Baumet v. United States

FRANK, Circuit Judge.

The district court so interpreted the statute as to reach a result which ascribes to Congress a capricious purpose. Doubtless the court arrived reluctantly at this conclusion, for such an interpretation should be rejected unless inescapable.

On this appeal, we must assume that, were plaintiff permitted to remain in this litigation, the district court would find that certain instalments came due and were payable to Peters during his lifetime. But the district court’s interpretation would deny those payments to Peters’ estate—and give them to the father—simply because the…