Bannerman v. Catts

85 So. 336, 80 Fla. 170
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedJuly 3, 1920
StatusPublished
Cited by35 cases

This text of 85 So. 336 (Bannerman v. Catts) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bannerman v. Catts, 85 So. 336, 80 Fla. 170 (Fla. 1920).

Opinion

Wilson, Circuit Judge.

Robert L. Bannerman, the complainant below, who is appellant here, filed his bill of complaint in the Circuit Court in and for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida, against the Commissioners of Everglades Drainage District, a corporation under the laws of the State of Florida, and against Cyril Baldwin, Tax Collector of DeSoto County, and H. G. Murphy, as Tax Assessor of DeSoto County, and G. Hunter Bryant, Tax Assessor of Lee County, and P. John Hart, as Tax Collector of Lee County, for the purpose of enjoining the said defendants from levying and collecting the Everglades District tax on certain lands of the complainant, which are alleged to be embraced within the limits of the Everglades Drainage District, and also for the purpose of praying the court to “declare Chapter 6456 of the Acts of 1913, as amended by 6957 of the Acts of 1915, as amended by Chapter 7862 of the Acts of 1919, Laws of Florida,” to be unconstitutional and void.

The bill of complaint is quite voluminous and quotes in substance practically every section of the said chapters just above mentioned which are involved in this suit. As these laws are accessible to every one, we see ho good, reason for copying the said bill of complaint into this decision, but will only refer to such sections of the said chapters as may from time to time be considered neces[175]*175sary in order to make this opinion intelligible. The bill alleges that about four and a half million acres of land are embraced in this Everglades Drainage District, and then proceeds to describe three parcels of land therein which the complainant alleges is his property. The first description designated as tract No. 1 is as follows:

The south half of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section seven, in township forty south,, range thirty-three east, containing twenty acres, more or less.

And the second description designated as tract No. 2 is as follows:

Beginning at the' southeast corner' of the northeast quarter of section twenty-five, in township forty-two south, of range twenty-bine east, thence run north four hundred and sixty-six feet; thence.west four hundred and sixty-six feet; thence south four hundred and sixty-six feet; thence east four hundred and sixty-six feet to the point of beginning, containing in all five acres, more or less.

While that part described as tract No. 3 is as follows:

Beginning at the northwest corner of section twenty-nine, in township forty-three south, of range thirty-two east, thence run south four hundred and sixty-six feet; thence east four hundred and sixty-six feet; thence north •four hundred and sixty-six feet; thence west four hundred and sixty-six feet to the point of beginning, containing five acres, more or less.

The bill further alleges, in substance, that as to the last tract above designated as tract No. 3, and containing five acres, more or less, against which there is a drainage tax 'assessed under the provision of the said laws of 25c that this five acres is dry hammock or upland, and cannot and [176]*176will not receive any benefit, whatever, from the proposed work by drainage and other improvements, provided for and by said acts; and the bill further alleges that other of the complainant’s aforesaid lands were partly swamp and overflow, but portions thereof are dry hammock lands and prairie lands, but the bill does not alleges what part of the complainants other lands are swamp and overflow, nor what parts high and dry.

It is also sought by said bill of complaint to test the validity of the bonds authorized to be issued under the provisions of the said chapters above mentioned; and it is further urged that the said acts of the Legislature, and the attempted levy, assessment and imposition of the said drainage taxes thereby provided, violate the Constitution of the State of Florida in the following particulars.

(1) That the said acts are special or local laws, prohibited by Sections 20 and 21 of Article III of the Constitution, because

(a) They regulate the duties of State officers in respect to a special and limited locality which is not coextensive with the limits of any County of the State or of the State and cannot under any circumstances be uniform in their operations throughout the State of Florida.

(b) That said Acts, including Chapter 7862 of the Acts of 1919, Laws of Florida, impose upon the tax assessors and tax collectors of such counties as comprise the Everglades Drainage District, described in and prescribed by said Chapter 6156, as amended by Chapter 6957, as amended by Chapter 7862, of the Laws of Florida, special jurisdiction and duties not possessed by or conferred' upon same officers in other counties.

[177]*177(c) They provide for making and levying a special assessment of taxes and provide for the collection thereof for State and County purposes in such counties as comprise the said Everglades Drainage District established by said Chapter 6456, as amended by Chapter 6957, as amended by Chapter 7862 of the Laws of Florida.

(d) The drainage taxes provided for by said Acts are not imposed for any State, County or Municipal purpose.

(2) That the said Chapter 6456, as amended by Chapter 6957, as amended by Chapter 7862, of the Laws of Florida,' violates Article 9 of the Constitution of the State of Florida, in that it defines and imposes a system of taxes, which

(a) Is not based on a uniform valuation or equal rate.

(b) Is imposed only upon a special class or description of property arbitrarily and without just cause or reason selected and designated therein or thereby, and not by any officer or officers of the State of Florida or of any county or municipality of said State.

(c) Is a. tax imposed and levied by law and not so imposed in pursuance of law.

(d) Is not assessed, imposed or levied upon the principles established by the Constitution for State taxation.

(e) Is imposed without regard to the valuation of the property taxed.

(f) Arbitrarily divides the lands of the said district into four classes or divisions against which a different and discriminatory tax is imposed, except as to one of [178]*178said classes or divisions, against which no tax is imposed.

(g) Is based upon acreage and not upon valuation.

(h) . Is a specific tax imposed upon certain described lands in said district, whereas, under the provisions of the Constitution of the State of Florida, taxes upon lands can only be levied upon an ad valorem basis.

(i) Levies and imposes a different tax upon different lands in the said district for the same purpose upon an acreage basis.

(j) Provides that the money raised from said taxes shall be turned over to the State Treasurer without any appropriation thereof made by law in violation of Section 4 of Article 9 of the Constitution of Florida.

(3) Under said Chapter 6456, as amended by Chapter 6957, as amended by Chapter 7856, Laws of Florida, the Legislature attempted to usurp the powers conferred by the Constitution upon other than legislative officers.

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Bluebook (online)
85 So. 336, 80 Fla. 170, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bannerman-v-catts-fla-1920.