Doherty v. Arkansas & Oklahoma Railroad

82 S.W. 899, 5 Indian Terr. 537, 1904 Indian Terr. LEXIS 52

• Court: Court Of Appeals Of Indian Territory
• Decided: October 19, 1904
• Status: Published

Opinion

TownseND, J.

The appellant has filed assignments of error, containing 18 specifications, in which objection was niade and exceptions saved, the first of which is that “the court erred in refusing to direct the jury to return a verdict for defendant.” Appellant insists under this specification, first, that the building of its road into the Indian Territory by plaintiff was ultra vires, and that neither the building of it nor an obligation so to do would support a promise to pay to plaintiff for so doing; the appellant insisting that, because the charter of the company, as applied for and granted in the state of Arkansas, limits its line as described between points in the territory of Arkansas, therefore, if it builds or contracts to build its line beyond the limits of said state, all its--contracts for such extension are ultra vires, notwithstanding the fact that the Secretary of the Interior has granted his permit to the company to build its line in the Indian Territory. Is this a correct definition of ultra vires under the law? If the contract had been made concerning an extension in the state of Arkansas, it would not be insisted that such a contract would be ultra vires; therefore the power to make such a contract was' granted to that company. Does ultra vires apply to the place where the contract is made, or to the power in the company, through its officers, to make it? The contract sued upon is not prohibited by the charter of the company. In De La Vergne Refrigerating Company vs German Savings Institution, 175 U. S. 40, 60, 20 Sup. Ct. 20, 44 L. Ed. 66, the contract relied upon was prohibited by its charter, and the court quotes with approval the language used in Central Transportation Co. vs Pullman Palace Car Co., 139 U. S. 61, 11 Sup. Ct. 488, 35 L. Ed. 68, as follows: “A contract of a corporation which is ultra vires in the proper sense' — that'is to say, outside of the object of its creation, as defined in the law of its organization, and therefore beyond the powers conferred upon it by the Legislature —is not voidable only, but wholly void, and of no legal effect. The objection to the contract is not merely that the corporation ought not to have made it, but that it could not make it. The contract cannot be ratified by either party, because it could not have been authorized by either. No performance on either side can give the contract validity, or be the foundation of any right of action on it. When a corporation is acting within the general scope of the powers conferred upon it by the Legislature, the corporation, as well as any person contracting with it, may be estopped to deny that it has complied with the legal formalities which are prerequisites to its existence or its action, because such prerequisites might have in fact been complied with. But when the contract is beyond the powers conferred upon it by existing laws, neither the corporation nor the other party to the contract can-be estopped, by assenting to it, or by acting upon it to show that it was prohibited by those laws.” In Green Bay & Minnesota R. R. Co. vs Union Steamboat Co., 107 U. S. 98, 2 Sup. Ct. 221, 27 L. Ed. 413, the court says: “But, whatever, under the charter and general laws, reasonably construed, may fairly be regarded as incidental to the objects for which the corporation is created, is not to be taken as prohibited.” Attorney General vs Great Eastern Ry. Co., 5 App. Cas. 473; Davis vs Old Colony R. Co., 131 Mass. 258, 41, Am. Rep. 221. One who contracts with a corporation cannot deny its corporate authority in order to defeat the enforcement of its contract. Mattie D. Falls et al vs United States Loan & Building Co., 97 Ala. 417, 13 South. 25, 24 L. R. A. 154, 38 Am. St. Rep. 194. Is not the appellant, after making the contract with the appellee, and having the road built into the town of Grove, Ind. Ter., and thereby securing the benefits of the contract, estopped from denying his obligation, especially as the contract made bjr appel-lee was within the general scope of the powers conferred upon it by the Legislature? In Ohio & M. R. R. Co. vs McPherson, 35 Mo. 26, 86 Am. Dec. 128, which was a suit to recover a subscription to the company, the court said: “But, aside from the question whether the action of the board of directors beyond the bounds of the state was a sufficient expression of assent to give vitality to the corporation, the appellant's position towards the respondent is such as ought to preclude him from denying its corporate existence. The case of the Dutchess Cotton Manufacturing Company vs Davis, 14 Johns. 238 (7 Am. Dec. 459), was a suit on a iiromise to pay the price of stock subscribed by the defendant. The court, on the authority of Henriques vs The Dutch West India Company,'2 Ld. Raymond,* 1535, held that the defendant, having entered into a contract with the plaintiffs in their corporate name, thereby admitted them to be duly constituted a body politic and corporate. * * * And their authority to act in behalf of the corporation could not be questioned by the appellant in this, a collateral, suit, without showing a judgment of ouster against them in a direct proceeding by the government for that purpose.” In Redfield on Railways, vol. 1, p. 202, it is said: “And even where a mere stranger subscribes to a railway company, with others, in order to induce the company to build a station house and improve the roads to it, and to aid the company in such work, and the company perform the condition on their part, the subscription is upon sufficient consideration, and may be enforced against the subscribers.” In Kennedy vs Cotton, 28 Barb. 59, which was a suit "on a subscription for $50 in consideration that a railroad company would build a depot for the accommodation of travelers, the court said: “The agreement in question clearly imports a request to the company to construct the buildings, and establish and improve the roads specified in the agreement, and a compliance with the request by the company, so far as to construct the depot, which was the consideration, on its part, of the agreement, was a sufficient consideration for the defendant's undertaking. The recent case of Barner vs Ferine, 2 Kern. 18, and the cases there referred to, are entirely decisive upon this point, and render any discussion of it unnecessary.”

Under this specification appellant further insists that there was no agreement between appellant and appellee, and, if there was an agreement, that the evidence does not show a performance of the same by appellee. There are questions that were very properly submitted to the jury. The court could not take the case from the jury where there was evidence to support tbe contention oí the appellee. It is error in the trial court to direct the jury to find and give verdict, except in cases where 'there is no evidence to sustain the cause of action or defense. Little Rock & Fort Smith R. R. Co. vs Henson, 39 Ark. 219; Catlett vs R. R. Co., 57 Ark. 461, 21 S. W. 1062, 38 Am. St. Rep. 254; Little Rock & Fort Smith R. R. Co. vs Barker and Wife, 33 Ark. 350, 34 Am. Rep. 44; Overton vs Matthews, 35 Ark. 147, 37 Am. Rep. 9.

The second specification of error is as follows: “The court committed error in giving contradictory instructions and instructions calculated to confuse the jury. The instructions complained of in this assignment being the entire charge as found on pages 115 to 120 of the transcript, and which the court is asked to consider without compelling the appellant to set it out in full.” This is not compliance with the rules of the court, and deserves no consideration whatever. But from a careful reading of the charge given by the court no one able to comprehend the English language clearly and forcibly stated, could regard said instructions as contradictory, or calculated to confuse the jury.

The third specification of error is the refusal of the court to allow witness Bayless to be asked on cross-examination the following: “Was the question of the interest that the Arkansas & Oklahoma Railroad Company should have in the town that would be laid out there discussed at that first meeting?” As the only conditions of the contract were that “said extension be of standard gauge, laid with new steel rails of not less than 60 lbs. per yard, all material to be new,” and the subscription should become due when> the railroad was completed to the town of Grove, Ind. Ter., and the first train is run thereon, and the subscription to become void if these conditions were not complied with on or before December 31, 1900, it was wholly immaterial whether the railroad company had any interest in said town or not. Therefore the court ruled correctly.

The fourth specification was the refusal of the court to allow witness Bayless to be asked 'whether the company did not put in ties after it had completed its road, and whether it had a schedule for its trains; both questions incompetent and immaterial, and were properly excluded by the court.

The fifth specification was permitting the appellee to ask witness Mayes if, when the subscription was deposited in the 'Bank of Southwest City, the company did not accept the proposition, and go to work along that line. This went to the question of liability of appellant on his subscription, and was material, and the court ruled correctly.

The sixth specification was a question as to the speed of the trains run, and was wholly immaterial.

The seventh specification was the refusal of the court to allow appellant to ask several questions, which were irrelevant and immaterial, and were properly excluded. Appellant also excepts to the striking out the following: “Well, they have changed it. The kind they have got there now is old and narrow.” This refers to the steel placed on that railroad, and should be considered in connection with what preceded the words stricken out. Both together are as follows: “Q. Do you- know the kind of steel that was put on this track, Mr. Remson? A. Yes, sir; it was' first-class. Q. What kind is there now? A. Well, they have changed it. The kind they have got there now is old and narrow.” It thus appears that the steel originally placed on that track was “first-class,” but that subsequently it was changed — by whom does not appear. This objection and exception simply represents the frjvolous character of many of the alleged errors.

The eighth specification was the refusal of the court to allow the appellant, while on the stand as a witness, to be asked whether the company worked on the track after December 31 1900. It was properly excluded as immaterial, and appellant also includes an exception which had already been made in his fourth specification.

The ninth specification was the giving of the following-instruction: “The court instructs the jury that if the defendant, among others, subscribed to the said railroad company for the purpose of inducing it to build its road into the town of Grove, Ind. Ter., and the representatives of the railroad company accepted the subscription, and acted on the same, and began work, then the court instructs you that the defendant is bound, and could not, at a subsequent date to the time the plaintiff acted upon said subscription, withdraw his subscription, or release himself from the obligation he had undertaken.” This instruction is a clear statement of the law applicable to the facts, as appellee contended had been shown in the evidence. 1 Beach, Con. 65. Philomath College vs Hartless, 25 Am. Rep. 511; Bates County vs Winters, 112 U. S. 327, 5 Sup. Ct. 157, 28 L. Ed. 744; Marie vs Garrison, 83 N. Y. 26; Ft. Worth & R. G. Ry. Co. vs Lindsey (Tex. Civ. App.) 32 S. W. 716; Armstrong vs Karshner (Ohio) 24 N. E. 897; Amherst Academy vs Cowls, 6 Pick. 427, 17 Am. Dec. 387.

The tenth specification was the refusal of the court to give the instruction No. 1 requested by appellant, and modifying and giving the same, as follows: “The plaintiff, before it can recover in this case, must prove, first, that the writing sued on by the plaintiff was signed by defendant or his duly authorised -agent; second, that the plaintiff accepted the same, or that defendant, after signing the same, allowed the plaintiff to build and complete the road without notifying the plaintiff that he would not abide by the terms of .said writing; third, the road was completed within the time specified and in the manner specified, and the grading of the road should be completed in the manner specified.” The only difference between the instruction given and the one refused was the omission from the one given of the following words from the second clause: “and notified defendant of such acceptance, and obligated itself to build the road.” The contention of appellant is that, before he could be bound upon his subscription, the appellee must have notified him that it had accepted his subscription and obligated itself to build the road. The appellant has failed to sustain his contention by the citation of any authorities, and the contract of subscription makes no such requirement on the part of appellee. The consideration for the promise was the building of the railroad, and it was to be void if not completed by December 31, 1900. The question of acceptance of the subscription was submitted to the jury as a question of fact, and when accepted and acted upon by appellee, and the road constructed without any notice to appellee that appellant was in any way 'dissatisfied, is there any justice or equity in permitting appellant to say: “I will not pay. True, the road has been constructed according to the terms of my contract of subscription, and the town of Grove has the road. Whatever benefits we expected to secure by the building of the road, we have obtained. But I will not pay because you did not notify me that you had accepted my subscription, though, by its terms, you were not required to do so.” We are clearly of the opinion that the instruction of the court correctly stated the law. Any benefit accruing to him who makes the promise, or any loss, trouble, or disadvantage undergone by or charge .imposed upon him to whom it is made, is a sufficient consideration to sustain a promise. Amherst Academy vs Cowls, 6 Pick. 427, 17 Am. Dec. 387; Barnes vs Perine, 12 N. Y. 18.

The eleventh specification was the refusal of the court to give an instruction already covered by the general instructions of the court.

The twelfth specification is a request for an instruction upon a proposition not mentioned in the pleadings, and foreign to the issues in the cause, and was properly refused.

The thirteenth specification was the refusal of the court to give the instruction No. 4 requested by appellant, and giving the same in a modified form, as follows: “In order for the defendant to recover in this case, it must have completed its road to Grove on or before December 31, 1900. The fact that rails and a train run over them is not conclusive that the road is entitled to recover, but the company, in order to recover, must show that the road on December 31, 1900, complied with the conditions of the defendant’s subscription.” The instruction requested was that the court should tell the jury that it was necessary, in order to find that the road had been completed, to find a state of facts not mentioned in the contract. The court very properly refused the request, and instructed the jury that they must find that the road on December 31, 1900, “complied with the conditions of the defendant’s subscription.” Substantial' compliance with the terms of the contract was sufficient tó entitle appellee to collect the subscription.

The fourteenth specification was the refusal of the court to give instruction No. 5 requested bjr appellant, and giving the same in a modified form, as follows: “If you believe from the evidence that after the writing sued on was signed by the defendant the plaintiff demanded that a new and additional writing be signed by the defendant, and that with the demand to sign an additional writing the plaintiff stated that, if the demand of the plaintiff was not complied with, the plaintiff would not build the road, the defendant had a right to treat the negotiations at an end, and to withdraw the offer contained in the writing sued -on, and, if defendant did on such demand, coupled with such statement, treat the negotiations as ended, and withdraw his promise in such a way as to notify plaintiff, and never afterwards renewed negotiations, the plaintiff cannot recover; provided such demand by plaintiff and such withdrawal of promise by defendant were made before plaintiff had acted thereon by arranging for and commencing the construction of its road.” Had the appellant inserted-in his instruction after the words “treat the negotiations as ended” the words “and withdrew his promise in such a was as to notify plaintiff,” the same as stated by the court in the modified instruction given, the instruction requested would have been unobjectionable. The proviso added by the court in the modified instruction was unnecessary, and, as stated, was unquestionably erroneous; but from-a consideration of the whole case we do not regard this error as sufficient to cause a reversal, for the reason that it does not affect materially the substantial rights of the appellant.

The fifteenth and sixteenth specifications were the refusal of the court to give certain instructions requested by appellant. The first goes to the question as to whether a contract had been made, and the instructions which had already been given by the court, in our opinion, had fully covered that question. The second does not cover any question contained in the contract, or issue made in the pleadings, and both were properly refused.

The seventeenth specification was the alleged error of the court in giving certain instructions, which have already been considered under previous specifications.

The eighteenth specification was the refusal of the court to grant a new trial. We think the judgment of the court in refusing a new trial was correct, and therefore the judgment should be, and is hereby, affirmed. '

Raymond, C. J., and .Clayton, J., concur.