Johnson v. Chandler

207 P. 614, 24 Ariz. 163, 1922 Ariz. LEXIS 196
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJune 14, 1922
DocketCivil No. 2073
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 207 P. 614 (Johnson v. Chandler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Chandler, 207 P. 614, 24 Ariz. 163, 1922 Ariz. LEXIS 196 (Ark. 1922).

Opinion

ROSS, C. J.

The statement of the case by the appellant, and his assignments of error, are as follows :

“This is a proceeding brought by the board of directors of the Auxiliary Eastern Canal Irrigation District under the provisions of section 28 of chapter 149, Laws of 1921, to obtain a judicial determination as to the legality of the organization of the district and the regularity and legality of the proceedings of the board of directors of said district providing for and authorizing the issue and sale of the first series of $2,000,000 of 7 per cent bonds of said district.

“An answer was filed to the petition by John Johnson, appellant herein, which raised the issue, as provided in the said act, by general demurrer, first, as to the constitutionality of the act known as chapter 8, Laws of 1915, under which the district was organized, and of the act approved March 19, 1921, under which the proceedings for the issue of said bonds were had; and, second, as to the regularity of the proceedings relating to the issue of said bonds.

‘ ‘ The respondent also raised, by way of answer, an issue as to the authority of the board of directors of the district to enter into a contract with the Salt [166]*166Biver Valley Water Users’ Association under.which certain of the proceeds of the sale of said bonds is proposed to be used in the acquisition of certain power rights.

“The petition set forth in extenso the various proceedings leading to the organization of the district and to the proceedings leading to the issue of said bonds by the district. The pleading of John Johnson also set forth the facts relating to the proposed contract with the Salt Biver Valley Water Users’ Association. The facts so set forth were admitted by the petitioners in a reply made to the answer filed by respondent.

“The court heard the case upon the agreement and stipulation of counsel that the facts as contained in the petition and in the answer of John Johnson were true and correct and upon certain documentary evidence as to the powers of the Salt Biver Valley Water Users’ Association with relation to the proposed contract.

“The trial court entered its judgment based upon findings of fact and conclusions of law.

“First, sustaining the constitutionality of the acts above mentioned;

“Second, affirming’ and approving the proceedings of the district with respect to the issue of said bonds and confirming and approving the legality of said bonds; and

‘ ‘ Third, confirming the authority of the district and of the Salt Biver Valley Water Users’ Association to enter into the contract above mentioned.

“From this judgment the respondent John Johnson has appealed to this court.

“Assignments of Error.

“I. The court erred in holding that the act known as chapter 8 of the Laws of 1915, Second Special Session, is constitutional and a valid act of the Legislature :

“First, because the act attempts to create a class of public corporations not authorized by the Constitu-. tion of the state.

“Second, because said act confers upon the board of supervisors of a county legislative powers in the creation of corporations;

[167]*167“Third, because it authorizes the levy by irrigation districts of taxes, upon real estate without limitation;

“Fourth, because it violates the provisions of section 1 of article 9 of the Constitution of the state by providing a system of taxation which excludes from its operation all personal property within the district;

“Fifth, because it violates the provisions of section 1 of article 9 of the state Constitution in that the taxes authorized to be levied in the district are not uniform;

“Sixth, because said act conflicts with the Constitution of the United States by authorizing the appropriation of private property, without the owner’s consent, to a mere private use;

“Seventh, because it conflicts with section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States by authorizing the appropriation of the property of nonresidents without due process of law.

“II. The court erred in holding that chapter 149 of the Laws of 1921, being the act approved March 19, 1921, is constitutional and a valid act of the Legislature of the state of Arizona, for the reasons enumerated and set forth in the foregoing assignment.

“III. The court erred in entering its judgment and decree in that the findings of the court do not sustain said judgment:

“First, because the facts found do not sustain the conclusion of law that the district was duly and regularly organized;

“Second, in that they do not sustain the conclusion of law that the proceedings with respect to the issuance of bonds were regular and in accordance with law;

‘ ‘ Third, that the facts found do not sustain the conclusion of law that the board of directors of the district has authority to enter into the proposed contract with the Salt Eiver Valley Water Users’ Association because the contract proposed does not contemplate the ownership by the district of the works for the construction of which the contribution is to be made by the district under its terms.”

There is no controversy whatever about the facts, or that the proceedings in the organization of Auxiliary Eastern Canal Irrigation District and the [168]*168proceedings concerning the proposed bond issue were entirely regular and in exact conformity with the statute, the only questions presented for our consideration being questions involving the constitutionality of chapters 8 and 149 referred to in the statement of facts, as applied to those facts. It may be stated preliminarily that all of the Pacific Coast states, and two states of the middle west (Nebraska and Kansas), have enacted laws providing for the organization of irrigation districts for the purpose of reclaiming their arid lands. The pioneer in such legislation was California, when in 1887 it enacted what is known as the Wright Irrigation Law. Other states adopting similar laws are Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Montana, Kansas and Nebraska. The enactments by the legislature of Arizona, in 1915 and in 1921, as we understand, are in all essential features like the Wright Law as amended from time to time, and the laws of the other named states. In fact, it is certain such laws were used as a guide rathe drafting of ours. We are fortunate in that respect, as the Wright Law and its prototypes have many times been before the highest courts of the states adopting it, and once before the Supreme Court of the United States, and in all of these courts the law has been upheld as constitutional. We are cited to no case, and in our research we have found none, taking a contrary view, except the case of Bradley v. Fallbrook Irr. Dist. (C. C.), 68 Fed. 948, which later, upon appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, was reversed in 164 U. S. 112, 41 L. Ed. 369, 17 Sup. Ct. Rep. 56 (see, also, Rose’s U. S. Notes). So that it may be truthfully said that the courts, national and state, where the Wright Irrigation Law, and others of a similar character, have been brought into review, have all been in accord in upholding the power of the legislature to enact such laws. We will not undertake to discuss each of the assignments separately

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Bluebook (online)
207 P. 614, 24 Ariz. 163, 1922 Ariz. LEXIS 196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-chandler-ariz-1922.