinance it is made a misdemeanor for any person to operate such boilers or apparatus without having been duly licensed by the board of mechanical engineers. Employees of the plaintiff, engaged in operating a dredge in the harbor of San Pedro, were threatened with arrest because they had not been licensed by said city, authorizing them to be so employed. The city admits that it will, unless restrained, cause the arrest of plaintiff’s employees, and contends that in so doing it will act properly within the scope of the police power with which it is invested. Plaintiff, on the other hand, contends that the city has no right or power to regulate or supervise the employees of the plaintiff, because: (1) Such employees are engaged in maritime work upon the navigable waters of the United States, and hence are seamen; (2) that the…