Queen Anne's Ferry & Equipment Co. v. Queen Anne's R.

148 F. 41, 1906 U.S. App. LEXIS 4953

• Court: District Court, D. Maryland
• Decided: May 9, 1906
• Status: Published

Opinion

MORRIS, District Judge.

The original bill in this case was a general creditors’ bill against the Queen Anne’s Railroad Company filed February 20, 1904. The bill alleged that the railroad company was largely indebted to the complainant for arrears of rental for three steamboats owned by the complainant and leased to and used by the railroad conipany in the operation of its road; and alleged that the defendant company was also largely indebted to many other creditors for supplies and materials furnished for the operation and maintenance of its lines of railroad and. ferries; and that, if the numerous creditors who were pressing for payment were allowed to enforce their claims by suits, the result would be to deprive the railroad company of the means of operating its system of railroad and ferries, and to destroy its power to earn revenue and to meet its obligations. The bill alleged that there was secured by a mortgage of the railroad three series of bonds: First, a series of first preference 5 per cent, bonds aggregating $330,-000; second, a series of consolidated mortgage bonds, of which $866,-000 were outstanding; and, also, a series of income mortgage bonds aggregating $600,000. The bill alleged that the corporation was insolvent, and that, in order to protect the holders of the bonds, as well as all other creditors, it was absolutely essential that the railroad property should be kept and maintained and disposed of as an entirety, and that any other course would result in the utter dissipation and waste of the corporate assets and property. The bill prayed for the appointment of a receiver with power to operate the railroad, ferries, and steamboats, leased, controlled, and operated in conjunction with the railroad, with all the usual powers given to receivers in like cases to continue the business and maintain the integrity of the system of railroads and ferries. On the same day the defendant railroad company 'answered, admitting the allegations of the bill, and consented to the appointment of a receiver as prayed. On the same day the receiver was appointed as prayed. He was authorized to pay the interest on the $330,000 first preference bonds; to pay all the rentals, taxes, and fixed charges necessary to prevent such defaults as would imperil the integrity of the system of railroads; and to pay the debts for wages, services, materials, and supplies growing out of operation of the railroad within a period not exceeding six months anterior to the date of the decree. The receiver proceeded to execute the powers given to him and operated the railroad and connecting ferries for about 12 months when he delivered possession to the purchaser under the foreclosure sale. On November 26, 1904, the International Trust Company, the trustee named in the mortgage, filed a petition praying leave to file a bill of complaint for the foreclosure of its mortgage of the railroad property. Leave was granted and on the same day the bill was filed asking for a decree for sale subject to the $330,000 first mortgage preference bonds. Upon the consent of the Queen Anne’s Railroad Company, a decree was entered as prayed. The receivership case and the foreclosure case were consolidated and a sale was made and ratified for the sum of $480,000. The purchasers reported were Henry P. Scott and Nicholas P. Bond. Qi the purchase price $80,000 wa« paid in cash and the purchasers also delivered to the trustee $865,000 of the first mortgage consolidated bonds, being the total amount issued, also $600,000 of the income bonds, -and stock, of the railroad company of the par value of $883,300, and the receiver was, by order of court, directed to deliver 'possession to the purchasers. The decree for sale provided that, in addition to the $80,000 to be paid in cash at the time of the sale, the purchasers should also pay, as the court might direct, such additional sums in cash as might be required to pay all liens or claims prior in equity to said mortgage (except the first mortgage preference gold bonds) to be determined by the court, the balance of the purchase money to be satisfied by the surrender of first consolidated mortgage bonds.

The foreclosure sale and purchase were really the carrying into effect of an agreement which had been already made between the purchasers and the holders of the first consolidated bonds and the holders of the income bonds and the owners of the stock, by which they were all to receive from the purchasers securities in a new transportation company which was to consolidate under one management this railroad and other lines of transportation. The purchasers were full}' cognizant of the previous history and management of the road and its securities, and are to be treated as affected by any circumstances which would affect the bondholders themselves. There was no surplus income at any lime, and no diversion, as the revenue never, in anyone year, was sufficient to pay the running expenses, and if the claims now in controversy are paid, they can only be paid out of the corpus of the mortgaged property.

The solution of the question raised by the exceptions to the master’s report depends upon whether or not there are present in this case special circumstances which give rise to a peculiar equity in favor of the claimants, ft is quite clear from the facts appearing in the case that the purchasers at the foreclosure sale obtained the bonds with which they propose to pay for the property under such circumstances that whatever equities affected these securities in the hands of those from whom they -were obtained, now affect them in the hands of the purchasers.

Since the case of Gregg v. Metropolitan Trust Company, 197 U. S. 183, 25 Sup. Ct. 415, 49 L. Ed. 717, decided by the Supreme Court in March, 1905, it is to be regarded as the rule that supplies furnished to a railroad are not, where there has been no diversion of income, untitled to precedence over a mortgage .lien, recorded before the supplies were furnished, where there are no special circumstances affecting the mortgage bondholders’ claim to priority. There having been no diversion in this case, the inquiry will be addressed to the question whether there were any special circumstances which ought to create an exception to the general rule.

The mortgage foreclosed is dated March 1, 1901. It provides that if the railroad shall fail to pay any semi-annual installment of interest, or fail to. keep the property free from all taxes and other liens, then the trustee may take possession of all the mortgaged property, and if requested in writing by 20 per cent, of any series of bonds and indemnified against liability, shall be bound to take possession subject to the right of a majority in amount of the outstanding bond's to countermand such action. Also it is provided that, in case of such default, on the written request of 50 per cent, of all the bonds outstanding, the trustee shall take possession of the railroad and property, and all books, records, papers, accounts, and money of the railroad, and all management and control thereof, and manage and operate the same and receive the income thereof and apply the same, first to the management of the railroad and to making such repairs thereon as may be needed to keep the same in good working order, next to the payment of the interest and principal of the bonds, or, on written request of 50 per cent, of the bonds in default, to sell all the property. It is also provided that, in-every case of default, the duty of the trustee should be subject to the right and power of the majority in amount of the bonds to direct and control the trustee’s action, or to order more effectual remedies, and also that 50 per cent, or more of the bonds outstanding might, at any time, remove the trustee and appoint a new one.

It was the summer excursion business of the railroad and its steamers which was depended upon for revenue. It was found, however, after the summer of 1902, that there had accumulated a large floating debt, and that the financial condition of the railroad was altogether bad. The holders of the first consolidated mortgage bonds and the income bonds were driven to act in order to keep the railroad a going concern until they could get a purchaser for it. The owners of the bonds were very largely also the owners of the stock, and practically they were the owners of the road subject to the $330,000 of preference bonds. The semi-annual interest coupons on the bonds due September 1, 1902, were paid, but it was certain that default would be made in the payment of the coupons falling due March 1, 1903, and something had to be done to preserve the credit of the railroad and keep it going. To attain this end the holders of the first consolidated mortgage bonds, the holders of the income bonds, and the holders of the stock united together and on November 29, 1902, appointed a committee which became known as the “Securities Committee.” This committee from the first represented 75 per cent, of the bondholders and .stockholders, and during its active' existence all the bondholders and .substantially all the stockholders made themseves parties to the agreement by which the committee was appointed. This committee of five entered upon the duty of preserving and maintaining the railroad as a going concern. They held their first meeting on December 6. 1902, and. as appears from their minute book, between that date and February 21, 1904, when the receiver was appointed by this court they held 42 meetings. During that time the directors of, the company held but one meeting and the stockholders one meeting. It is to be seen, from their minutes and from what they actually did, that the committee, in exercising the powers given it by the agreement under which it was appointed, exercised supreme control over the railroad and its property and directed everything that concerned it and gave to it the credit which kept it going. By the terms of their appointment, the depositors of the securities gave to the committee the power to represent the depositors in any measure or action of any kind necessary or proper to accomplish the purposes of their appointment, to superintend the operation of the railroad by its officers and directors, and to confer with them as to the management and operation of the road with same powers as the depositors might have, to vote all shares of the capital stock in order to enforce official action on the part of the directors, and to select and elect directors in accordance with the opinion of the committee, and, finally, to negotiate a sale of the securities and property and franchise of the company, a sale, however, before consummated to be submitted to a meeting of the security holders. The committee, for the purpose of raising money to operate the road most effectually and to provide new equipment and additions, were authorized to pledge the securities deposited, and, if unable to sell the prop-ert}', were authorized to form a new company to take it over, also to institute proceedings to foreclose the mortgage or to postpone such proceedings. As the committee had all the powers that the bondholders had and all the powers of the stockholders, with the power to change the trustee designated by the bondholders’ mortgage, and to change the directors, and, as the purpose of their appointment was to keep the road running until a reorganization or sale could be effected, it is quite clear that they could, in substance, do whatever any or all of the interest they,represented could do.

When we examine the minutes of the meetings of the committee and the testimony to see what they really did do, I think it becomes apparent that they, in fact, managed the railroad as persons having absolute control and possession would manage it. The committee authorized the purchase of additional passenger coaches and a locomotive; they negotiated with and employed a new general manager, and when his management proved disappointing to them they discharged him; they took in charge matters connected with the terminals at Queenstown and Love Point and authorized contracts with regard to them; they authorized the purchase of new railroad ties; they investigated the causes of an accident to the steamer Queen Anne, and directed the painting of the steamer Caroline; they authorized the compromise of disputed bills of the Dry Dock Company; they authorized contracts to be made for the supplies of coal; they authorized the purchase of a barge and additional engines, and the building of a new station; they gave orders for a plan for lighting certain piers and for the erection of a derrick. Finally, after the committee had been thus in control of the property from January, 1903, for over a year, they negotiated with the present purchasers for a sale to them upon an agreed plan and instructed their counsel in connection with the counsel, of the purchasers to institute a suit for a friendly receiver, to the end that the plan of sale which had been agreed upon should be faithfully carried into effect. The suit was instituted and a receiver recommended after a conference between the securities committee and the intending purchasers of the road was appointed. It appears that the general manager selected by the securities committee reported directly to the committee, and that after the committee took hold and were furnishing the money to keep the road running and had authority to determine, subject to the ratification of the bondholders, the terms of the sale, the board of directors as such practically abdicated; indeed they were helpless to do anything. The chairman of the securities committee, Mr. Oler, testifies that-the committee practically took over the management of the road, and, as it had never been able to meet its expenses, the committee arranged to raise money to carry it along and keep up its credit with the people who sold it its current supplies, and that the expenditures were reported to the committee and controlled by it. By the terms of sale finally agreed upon, for each consolidated mortgage bond the holder was to receive $1,200 in stock of the Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia Railroad Company, and for each income bond $50 of the said stock, and the holder of each share of the old stock was to receive $1 of the said new stock. It thus appears that what the securities committee did was just what the trustee under the mortgage by direction of the bondholders would have had the right to do, viz., to take possession of the road and run it, making repairs and keeping it in working order and finally to sell it. When a trustee takes' such possession, the debts incurred by the trustee in running the road are to be paid in preference to the lien of the bondholders, whose agent the trustee is.

In this case the situation was complex. There was an impending possibility that, its credit being exhausted, its business not paying its running expenses, the whole system of railroad and ferries might collapse and the consolidated bondholders might lose everything. It was thought best that a committee composed of persons who held the bonds should endeavor to meet the difficulties, so the committee took charge in place of the trustee under the mortgage. They worked faithfully and sedulously. They held meetings and kept careful minutes of their proceedings showing what things they ordered to be done and what contracts they directed should be made, what persons should be employed or discharged, and they borrowed money and put it into the treasury. Many and difficult questions of policy and detail were discussed and decided by them. They did sustain the credit of the company and did keep the road running and did effect a sale in the results of which the bondholders and stockholders participated, and they carried the transaction through by means of a nominal sale made by the court’s decree, but in reality upon the terms previously arranged by the committee with the purchasers. It should be stated in justice to the gentlemen composing the securities committee, themselves large bondholders, and whose names undoubtedly gave financial standing to the railroad, that there is nothing in the case to indicate that they did not intend that creditors who furnished the supplies and materials while they were managing the road should be paid out of the proceeds of the property. They represented the bondholders and were themselves bondholders, and they represented stockholders, but the bondholders alone had any substantial interest, as the company was insolvent and earning nothing for stockholders. With no adequate income out of which to pay the running expenses, what was there to meet the deficit except the proceeds of the property? To suppose, that the committee were, for over a year, lending themselves to a scheme by which persons furnishing operating supplies to a general manager appointed by them and acting for them were to be left unpaid, is to do them injustice. In making the contract for sale of the property the purchasers were told that there was existing a floating debt of the railroad company for operating expenses. The existence of such a floating debt was mentioned in the agreement of sale dated February IS, 1904, and an itemized statement was agreed to be furnished, although it does not appear that it was ever insisted upon.

The contract of sale of February 15, 1904, begins by reciting the amount and nature of the outstanding securities of the Queen Anne’s Railroad Company, including this recital:

“And whereas the said railroad company is indebted to various persons [including its indebtedness to said committee] as shown by the statement marked ‘A’ herewith attached.”

Then, after reciting that it is the wish of all the parties to the agreement that a new corporation shall he formed which shall acquire the said railroad property and other property, and shall be bonded and capitalized as therein stated, it is further recited:

“And whereas it is the desire of the parties of the first part [that is the securities committee and all the holders of securities of the Queen Anne’s railroad who joined in the contracts of sale with the committee] to facilitate in every way the formation of such new corporation or the reorganizafion of the present Queen Anne’s railroad corporation, to the end that when i la-same is formed or reorganized and securities now owned by them shall be exchanged for the new securities in the name and ou the terms hereinafter set: forth. And whereas the said parties of the second part [the purchasers] have agreed that they will endeavor within a reasonable lime as hereinafter mentioned to carry the above purpose into effect; Provided that tbe said parties of the first part will contract and agree to take the new securities of the character and to the amount hereinafter designated in exchange and full payment for the various bonds and stocks of the Queen Anne’s railroad now held by them, if and when the said parties of the second part shall lie able to deliver said new securities which said parties of the first part have agreed to do wherefore these presents are executed.”

.1 think it clearly appears that this whole reorganization arrangement for the benefit of the bondholders and stockholders of the Queen Anne's Railroad Company was one which could not be lawfully carried out to the exclusion and destruction of the rights of the creditors of the road for operating expenses incurred by the securities committee in effecting the arrangement: that the agreement appointing the securities committee, and by which they acquired control of the bonds which they sold to the purchasers of the road, contemplated that the deficit in operating expenses should be borne by the bondholders, as is shown by a provision in respect to a plan of reorganization, afterwards modified, in which it was provided that $135,000 of new bonds should be applicable to “the repayment of the advances, loans, and indebtedness which may be made and incurred by said committee in carrying out the terms and purposes of this agreement, whether such indebtedness be incurred for the purpose of operating said railroad company in the most effective manner as hereinbefore set out or providing new equipment and additions to the present property, or in providing expenses for the proper and effective carrying out of the objects and purposes of this agreement.” The scheme which was in contemplation when the $135,000 of new bonds were specifically appropriated to debts and expenses it was found could not ,be consummated, and, in consequence, the property remained in the hands of the committee and the receiver much longer than was anticipated and the deficit grew larger. But none the less the effect was necessarily to pledge the deposited bonds for the debts incurred by the securities committee in operating the road as they were authorized to do after they accepted the appointment. All these matters were perfectly well known to the purchasers of the bonds'and of the railroad. The securities committee was, in fact and in effect, the agent of the bondholders, and the debts which they contracted in doing what they were appointed to do were, in effect, the debts of the bondholders. The default in the payment of interest on the consolidated bonds foreseen at the time of the appointment'of the securities committee on November 29, 1902, to be inevitable, took place March 1, 1903. Upon that default happening, the trustee under the mortgage which secured the bonds was by it authorized to take possession upon request of 20 per cent, of the holders of the consolidated bonds. As the securities committee, did, in fact, in the execution of their duties, proceed to take over and operate the road, the responsibility of the bondholders for their action should fairly date from the point of time when the bondholders themselves, through their trustee, might have taken possession, viz., the 1st of March, 1903, and I think it follows that tfre bonds, and the property on which they were secured, are chargeable with the operating expenses of the road incurred from and after March 1, 1903. It follows that the exceptions to the master’s report based upon the disallowance of priority'to the operating expenses incurred after March 1, 1903, are sustained.

Bills for advertising. I can see no reason for excluding them. The road, although hopelessly insolvent, was kept running by the bondholders for two purposes: First, to attract a purchaser; second, to obtain as much income as it could be made to produce. To do this public notice by advertisement of the running of trains was essential, and it seems to me in such a case as this the cost of the advertisements is a proper expense legitimately incurred to keep the road running. The findings of the master with regard to the validity of the several claims of creditors of the company, apart from their question of priority over the mortgage debt, appear to me to be correct, and they all appear to me to be for expenses for which the trustee under the mortgage would have been liable if the trustee, by direction of the bondholders, had formally taken over the road and run it, and therefore they are such as the bondholders are liable to pay, they having, in substance, done indirectly the same thing through the securities committee.

I will sign an order in accordance with the foregoing views. If, however, there are any claims of creditors which it is thought for special reasons ought not to be governed by this general ruling, I shall be glad to have counsel bring them to my attention and to specially consider them.