Oregon Short Line & Utah & Northern Railway Co. v. Standing

37 P. 687, 10 Utah 452, 1894 Utah LEXIS 66
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 31, 1894
DocketNo. 477
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 37 P. 687 (Oregon Short Line & Utah & Northern Railway Co. v. Standing) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Oregon Short Line & Utah & Northern Railway Co. v. Standing, 37 P. 687, 10 Utah 452, 1894 Utah LEXIS 66 (Utah 1894).

Opinion

Smith, J.:

This is an action' begun by tbe plaintiff in tbe court below to enjoin tbe collection of a tax levied in tbe county of Box Elder, amounting to tbe sum of one mill on tbe dollar of tbe plaintiff’s taxable property, tbe same being levied as a tax for tbe support of tbe indigent poor of said county. Tbe total amount of the tax which was claimed to be illegal is $366.04. Tbe plaintiff paid tbe taxes levied upon its property other than tbe one-mill tax levied for tbe support of tbe county poor. Tbe complaint alleged that plaintiff was the owner of a railway track in Box Elder county, also of tbe engines, cars, and other property used in and about tbe running and operation of its railway; that its property was assessed in tbe year 1893 [456]*456at the total assessed valuation of $366,039.90, in that county; that the total taxation, territorial, county, and county school taxes, and special school taxes levied on such property in Box Elder county, was $4,855.66; that, in addition to the tax levied by the statute for territorial school purposes, the county court of Box Elder county also levied upon the property of the plaintiff three mills on the dollar as county taxes, two mills on the dollar as county school tax, and one mill on the dollar as county poor tax. It is this latter tax which is complained of. It is further alleged that there were special school taxes levied within certain school districts within the county. The complaint then alleges that the county court was authorized by law to levy taxes for all county purposes whatsoever, not exceeding three mills on the dollar, and that the levy of said tax of one mill on the dollar for a" county poor tax, in addition to the three mills for county purposes, was in excess of the powers of the county court, and void. Then follow an allegation as to the payment of the legal taxes and a statement of the amount of the illegal tax.

It is then alleged that the defendant is county collector, and, as such officer, claims and demands payment from the plaintiff of the sum of $366.04, being the amount alleged to be excessive and illegal; that the plaintiff had refused to pay the taxes, and that the same had not been paid; that the defendant, in consequence of such refusal, and for the purpose of collecting such illegal tax, and without any other authority, on the 10th of December, 1893, seized and levied upon certain cars belonging to the plaintiff, and advertised the same for sale. It is also alleged that, unless the defendant is restrained, he will sell the property. The court below granted the restraining order and order to show cause. The' defendant appeared, and demurred to the complaint — First, that the [457]*457complaint shows on its face that the county court of Box Elder county had power and authority to levy the tax of one mill on the dollar to provide for the care and maintenance of the indigent sick or otherwise dependent poor in said county; second, that the complaint shows on its face that the county court had authority to levy a property tax in addition to the tax for general county purposes; third, that said complaint shows on its face that plaintiff had a full, speedy, and adequate remedy at law; fourth, that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The court, upon hearing, overruled the demurrer;, and the defendant refusing to answer, and having elected to stand upon the demurrer,, the court entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff, and against the defendant, making the injunction perpetual, and taxing the costs of the action against the defendant. The defendant reserved the proper exceptions to the ruling, and brings the case here for review.

The first question presented is whether or not the county court had authority to levy the tax complained of. Section 2008, subsec. 1, p. 719, 1 Comp; Laws 1888, provides: There is hereby’ levied, and directed to be assessed and collected annually, beginning with the year 1878, an ad valorem tax on all the taxable property in the territory of TTtah, as follows: Three mills on the dollar for territorial purposes; three mills on the dollar for the benefit of district schools; and such sum as the county courts of the several counties may designate for county purposes, not to exceed six mills on the dollar.” This section, however, was amended by the act of 1890 (page 50, Sess. Laws 1890), and made to read’ as follows: “That there is hereby levied and directed to be assessed and collected annually, beginning with the year 1890, an ad valorem tax on all taxable property in the territory of Utah as follows: Two mills on the'dollar .for'.territorial [458]*458purposes, three mills on the dollar for district school purposes, such sums as the county courts’ of the several counties may designate for district school purposes in such counties not to exceed two mills on the dollar and such sums as the county courts of the several counties may designate for county purposes not to exceed three mills on the dollar.”

This language would seem to be quite clear, and to permit of no doubt that the limit of taxation for county purposes other than district school purposes was three mills; but the appellant contends, however, that this is limited or modified by section 187, subsec. 6, p. 299, 1 Comp. Laws 1888, which provides, among other things, as follows: The county courts in their respective counties have jurisdiction and power under such limitations and restrictions as are prescribed by law to provide for the care and maintenance of the indigent sick or the otherwise dependent poor, transients and residents of the county, erect, and officer and maintain hospitals and poor houses in their discretion therefor, or otherwise provide for the same; and for such purposes annually at the time appointed by law for the levying of taxes for county purposes to levy the necessary property tax therefor.” This act was passed March 8, 1888, and was in operation at the time of the passage of the act of 1890 (page 50), above quoted. The question is, does the term “county purposes,” in the act of March, 1890 (page 50, Laws 1890), include the support of the indigent, sick, or'otherwise dependent poor of the'county, or does it only include other county purposes?

It will be observed that the law, since 1878, has permitted the county to levy a tax not to exceed six mills on the dollar for county purposes. The law of 1890 limited this to three mills for county purposes, and two mills or less for the benefit of the district schools of the county. This act having been passed after the act which authorizes [459]*459the county court to levy a tax especially for the benefit of the indigent, sick, or otherwise dependent poor, and seeming to be full and complete legislation on the subject, in our opinion limits or repeals section 187, subsec. 6, p. 299, 1 Comp. Laws, so far as it provides for the levy of a •special tax for that purpose. While repeals by implication are not favored, we think that it is manifest that the legislature intended to limit the power of the county court to levy taxes by the act of 1890, and that that limitation is three mills for county purposes other than school purposes, and two mills for school purposes. We are of the' opinion, therefore, that the levy of the additional tax of one mill on the dollar, in addition to the three-mill levy for county purposes, which was made by the county court of Box Elder county for the support of the poor in that county, was illegal and void.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
37 P. 687, 10 Utah 452, 1894 Utah LEXIS 66, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oregon-short-line-utah-northern-railway-co-v-standing-utah-1894.