City of St. Louis v. Scheer

139 S.W. 434, 235 Mo. 721, 1911 Mo. LEXIS 131

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: July 1, 1911
• Status: Published

Opinion

LAMM, J.

— Defendant was charged, and, offering no evidence- on his own behalf, was found guilty of violating section 501 of the municipal code of St. Louis and fined $25. From that conviction he appeals to this court.

The charge is that on the 30th day of July, 1909, at Sidney street and Indiana avenue, in the city of St. Louis, he did carry and have in his possession and expose for sale milk having on analysis less than 8.5 per cent non-fatty solids, to-wit, 7.91 per cent — said non-fatty solids being estimated by the difference between the total solids determined by evaporation and the butter fat determined gravimetrieally by the Adams paper-coil process.

The ordinance reads:

“Sec. 501. No milk shall be sold, kept, offered or exposed for sale, stored, exchanged, transported, conveyed, carried or delivered, or with such intent as aforesaid be in the care, custody, control or possession of any one, unless it shows on analysis not less than three per cent by weight of butter-fat, eight and five-tenths per cent solids not fat, and seven-tenths of one per cent ash, of which fifty per cent shall be insoluble in hot water. Provided, however, that in contested analyses of milk condemned, under this article, butter-fat shall be estimated gravimetrieally by the Adams paper-coil process; total solids by evaporation, and nón-fatty solids by difference between total solids and butter fat, and ash by weighing the residue after incineration of total solids at a dull-red heat until all the organic matter is destroyed. Any one violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor inore than one hundred dollars for each and every offense.”

The facts: A city milk inspector on the date and at the place alleged took a sample of milk from defendant’s wagon. The city chemist, Moody, analyzed it, testifying that it contained less than 8.5 per cent non-fatty solids, viz., 7.91 per cent, and that he estimated non-fatty solids by the difference between the total solids determined by evaporation and the butter-fat determined gravimetrieally by the Adams paper-coil process. The city then offered in evidence section 501, supra, and rested.

Such motions were filed and overruled and exceptions saved below as properly bring here the only question for decision, viz.:

Is section 501, supra, void?

In a brief showing marked industry in research, the ordinance is attacked from several angles. We pass to the consideration of material propositions advanced, taking them to be:

First. The ordinance is void because in conflict with the milk standard fixed by the act of the General Assembly. [Laws 1909, p. 116.]

Second. Yoid because running counter to the policy of the State as evidenced by said act regulating the sale of dairy products.

Third. Yoid because it discriminates against non-residents of St. Louis and in favor of residents thereof.

Fourth. Yoid because passed without regard to the wholesomeness or adulteration of milk, in that it absolutely prohibits its sale unless it comes up to an arbitrary standard of percentage in non-fatty solids.

Fifth. Yoid because “repealed by an act of the Legislature of the State.” [Laws 1909, pp. 116-7.]

Of the foregoing propositions in the order named.

I. Is the ordinance void because in conflict with the statute?

In 1909 the General Assembly enacted a law (Laws of 1909, p. 116, section 9), so far as material here, reading:

“For the purposes of this act, the following definitions and standards of purity for dairy products are hereby established:

“1. Milk is the fresh, clean, lacteal secretion obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows, properly fed and kept, . . . and contains not less than eight and three-fourths per cent (8.75) of solids not fat, and not less than three and one-quarter (3.25) per cent of milk fat. . . .”

Said section 9 of the act is now section 639, Revised Statutes 1909.

Attending to that statute the first proposition of counsel is at once disclosed to be that the statutory standard requires milk to contain not less than 8.75 per cent of solids not fat, while the ordinance, supra, sets up a standard for municipal purposes of only 8.5 .per cent of solids not fat. The ordinance varies from the statute by falling within and below it, not in .exceeding it. Hence, counsel say, the conflict and the invalidity of the ordinance.

As to which we say: If the contention was new and open in this jurisdiction it would be entitled to fresh and full exposition. But it is neither new nor open. Whatever the rule elsewhere, in Missouri the doctrine is firmly established that so long as an ordinance, within the grant of municipal legislative power, falls within (that is, does not exceed, or is not inconsistent with) the State statute there is no conflict or inconsistency in the sense making the ordinance void. Contra, if it goes beyond the limits of the municipal grant of power, if it is in excess of the standard and limitations of the statute, if it add provisions prohibited by the statute, it is in conflict therewith in the sense making the ordinance void. For the voice of the State law-maker, evidenced by his laws passed within constitutional bounds in the exercise of the police power, is the voice of the overlord and as such is paramount to that of the municipal law-maker’s. Therefore, there must be such substantial conformity in the latter to the public policy evidenced by the former as makes the one not inconsistent with the other. [Sec. 9582, R. S. 1909.]

City of St. Louis v. Klausmeier, 213 Mo. 119, in Banc, was ruled unanimously by a bench of six judges. In that case the point now up was in judgment. It was held, in effect, that a lower municipal standard for milk was not in the nature of an authorisation to sell in violation of the State law. It was merely prohibitory in character. It did not invite or permit a violation of the statute. It was the mere exercise of a proper municipal discretion not to bring the machinery of city courts and city laws into operation to prosecute for violations in excess of the municipal standard. By so doing, the State is left to enforce its own iaw at all points and to the full limit — the city electing to remain passive when the violation falls between the municipal standard on one side and the State standard on the other. “If a person,” says Woodson, J. (who spoke for this court in the Klausmeier case, p. 129), “sells dairy products in the city of St. Louis which come up to the standard of strength and purity fixed by the State, then he would be guilty of no offense either under the State law or the ordinances of the city; but if he should sell such products which do not come up to that standard, then he would be hable to punishment under the State law and not under the ordinance, unless the standard of strength and purity thereof should also fall below the standard prescribed by the city ordinance; in which event he would be liable to prosecution and punishment under both.”

The philosophy of the matter is illustrated in many eases cited by our learned brother. Take an example or two:

In St. Louis v. DeLassus, 205 Mo. 578, it was ruled that an ordinance' punishing the sale of meat after 9 o’clock in the forenoon of Sunday was- not inconsistent or in conflict with the State statute, prohibiting the sale of goods, wares and merchandise on Sunday — i. e., an ordinance did not become void from the mere fact that it was ^not as broad as the statute. It was also ruled (pp. 584-5) that an ordinance could provide its own limits of punishment, and, by that token, could prescribe a greater fine than the statute. All of which means that the city may carve out a lesser offense and remain passive as to the rest and residue of its legislative power on the subject-matter.

In Canton v. McDaniel, 188 Mo. l. c. 228, it was ruled, following abundant authority, that a conviction under a city ordinance could not be pleaded in bar of a State prosecution, or vice versa. The reason underlying that pronouncement obviously connects itself on one side with the reason of the rule that a city ordinance need not be as broad as a State statute.

The right of St. Louis to establish a milk standard is not an open question. It has that right under its charter and its delegation of police power. [St. Louis v. Liessing, 190 Mo. l. c. 480, et seq.; St. Louis v. Bippen, 201 Mo. 528.]

If the Klausmeier case is to be followed, it is con-elusive. However, that case is vehemently criticised. In handling it without gloves, counsel enter against it (quoting) “a respectful but earnest and solemn protest, and proclaim it as being a declaration in direct and positive violation of the rulings made and principles laid down by every court of last resort in this.country, where such proposition was presented and determined.” As construed by counsel, its doctrines are characterized as “shocking,” and, again, as “paralyzing.” We are cited to many eases, which, it is argued, run counter to it. But a close gloss shows most of those cases deal with the generality that an ordinance so in conflict with a State law as to be inconsistent with it must give way. We have no bone to pick with that generalization. It is the doctrine of this court. In so far as any cases in other appellate courts hold contrary to the Klausmeier case they may instruct and persuade, but not control. We shall not reopen the question, but announce ourselves content with the doctrine of the Klausmeier case. Stare decisis.

On this view of it, we reserve the other contentions of the city, viz., that the State statute is not really a law regulative of milk standards since it does not measure up to the definition of a “law;” is a “mere collection of words” (State ex inf. Crow v. Railway, 146 Mo. l. c. 168); and has no “penal sanction” — that is, provides no punishment [Bish. Stat. Crimes, (3 Ed.), sec. 22; 1 Bish. Crim. L. (8 Ed.), sec. 6.]

Our conclusion is that defendant’s point is without substance and should be held against him. We so hold;

II. Is the ordinance void because against the “policy of the State” as evidenced by section 639, Revised Statutes 1909?

This question, logically, is the same discussed in the first paragraph under another name. In no just sense does the ordinance impinge upon the policy of the State as was the case in St. Louis v. Meyer, 185 Mo. l. c. 593, et seq. The State’s policy (its milk standard) is left intact, to be enforced, if possible, by the State. The city only elects in its own behalf to use part of the power it has under its grant of power. It might have passed an ordinance as broad as the statute but on the other hand it might stop short of that, as it did. Furthermore, it is the policy of the State as evidenced by its statutes and Constitution (as they, in turn, are construed by the courts) to permit St. Louis to exercise its municipal discretion in passing ordinances differing in terms and limits from State statutes, so long as those limits are not broader than and in conflict with statutory provisions. We have already ruled, in paragraph one of this opinion, so much as that. That ruling disposes of the proposition in hand.

III. Is the ordinance void because it discriminates against non-residents and in favor of residents of St. Lords?

We are not quite sure we grasp the force of defendant’s position. One phase seems to be that the ordinance discriminates in favor of residents of the city who deal in milk and against non-residents who produce milk for sale in the city. But the ordinance says nothing about that. Its primary object was the welfare of the milk user, not the milkman. To that end it requires all milk to come up to a standard, no matter where produced. So that neither resident or non-resident milk producers come within its purview qua residents or qua non-residents. It deals with any one having in his possession impoverished milk in the city of St. Louis with intent to sell the same for use.

From other phases of the argument, we conclude the real objection to the ordinance, in counsel’s mind, is that all people, countrymen, dwellers in villages or inhabitants of cities, are entitled to wholesome milk; that the people in St. Louis have the same right to such milk as the people outside of St. Louis. In that view of it, the proposition we are discussing is stated wrong end to by counsel. They get the cart before the.horse. Thé question should be put this way: Does the ordinance discriminate against the inhabitants of St. Louis and in favor of the rest of the State?

Mark. The proposition defendant asserts is that the people elsewhere get milk of 8.75 per cent of non-fatty solids, while' the people of St. Louis get milk of. only 8.5 per cent non-fatty solids.

It may be a little afield, but we- take space and time to rémark in passing, that ordinarily penal laws are criticised by a defendant, when haled into court, because they are oppressive and unfair to him. The shoe pinches him. His opinion of the law takes color from that fact. It is rare in this court that a defendant, moved thereto as if yearning for the welfare of his victim, denounces the law because it is too light in punishment, and too easy in its terms. But we shall not hold this defendant has not the constitutional right to stand upon such altruistic and ideal platform. He has the right to defend milk, and insist on its being good. '

We think there is no substance in the suggestion, as applied to this ordinance. The State law is not emasculated by it. If the State authorities enforce or •can enforce the State law its blessings descend on the heads of all men in and out of the city. So, the ordinance could not regulate the milk standard for dwellers in other cities or in the country. It is common knowledge that the countryman does not depend on the milkman for his table or potable milk. Doubtless, other-towns may protect themselves by such domestic municipal regulations as are suitable to their wants.

In this connection counsel invoke St. Louis v. King, 226 Mo. 334, in support of the proposition that it is as necessary that milk be nutritious in a city in per . cent of non-fatty solids, as it is to people outside the city. The King case related to obscene advertisements. It was ruled that the city of St. Louis held no charter grant of power to pass the ordinance questioned in that ease. What was said, arguendo, went to that proposition. Judicial utterances must be construed with reference to the propositions submitted for decision, and the facts held in judgment in the particular case.

In this ease there is no question but what St. Louis has the power to regulate the sale of milk by prescribing a standard. Its charter grants such power and the policy of the State allows its exercise. [St. Louis v. Leissing, 190 Mo. l. c. 480.] In the exercise of that power, so long as it does not impinge upon the State law, it may prescribe regulations suited to its own congested population. That is what it did in this instance.

We rule the point against defendant.

IV. Again, the ordinance is said to be void because passed without regard to the wholesomeness or adulteration of milk. That contention, we take it, means that the city has no power to regulate milk otherwise than to prevent the sale of adulterated or diseased milk — in other words, has no power to prescribe a scientific standard, indicative of the nutritive contents of milk. Such is not the law. The city may prescribe such standard, and milk that does not come up to it, whether through fault of cow or dealer, may not be dealt in. [St. Louis v. Reuter, 190 Mo. 514; St. Louis v. Grafeman Dairy Co., 190 Mo. 507; and see City of St. Louis v. Leissing, 190 Mo. 464, where there is an elaborate and exhaustive discussion of the matter.]

This point also is ruled against defendant.

V. Finally, it is said the ordinance is void because “repealed” by the Act of 1909, pp. 116-7. [Sec. 639, R. S. 1909.]

We dismiss the proposition with these remarks: There was no express repeal. There could be none by implication except there is a conflict. No conflict is pointed out, and in paragraph three of the Ameln case (reported at page 684 of this Report) we held none existed.

Accordingly we rule the point against defendant.

This ruling disposes of the case. The premises all considered, the judgment is affirmed.

All concur, except Valliant, C. J.