Howell Electric Motors Co. v. United States

The sole question presented by this appeal is whether the second amendment of the Renegotiation Act, 57 Stat. 347, 50 U.S.C.A. Appendix § 1191, may constitutionally be given retroactive application to appellant’s war contracts upon which performance had been completed and final payment had been made during the period from April 28, 1942, to December 31, 1942. The second amendment was enacted July 1, 1943, and appellant concedes that it was intended by Congress to be retroactive in its scope. In an action brought by the United States and the board of directors of the R.F.C. to recover a…