South Carolina Western Railway v. Ellen

78 S.E. 963, 95 S.C. 68, 1913 S.C. LEXIS 224

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: June 6, 1913
• Docket: 8573
• Status: Published

Opinions

The opinion of the Court was delivered -by

Mr. Justice Hydrick.

Sections 20 and 21 of Article IX of the Constitution are as follows:

Section 20. “No right of way shall be appropriated to the use of any corporation until full compensation therefor shall be first made to the owner or secured by a deposit of money, irrespective of any benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation, which compensation shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve men, in a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law.

Section 21. “The General Assembly shall enforce the provisions of this article by appropriate legislation.”

The Civil Code (Section 3292, et seq.) authorizes the condemnation of rights of way for railroads, and prescribes, in detail, the manner in which it shall be done, and in which the compensation to the landowner therefor shall be ascertained.

It is sufficient for the purpose of the present inquiry to say that, when the parties do not agree, and it becomes necessary to resort to condemnation, the corporation shall petition the judge of the circuit, who shall order the petition filed in the clerk's office, and the clerk shall, thereupon, empanel a jury to ascertain the amount of compensation. Section 3296 provides, in substance, that either party may appeal from the verdict of the jury to the Circuit Court, and “if the Court shall be satisfied of the reasonable suffi ciency of the grounds/’ an issue shall be ordered and the question of the amount of compensation shall be submitted to a jury in open court.

The railway company instituted this proceeding to condemn a right of way over defendant’s land, and have the amount of compensation therefor ascertained. From the verdict of the jury empaneled by the clerk, the company appealed to the Circuit Court, and demanded that the amount of compensation should be ascertained by a jury in that Court. The Court was not satisfied of the sufficiency of the grounds of appeal, but held, nevertheless, that the company had the right, under-the section of the Constitution above quoted, to have the compensation ascertained by a jury of twelve men in a court of record, and, holding that the jury empaneled by the clerk was not such a jury, ordered the issue set down for trial in the Circuit Court. The Court held, also, that the company, having pursued the only method by which it could obtain the right of way, and have the compensation to be paid therefor assessed, was not estopped from attacking, as unconstitutional and void, the provision of Section 3296, above quoted, which requires that the Court shall be satisfied of the sufficiency of the grounds of appeal, as a condition precedent to the right of trial by jury in' open court. The appeal challenges these rulings.

1 The first question to be determined is, whether the condemnation proceedings is in the Circuit Court, or is merely a special statutory proceeding, with right of appeal to the Circuit Court; for, if the proceeding is in the Circuit Court, the requirement of the Constitution that the compensation shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve men in a Court of record has been satisfied; otherwise, if it is not.

Condemnation of rights of way was unknown to the common law. Its origin is statutory. It is, therefore, generally regarded by English and American courts as a special statutory proceeding. Numerous expressions in the opinions of this Court, and the result of its decisions, show conclusively that we have heretofore regarded it as a special statutory proceeding, not in the Court, until brought there by appeal. Upon no other hypothesis can the decisions of this Court be harmonized.

In R. Co. v. Ridlehuber, 38 S. C. 308, 17 S. E. 24, the company denied the right of the landowner to compensation for a right of way over his land, and brought an action to enjoin proceedings instituted by him, under the statute, to have his compensation ascertained. The Circuit Court dismissed the action, holding that the rights of the parties could be settled in the proceedings themselves. This Court reversed the ruling, and held that the statute provides only the manner in which the right of way shall be taken and the mode by which the amount of compensation shall be ascertained, and that the issue as to the right to compensation must be determined in an action brought for that purpose. That ruling has been followed ever since.

In Water Co. v. Nunamaker, 73 S. C. 550, 53 S. E. 996, the action was for the same purpose. The Court said: “When the right to institute condemnation proceedings is contested, the proper remedy is to bring an action in the Court of Common Pleas in order that the Court may, in the exercise of its chancery powers, determine such right. Railway v. Ridlehuber, 38 S. C. 308, 17 S. E. 24; Cureton v. Railway, 59 S. C. 371; Glover v. Remley, 62 S. C. 52, 39 S. E. 180; Railroad v. Burton, 63 S. C. 348, 41 S. E. 451; Riley v. Union Station Co., 67 S. C. 84; Reynolds v. Railway, 69 S. C. 481, 48 S. E. 476. These cases show that such action must be regarded as independent, and not ancillary tO' the condemnation proceedings.” On petition for rehearing, in response to appellant’s contention that the Court had overlooked the distinction between ancillary and independent suits, the Court said: “The appellant also cjuotes the language of Mr. Justice Bradley, in Wood, 112, in which, after stating he was unable to find any precedent for a bill for injunction to^ stay proceedings in the same Court, says: ‘I cannot see any necessity for it. If any circumstances exist which render it improper or inequitable to carry on proceedings in this Court, they can always be brought to the attention of the Court by motion or petition in the suit. I shall direct the bill as such to be dismissed, but allow it to stand as a petition in the several suits sought to be suspended. Supposing the matter to be properly brought before the Court, on petition and motion thereon, the question arises whether the proceedings in this Court ought to be stayed.’ Conceding that these principles would prevail if the action herein and the condemnation proceedings were in the same Co%irt, they are not applicable, for the reason that this action was commenced in the Court of Common Pleas, while the condemnation proceedings were instituted in a special statutory tribunal from which an appeal may be taken to the Court of Common Pleas.” (Italics added.) This case is directly in point, and seems to be conclusive of the question.

If the statutory proceedings were in the Court, the Court would not entertain a separate action to enjoin them, for the Court has control of any action or proceeding pending therein. In such cases, the remedy is 'by motion in the cause. Ins. Co. v. Mobley, 90 S. C. 552.

That the parties are given the right to appeal to the Circuit Court shows clearly that the legislature did not regard the proceedings as one in the Court. It would be somewhat anomalous to allow an appeal to a Court from a proceeding in that Court.

The authorities are practically agreed that, when a constitution or statute speaks of a jury, without qualifying-words, it means a common law jury of twelve men, presided over by a Court. But, as statutes in some States provide for “a jury of view,” or “a jury of appraisers,” etc., in condemnation proceedings, no doubt the framers of our Constitution, desiring to make plain their intention that, ip this State, the parties to such proceedings should have the right to the final decision óf a common law jury, undertook to do so by qualifying the word “jury,” by adding that it should consist of “twelve men,” and sit “in a court of record,” which, of course, carries with it the idea that it shall be presided over and instructed by a judge.

In Archer v. Board of Levee Inspectors, 128 Fed. 125, the Court held unconstitutional a statute of Arkansas which provided that, on the complaint of any person aggrieved by the running of a levee through his land, the sheriff of the county should summon a jury of six landowners who should assess the damages and whose decision should be final. The provision of the constitution of Arkansas on the subject was in substance the same as that of our constitution, and almost in the same words. It read as follows: “No property, nor right of way shall be appropriated to the use of any corporation until full compensation therefor shall be first made to the owner in money, or first secured to him by a deposit of money, which compensation, irrespective of any benefit of any improvement proposed by such corporation, shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve men, in a Court of competent jurisdiction, as shall be prescribed by law.”

The reasoning of the Court is so clear and strong that we quote from the opinion at length:

“But it is urged that this act provides for the assessment of damages by a jury. It is true, the act does call the persons who are to assess the damages a jury; but it provides for only six jurors, when the constitutional provision requires a jury of twelve. It is unnecessary tO' determine whether, if that were the only defect in the act, the Court could not disregard the provision limiting the jury to six, and have the issues tried by a jury of twelve. But is the sheriff’s jury provided for by that act a jury, within the meaning of the constitutional provision? A trial by jury, as defined by the Supreme Court of the United States in its latest opinion, is as follows:

“Trial by jury, ‘in the primary and usual sense of the term at the common law and in the American Constitutions is not merely a trial by a jury of twelve men before an officer vested with authority to cause them to be summoned and empaneled, to administer oaths to them and to the constable in charge, and to enter judgment and issue execution on their verdict; but it is a trial by a jury of twelve men in the presence and under the superintendence of a judge empowered to instruct them on the law and to advise them on the facts, and, except on acquittal of a criminal charge, to set aside théir verdict if, in his opinion, it is against the law or the evidence. This proposition has been so generally admitted and so seldom contested that there has been little occasion for its distinct assertion.’ Capital Traction Co. v. Hof, 174 U. S. 1, 13, 19 Sup. Ct. 580, 585, 43 L. Ed. 873.

“Merely calling it a jury does not make it so. The duties of the sheriff’s jury, as defined by the act, are merely those of commissioners. There is no provision for a superintendence by a judge. No one is authorized to instruct them on the law, to advise them on the facts, or to set aside their verdict if it is against the law and evidence. How is the sheriff’s jury to know what items are to be considered by them as elements of damage? No provision is made by the act for anyone to instruct them as to the law, nor is anyone authorized to set aside their verdict, even if it should appear conclusively that the verdict was the result of prejudice, passion, partiality or misconstruction of the law.

“It may be conceded that a proceeding before such a body is not violative of a constitutional provision requiring a trial by a jury, if an appeal can be taken from the decision of that body to a court of record, where a trial de novo may be had by a constitutional jury of twelve men, under the superintendence of a judge. But the act not only fails to provide for an appeal, but expressly declares that the find ings of the sheriff’s jury ‘shall be final in the premises.’ This section of the act is, therefore, clearly in conflict with the constitution of the State.”

Appellant relies upon the remarks of the late Chief Justice McIver, in R. Co. v. R. Co., 57 S. C. 322, 35 S. E. 553, but concedes that they were obiter. Properly understood, however, the argument of the learned judge supports respondent’s contention. In that case, the Circuit Court was satisfied of the sufficiency of the grounds of appeal. There was, therefore, no room for the contention that the defendant who appealed from the verdict of the clerk’s jury, had the right to a trial by jury in open court, without regard to whether he had satisfied the Court of the sufficiency of his grounds of appeal or not. But the contention there was that the whole statute was unconstitutional and void, because the jury trial therein provided for was not a jury trial “in a court of record,” as required by the constitution. In response to that contention, the learned Chief Justice proceeded to show that the statute prescribed certain preliminary steps, which, if complied with, will enable the parties to obtain a jury trial “in a court of record,” which satisfies the constitution, as we shall presently show. The Chief Justice said: “It will thus be seen that the statute makes such provisions as will secure to either party every right guaranteed to him by the constitution, provided he complies with the provisions ‘prescribed by law’ for such purposes. * * * If a party, through his own neglect or omission, fails to obtain in a case like this, or, indeed, in any other case, a right of trial by jury in open court, or any other right guaranteed to him by the constitution, by neglecting to pursue the mode prescribed by law for that purpose, it is not the fault of the law, but the fault is his own.” In that case, it was the defendant’s own fault that it failed to' get a jury trial in open court, because it did not serve its grounds of appeal.

That Chief Justice Mclver did not have in mind, in his discussion of the question raised in that case, the same point we are now considering is clearly shown by his remarks in the subsequent case of R. Co. v. Johnson, 58 S. C. 560, 36 S. E. 919, which was an appeal from an order submitting the issue of compensation to a jury in the Circuit Court. After showing why this Court would not review the ruling of the Circuit Court that it was satisfied of the sufficiency of the grounds of appeal, he said: “Indeed, we may say, though the point has not been raised in this case, and, therefore, is not properly before us for decision, that it is, at least, doubtful whether, under the provisions of section 20 of article IX of the present constitution, a person who has taken an appeal to the Circuit Court in the manner prescribed by the statute, in a case like this, can be denied the right to have the issue of the amount of compensation which should be allowed him tried ‘by a jury of twelve men, in a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law.’ ”

•2 If the legislature had provided no right of appeal, would the proceedings have satisfied the constitutional requirement ? Can it be supposed that the framers of the constitution intended that a matter which was deemed so valuable and important as to be made the subject of a constitutional guarantee should be finally decided by a jury circumstanced as the clerk’s jury ordinarily is? It is usually composed of men who are ignorant of law and the rules of evidence, and without experience in legal procedure. They have no power to punish for contempt of their proceedings, which may, therefore, be affected by irregularities which would utterly vitiate a trial by jury in any court. There is no way by which the jury can be protected from improper influences. There may, and often do, arise nice questions of law as to the elements of just compensation and special damages, and as to the relevancy and competency of evidence. Reft to themselves in the decision of such questions, grave injustice might result. These are mentioned merely as considerations tending to show that the framers of the constitution did not intend that their verdict should be final. On the other hand, perhaps, in a considerable majority of the cases, the matter of ascertaining the compensation is simple and a satisfactory conclusion may be reached merely by viewing the land, and their verdict is satisfactory to all concerned.

This leads to the consideration of the suggestion that, if the clerk’s jury is not a jury in a court of record, then its work is a nullity. By no means. It is a convenient and often satisfactory step in the proceedings which, if pursued according to the statute, will ultimately result in a trial by jury in open court, if either party desires it. Moreover, the verdict is prima facie correct, and furnishes a basis upon which the compensation may be secured by a deposit of money, and thereby prevent needless delay in the progress of the work. “An act is not unconstitutional which provides for an assessment of damages in condemnation proceedings in the first instance by commissioners, viewers, or appraisers, where a right of appeal is secured to a court where a jury trial may be had; and this rule applies even where a jury trial in such proceedings is expressly guaranteed by the constitution, but the appeal must be allowed to a court where the jury of twelve can be had.” 24 Cyc. 195; 6 A. & E. Enc. E. (2d) 981; Faust v. Bailey, 5 Rich. 107; Gregory v. Rhoden, 24 S. C. 97.

The same authorities hold that, if the guaranteed right is not allowed in the first instance, but only on appeal, neither the right of appeal nor the right of jury trial on appeal must be hampered or fettered by unreasonable restrictions. Reasonable restrictions, such as the requirement that notice and grounds of appeal shall be given within a specified time, are permissible, because they are usual and necessary to due and orderly procedure, and the parties can certainly comply with them, and if they fail to obtain the right guaranteed to them, as said by Chief Justice McIver in R. Co. v. R. Co., supra, it will be their own fault and not the fault of the law. But a provision which makes the enjoyment of the right depend upon the judgment or discretion of the judge is unreasonable, because it may result in depriving the parties of the right without fault on their part. Therefore, it so burdens the right as to destroy the full force and effect of the guarantee. It follows that the condition imposed by the statute is violative of the constitution.

3 We next consider whether the company is estopped, because it instituted the proceeding under the statute, from taking the position that the condition in question is void. The company does not contend that the statute is wholly void. Its contention is merely that a single and separable part of it is void, which is not inconsistent with the main purpose and scheme of the act. There is, therefore, nothing in that position which, according to any principle of the law of estoppel or of justice, should work an estoppel. The general principle that one who voluntarily proceeds under a statute and claims benefits thereby conferred will not be heard to question its constitutionality to avoid its burdens, is conceded, and its soundness is not questioned. And, as corporations have no right to exercise the power of eminent domain, except as it may be granted them by the State, in the absence of constitutional restrictions, the legislature may impose upon the exercise of the right by them just such conditions as it may see fit. The corporation may accept the privilege with the conditions imposed, or not at all; but it will not be allowed to accept the privileges and reject the conditions. Gano v. Minneapolis, etc., R. Co., 89 Am. St. R. 393. But that principle is not applicable in this case, because the framers of the constitution expressed the intention that the privilege of condemnation should be accompanied by the right to have the compensation ascertained by a jury in a court of record; The granting of the right to trial by jury in a court of record is imposed by the constitution as a condition or restriction upon the power of the legislature to grant the privilege of condemnation. In other words, the privilege cannot be granted, unless the right is secured. The one must accompany the other.

The makers of the constitution knew that the privilege of exercising the power of eminent domain depended upon the legislative will and action. They knew, also, that that right had for many years been granted, and would, of necessity, be granted in future for the development of the State’s resources. In the face of that knowledge, the language of section 20, above, carries both a prohibition and a command to the legislature, to wit: You shall not grant to any corporation the right to appropriate any right of way, until full compensation therefor shall be first made to the owner, or secured by a deposit of money; and that compensation shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve men in a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law.

The statute affords the only means whereby compensation for rights of way can be ascertain, if the parties cannot agree. This Court has held that where the right to condemn or the right to compensation is not disputed, the mode of ascertaining the compensation prescribed by the statute is exclusive. Glover v. Remley, 62 S. C. 52, 39 S. E. 780. This being so, it is clear-that, if a party who- proceeds under the statute is estopped to say that the condition in question is void, the right guaranteed to accompany the privilege, when granted, is denied without a remedy, contrary to the ancient boast of the law.

The suggestion that the provision for trial by jury was intended for the benefit of the landowner only is not supported by the language used in the constitution, nor by any sound reason that has been advanced. But, even in that view of the case, suppose the landowner were to institute proceedings under the statute to ascertain his compensation, and he is limited to that method in those cases where it is exclusive, would he, too, be estopped? If not, upon what principle could a different rule be applied? Would not the application of a different rule in case of his attack upon the validity of the provision in question be a violation of that provision of the constitution which guarantees to all citizens the equal protection of the laws?

The question of estoppel is not concluded by the decision in Power Company v. Williams, 85 S. C. 179, 67 S. E. 136. In that case, the decision is rested upon two grounds: 1. That which is here invoked, to wit: That the company was estopped to attack the constitutionality of the provision in question, because it had instituted the proceeding under the statute. 2. Because the point had not been presented to or decided by the Circuit Court. This Court has held in numerous cases that questions not presented to- or decided by the Circuit Court are not properly before this Court on appeal. It follows, therefore, that when this Court held that the record did not -show that the Circuit Court had been requested to rule upon the question, any remarks by this Court upon the question itself were obiter, because the question was not properly before the Court. The same is true of the remarks in R. Co. v. R. Co., 57 S. C. 317, 35 S. E. 317, cited in Power Co. v. Williams.

The Chief Justice, Messrs. • Justices Woods and • Watts and Circuit Judges Ernest Gary, Gage, DeVore, Shipp, Sease and Spain, concur. Circuit Judges Prince and Eranic B. Gary, concur in the result.