Brookings County v. Murphy

121 N.W. 793, 23 S.D. 311, 1909 S.D. LEXIS 120

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: May 21, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinions

SMITH, J.

This appeal presents the question of the constitutionality of the second proviso of chapter 207, p. 272, Laws 1903, relating to the salaries of county auditors in counties of this state having a population of 12,000 or over. By chapter 207, p. 272, Laws 1903, section 894 of the Revised Political Code, passed at the same session of the legislative assembly, was amended to read as follows: “Sec. 894. Salaries — How Determined. The salaries of registers of deeds.and county auditors.shall be regulated by the value of the property in their respective counties as fixed by the state board of equalization for the preceding year, as follows: They shall be entitled to receive five- mills on each dollar of the ' first one hundred thousand dollars; one mill on each dollar of all sums in excess of such last named sum and less .than five hundred " thousand dollars; one quarter of one mill on each dollar of all amounts in excess of said last named sum and less than one million five hundred thousand dollars; and one twenty-fifth of one •mill on each dollar of all amounts in excess of said last named sum; Provided, that in counties having a population not exceeding fifteen hundred or less the salaries of registers of deeds and county auditors shall be six hundred-dollars per annum; and such.-salary shall not in any-county exceed-one thousand two hundred'dollars; Provided, further, that in counties- having a population of twelve thousand or over the board of county commissioners may in their discretion allow a salary not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars per annum to the county auditor only, which salary shall be paid quarterly by warrants on thé special salary fund or on the county general fund.” Section 6' of article 9 of the State Constitution is as follows: “Sec. 6. The Legislature shall provide by general law for such county, township and district officers as may be deemed necessary, and -shall prescribe the duties’and compensation of all county, township and district officers.” -The respondent Murphy was elected auditor of Brookings county for a term of two years, beginning March 1, 1905, duly qualified and acted during said term. At its meeting in January,' 1905, the board of commissioners of said county, acting under the authority of chapter 207, p. 272, Laws 1903, allowed to-the county auditor a salary of $1,500 per- annum, and such salary was thereafter paid to respondent during the said term of two years. Prior to and.during said term said-Brookin'gs county had a .population of over 12,000, and the valuation of the property in said, county as fixed by the state board of equalization for the year 1904 was $7,311,464, and, as fixed by the state board for the year 1905, was $7,381,088. Prior to the beginning of this action, the plaintiff, Brookings county, by its state’s attorney, demanded of the defendant th-e sum of $600, claiming that the second proviso, of chapter 207, p. 272, Larws 1903, under which the salary of $1,500 was paid respondent, is unconstitutional and void because it constitutes an unlawful delegation of legislative power to the board of county commissioners to fix the salary .of $1,500; and, further, that no salary in excess of $1,200 per annum could • be lawfully allowed or paid respondent by said county. It seems to be conceded by appellant’s counsel that, though the second proviso referred to m'ay be void and unconstitutional, yet that fact would in no manner'affect'the remaining provisions of said chapter 207, and that respondent would be entitled to receive a salary of $1,200 per annum. Therefore this action is .brought to- recover from defendant, respondent• herein, the amount paid him as" such salary in excess of the sum of $1,200 per annum -during -his two years’ incumbency of thát office, amounting to the sum of $600. A jury trial -was waived by the parties, and the'action tried to'the court. Findings-of fact and conclusions of law were duly made by the court, and on such findings and conclusions a judgment was entered in favor of respondent and against the appellant, dismissing the action with Costs. ■ •

No .question is raised on this appeal as to the 'competency or sufficiency of the evidence to'sustain the findings, nor-that the fin,dings and conclusions do not determine all' the issues raised by the pleadings in the case. Certain of t'he findings of fact are excepted to as immaterial; -but need-'not be considered here; as 'the same questions are -presented by appellant’s exceptions to the conclusions of law entered by the trial court. The conclusions of1 law to which exceptions were taken, and which present the only question raised upon this appeal, briefly stated, are that chapter 207, p. 272, Raws 1903, “is not an attempt nor does it delegate to such boards legislative powers -or duties and that the acts of said board in allowing such salary was a valid use of the discretionary power vested in it'by said'legislative act.” Under a constitutional provision like that -contained -in section 6, art. 9, of olir State Constitution, it may be considered as settled law that' the legislative assembly -cannot delegate its power to- the board'of county commissioners to legislate -upon the subject of the duties and compensation of county, township, or district officers. Judge.Cooley in his wo-rlc on Constitutional Limitations says: “One of the settled maxims in constitutional law i-s that the power to 'make laws cannot be delegated by that, department -to 'any other body or authority. Where the sovereign power of the state has located the authority, there it must remain; and by the constitutional agency alone the laws must be made until the Constitution itself is changed.” In some states, as in New York, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Maryland, there are constitutional provisions which provide, in effect, that the legislative assembly may confer by general laws upon the boards of supervisors such further powers of local legislation and 'administration as the Legislature from time to time may deem expedient. In these states, as decided in State v. Wood County Supervisors, 61 Wis. 278, 21 N. W. 55, it is held that the legislative powers so conferred upon the county authorities are limited only by the statutes granting such power. In very few, if any, of the states, are to be found express constitutional provisions forbidding the delegation by the Legislature of its lawmaking power, No such provision is contained in the Constitution of this state. The only provision found in our Constitution relating thereto is that “the legislative power shall be vested in the Legislature.” But, under constitutional provisions of this character, it is held by practically all the courts that the Legislature cannot abdicate o’r delegate its authority, and that no legislative, power can be conferred by an act of the Legislature upon any of the other departments of the government, or upon any other body or authority. And, while this rule is regarded universally as well settled, the counts have not been wholly in accord as to what constitutes a delegation of legislative powers. In discussing this question, Justice Church of the late territorial Supreme Court, in the case of Territory ex rel. Smith v. Scott et al., 3 Dak. 414, 20 N. W. 401, quotes with approval and adopts this language used by the Supreme Court of Ilinois in People v. Reynolds, 10 Ill. 1: “All power possessed by the Legislature is given it by the people, and yet few will be found to insist that whatever the Legislature may do it shall do, or else it shall go undone. To establish, such a principle in a large state would be to almost destroy the government. * * * We see, then, that while the Leglsatu,re may not divest itself of its proper functions', or delegate its general legislative authority, it may still authorize others to do those things which it might properly, yet cannot understanding^ or advantageously do itself. * * * The .object to be accomplished may be specified, and the rest left .to the agency of others,' with better opportunities of accomplishing the object or doing the thing understandingly.” The Supreme Court of Ohio in the case of Crickett et al. v. State of Ohio, 18 , in considering a constitutional provision which reads, “The General Assembly * * * shall fix the term of office and the compensation of all officers,” etc.; says: “The duty enjoined by this section in regard to fixing the compensation of officers does not require the General Assembly to fix the sum or amount which each officer is to receive, .but only requires -that it shall prescribe or ‘fix’ the rule by which such compensation is to be determined. The rule of compensation adopted by the act of 1859 was by fee's fqr the particular service performed. The result of this uniform rate of fees-was either to make the compensation of officers inadequate in- the small counties, or exorbitant in the larger and more populous ones; for, if the rate was sufficiently high to yield in the aggregate an adequate compensation in the small counties, where there was but little business, though the office required all the time of the officer, the same rate, in populous counties, where there was much business, would produce a compensation unreasonably high. To obviate this evil, the Legislature, under the idea, perhaps, that the rule was required to be uniform throughout the .state, adopted the mode prescribed by the acts of 1861 and 1862, creating the compensation above a certain sum according to population, and vesting in the commissioners in certain cases the power of making discretionary allowances. But neither under the last-named acts nor under the act of 1859 was the amount of compensation fixed by law. All that was done in either case was to fix or prescribe the rule by which the compensation was to be, and of a certainty could be, ascertained.” The Supreme Court of Texas places the same construction upon a similar provision of the Constitution of that state. In that court appellant’s contention was ■that under the Constitution the sole authority to fix the compensation of county treasurers was vested in the Legislature, and that such authority could not be delegated to county commissioners. That court held that an act of the legisative assembly which provided that the compensation of county treasurers should be based upon a rate determined by the -commissioners between a maximum and minimum upon a percentage of the moneys received and paid ouit by such treasurers did not constitute, a delegation of. legislative power, but merely prescribed a rule by which -such compensation should be ascertained and determined. And the court (further expressly holds that the county commissioners may be authorized to determine the rate between the maximum and minimum limits prescribed by the statute. <The Supreme Court of Idaho in the case of Reynolds v. Board of Commissioners, 6 Idaho, 787, 59 Pac. 730, holds to the same -rule, and gives it an even broader application. The legislative assembly of that state passed an act authorizing boards of county commissioners to fix the salaries of county officers at a “reasonable compensation, taking into consideration the character of the services, amount of labor to be performed, and such surrounding circumstances as affect the cost of living and supporting oneself at the county seat of his county, 'corm patible with the dignity of the office to which he has been elected.” That court, in placing a construction upon this act, held that it was not a delegation of legislative authority, but that it merely “fixed the basis upon which the salary of county officers in each county in the state is to be fixed” by the boards of county commissioners. We believe these authorities are sound in principle and determine the precise point under discussion.

The legislative assembly, by the enactment of chapter 207, p. 272, Laws 1903, while it does not prescribe the precise number of dollars which shall be paid as compensation to the auditor in 'each and every county in this state, has, we think, prescribed a definite rule by which such compensation shall be determined and allowed. Counsel for appellant contends that the second proviso of this ■statute is entirely independent of the preceding portions thereof; that, though added to the section by way of amendment, it, in effect, constitutes a separate enactment, and is an attempt on the part of the legislative assembly to delegate to the board of county commissioners authority to “prescribe” the compensation of county auditors. By adopting this construction of this enactment, appellant’s counsel seeks to bring this case within the ruling of the Supreme Court of North Dakota in the case of Doherty v. Ransom County, 5 N. D. 1, 63 N. W. 148, and the case of Dougherty v. Austin, 94 Cal. 601, 28 Pac. 834, 29 Pac. 1092, 16 L. R. A. 161, cited as authority. in that case. But in neither of the cases above referred to was any question presented as to the proper construetion to be placed upon the ■ statutory enactments. The statutes under consideration in these1 cases were of such import as to render it clear beyond a douibt that the legislative assembly had attempted an unlawful delegation of the authority vested in it by the Constitution, and therefore they may be regarded as in full accord with the universal holding of the courts under similar constitutional provisions.

But in the case now under consideration by this court a serious question is raised by appellant’s contention as to the proper construction which is to be given to the law itself. To hold that the second proviso in this statute, in effect, constitutes a separate enactment, and must be construed independenty of the act of which it forms ,a part, would be to adopt a rule of construction entirely without precedent. Sutherland on Statutory Construction, § 223, says: “The natural and- appropriate office of the proviso being to restrain or qualify some preceding matter, it should be .confined to what precedes it, unless it clearly appears to have been intended to apply to some other matter. It is to be construed in connection with the section of which it forms a part, and it is substantially an exception. * * * It is not -an arbitrary rule to be enforced at all events, but is based on the presumption that the meaning of the lawmaker is thereby reached.” We are clear that both provisos in these enactments must be construed in connection with the other provisions of the section of which they form a part. It is only by so construing them that we may be able t'o arrive at the true meaning and intent of the legislative body. The general purpose of .this enactment is clear. It is intended to prescribe the compensation of the officers therein named. No valid objection can be urged, as we have seen, to an enactment by the legislative assemby prescribing the compensation of county officers upon the basis of either the assessable property valuation or the population of the counties. The question then remaining is whether by any fair or reasonable intendment chapter 207, p. 272, Raws 1903, can be construed as an enactment prescribing such rule for determining the compensation of county auditors under the second proviso of said act. It seems to us quite clear that the portion of the section preceding the provisos furnishes the basis upon which The compensation of both such officers may be computed, while the provisos are both intended to operate merely as limitations upon the amount of compensation. The first proviso fixes the minimum and maximum compensation to be allowed when computed upon the basis of taxable valuation in counties having a population of 1,500 or less; while the second proviso constitutes a modification of the first proviso as to county auditors alone. It is urged by appellant’s counsel that the first proviso limits the compensation of county auditors in all counties in the state to $1,200 per annum. At a first glance, and without the aid of construction — that is, eliminating all consideration of the purview of the statute — the two provisos would seem to be in conflict. But Sutherland on Statutory Construction lays down the rule in paragraph 2x6: “Words expressive of a particular intent, incompatible with other words expressive of a general intent, will be construed to make an exception, so that all parts of the act may have effect.” Applying this rule of construction, the apparently conflicting clause of the first proviso limiting salaries of auditors in all counties of the state to the sum of $1,200 would read: “And such salary shall not in any county exceed $1,200, except as hereinafter provided.” The second proviso would then be left operative as to counties having a population of 12,000 or over, with a limitation of $1,500 upon the salary of county auditors, such salaries to be computed upon the valuation basis prescribed in the preceding portion of the section.

Appellant’s counsel urges that the assessable property and the population' of a county are independent factors, bearing no relation to each other, and for that reason such a method of prescribing compensation for county auditors in one class of counties would be unfair and unequitable. This may be true, but it is an argument which might, with propriet)*-, be addressed to the Legislature,' but not to the courts. The question of the effect of such laws upon individual office holders is one with which the courts have no concern so long as the action of the legislative assembly is within its constitutional limits and authority. Walker v. Jameson, 140 Ind. 591, 37 N. E. 402, 39 N. E. 869, 28 L. R. A. 679, 683; People v. Kirk, 162 Ill. 138, 45 N. E. 830; State v. Schlitz Brewing Co., 104 Tenn. 715, 59 S. W. 1033.

It is further contended by appellant’s counsel that the clause' in this statute, “may in their discretion allow a salary not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars per annum,” must be construed as vesting ah unqualified discretion in the boards of county commissioners in this class of counties to prescribe any compensation they may designate .from $i to $1,500 per annum. As we have seen,-this latter proviso must be construed 'in connection with all the preceding provisions of the statute of which if forms a part. It is clear, then, that the discretion conferred is one which must yield and be subordinate to the plain- meaning of the whole statute, and that the clause referred to mrpt be construed as a limitation merely upon the amount of salary to be allowed in such -counties. We think such a construction of this statute is amply sustained by authority. In the case of San Diego v. Grannis, 77 Cal. 514, 19 Pac. 876, the court says: “One clause of a statute or contract • apparently conclusive as to some particular thing may be enlarged or limited by other provisions of the instrument upon the-same subject. And in such a case the intent must be gathered- from all the provisions considered together; the 'interpreter having his eye on the subject-matter of the instrument, and giving effect to such clause of the latter when it can be done.” The People ex rel. Sinkler v. Terry, 108 N. Y. 1, 14 N. E. 815; Wenger v. Taylor, 39 Kan. 754, 18 Pac. 911. Sutherland, in his work on Statutory Construotion, says: '“Section 219. The intention of an act will prevail over the literal sense of its terms.” “Sec. 218. When the subject-matter is once clearly ascertained and its general intent, a key is found to all its intricacies; general words, may be restrained to it, and -those .of narrower import .may be expanded to embrace it to effectuate that intent.” Mr. Justice Field in the Eureka Case, 4 Sawy. 302, 317, Fed. Cas. No. 4,548, says: “Instances without number exist where the meaning of words-in a statute has 'been'enlarged or restricted and qualified to carry out the intent of the Regislature.” But, even if-a doubt existed in the minds of the court as to which of the two constructions of the provisions- of chapter 207, p. 272, Raws 1903, should prevail in this case; it woud be .the duty of -the ‘-court to adopt that which would give effect to the statute. Cooley in 'his work on Constitutional Limitations, p. 255, says: “The duty of the court to uphold the statute when the conflict between it and the Constitution is not clear, and the implication which must always exist that no violation, has been intended by the Legislature may require it in some cases, where the meaning of the Constitution is not in doubt, to lean in favor of such a construction of the statute as might not at first view seem most obvious and natural; for, as the conflict between the statute and the Constitution -is not to be implied, it' would seem to follow, where the meaning of the Constitution is clear, that the court, if possible, must give the statute such construction as will enable it to have effect. This is only saying, in another form of words, that the court must construe the statute in accordance with the legislative intent; since it is always to be presumed the Legislature designed the statute to take effect and not to be a nullity.” The rule upon this subject is stated by the Supreme Count of Illinois: “Whenever >an act of the Legislature can be so construed and applied as to avoid conflict with the Constitution and give it the force of law, such construction will be adopted by the counts.” Newland v. Marsh, 19 Ill. 376, 384. In People v. Hayne, 83 Cal. 111, 117, 23 Pac. 1, 3, 7 L. R. A. 348, the court says: “If the language employed was capable of two or more constructions, any one of which would be in harmony with the Constitution, it would be our duty to give it that construction.” We therefore hold on this appeal that in counties having a population of 12,000 or more the isalary of the county auditor may be computed at the rate provided in chapter 207 Upon the value of the taxable property of the county; that such salary is limited to the amount so ascertained, and cannot exceed it, but may be so computed and allowed up to the limit of $1,500 per annum.

The only assignments of error on this appeal relate to the conclusions of law made by the trial court holding that the law involved herein is “not an attempt to, nor does it delegate to such boards legislative powers or duties.” The question whether the appellant might not under the views herein expressed recover an amount less than the sum claimed is not before this court for review, and the judgment of the trial court is therefore affirmed.