State Ex Rel. Hamilton v. Martin

23 P.2d 1, 173 Wash. 249, 1933 Wash. LEXIS 632

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: June 5, 1933
• Docket: No. 24519. En Banc.
• Status: Published

Opinions

Holcomb, J.

Appellant commenced this action in the court below to permanently enjoin and restrain respondents, who constitute the state finance committee, from enforcing, carrying out and administering the provisions of chapter 65, Laws of 1933, p. 336, which authorizes the state finance committee to execute, issue and sell from time to time general obligation bonds of the state in the sum of ten million dollars. In appellant’s complaint, the constitutionality of the act is challenged, alleging that it violates eight separate sections of our state constitution, and further alleging that, in many of its provisions, it conflicts with other existing laws and therefore was inoperative and void. A general demurrer interposed by respondents was presented and, after argument, sustained by the court below. Appellant refusing to further plead, the action was dismissed, from which judgment this appeal is taken.

Chapter 65, Laws of 1933, p. 336 [Rem. 1933 Sup., § 9992-35], is referred to as the “bond act,” and chapter 8, Laws of 1933, p. 103 [Id% 9992-1], which is an interrelated act, is referred to as the “relief act.”

In § 1 of the bond act, designated the preamble, the legislature sets forth the conditions which lead to its enactment. It recites a number of reasons therefor, among others, that:

“Discontent, social unrest and incipient insurrection exist. Acts of insurrection are occurring. . . . A critical emergency calling for constructive action is presented; otherwise catastrophe impends. ... It is imperative that existing unemployment and distress be in some measure allayed. . . . This obligation is upon the state. Legislation is essential for its fulfillment. ’ ’ Rem. 1933 Sup., § 9992-35.

Section 2 authorizes the creation of a state debt and the issuance and sale of bonds in the sum of ten million dollars to carry out the purposes and provisions of chapter 8, Laws of 1933, p. 103, prescribes the terms of such bonds and the manner of their sale. Respondents, who are members of the state finance committee, are charged with the duty of issuing and selling bonds. Section 3 appropriates the proceeds of the bonds for the purpose of paying expenses incurred under and carrying out the provisions of chapter 8, supra. Section 4 authorizes temporary loans from the general fund in anticipation of the issuance and sale of the bonds. Sections 5 and 6 provide for the retirement of the bonds. Section 7 is the emergency clause. The retirement provisions appropriate the equivalent of four-tenths of one cent a gallon of the liquid fuel tax from the motor vehicle fund for primary retirement and interest purposes, and any deficiency is authorized to be raised by general tax levy.

There is no provision made for the submission of the bonds to the people of the state for their approval or rejection.

The relief act, which is interrelated with and referred to in the bond act, has for its purposes, as determined from its title, first, to relieve the people of the state from hardships and suffering caused by unemployment, which is identical with one of the objects sought to be obtained by the enactment of the bond act. The relief act further creates what it terms an emergency relief administration and defines its duties. It makes an appropriation in the sum of twenty thous- and dollars, or so much thereof as might be necessary, for setting up the machinery for the operations of the act.

Both acts were passed with an emergency clause attached.

Appellant first recites the provisions of amendment 14 to our state constitution, reading:

“All taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public purposes only.”

Subdivision (b) of amendment 7 to our state constitution is next set out, reading:

“(b) Referendum. The second power reserved by the people is the referendum, and it may be ordered on any act, bill, law, or any part thereof passed by the legislature, except such laws as may be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, support of the state government and its existing public institutions.”

It is further alleged that the bond act violates §§ 1, 2 and 3 of Art. VIII, of our constitution, which read:

“§1. Limitation op State Debt. The state may, to meet casual deficits or failure in revenues or for expenses not provided for, contract debts, but such debts, direct and contingent, singly or in the aggregate, shall not at any time exceed four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000), and the moneys arising from the loans creating such debts shall be applied to the purpose for which they were obtained, or to repay the debts so contracted, and to no other purpose whatever.”

“§ 2. Powers Extended in Certain Cases. In addition to the above limited power to contract debts, the state may contract debts to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or to defend the state in war, but the money arising from the contracting of such debts shall be applied to the purpose for which it was raised, and no other purpose whatever.”

“§ 3. Special Indebtedness, How Authorized. Except the debt specified in sections one and two of this article, no debts shall hereafter be contracted by or on behalf of this state, unless such debt shall be authorized by law for some single work or object to be distinctly specified therein, which law shall provide ways and means, exclusive of loans, for the payment of the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt within twenty years from the time of the contracting thereof. No such law shall take effect, until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the people and have received a majority of all the votes east for and against it at such election, and all moneys raised by authority of such law shall be applied only to the specific object therein stated, or to the payment of the debt thereby created, and such law shall be published in at least one newspaper in each county, if one be published therein, throughout the state, for three months next preceding the election at which it is submitted to the people.”

It cannot be doubted that the indebtedness and tax appropriated to its payment, being for the relief of state-wide unemployment and poverty, are for a public purpose and permissible under amendment 14, supra, if otherwise valid. Rust v. Kitsap County, 111 Wash. 170, 189 Pac. 994; Rummens v. Evans, 168 Wash. 527, 13 P. (2d) 26; Kruesel v. Collin, 170 Wash. 233, 16 P. (2d) 442 ; 21 R. C. L. 701.

Nor can it be doubted that the title to chapter 65, the bond act, which is general rather than restrictive in its scope, sufficiently complies with the constitutional provision as to titles to enactments. In re Hulet, 159 Wash. 98, 292 Pac. 430, and cases cited.

Neither can it be doubted that the emergency clauses are valid under our seventh amendment if the legislation is otherwise valid; since, if the emergency justifying the legislation is not necessary and valid, it is palpably plain that the legislation is such that it could not be enacted without submitting to a popular vote for approval, under our constitution, Art. VIII, §3.

The principal question to be determined is: Are the bonds valid without popular submission and approval, within the meaning of § 2, Art. VIII, of our constitution?

An act of the legislature is only to be overthrown by virtue of some specific limitation or prohibition in the paramount law. Where a doubt exists the act is sustained. State ex rel. Case v. Howell, 85 Wash. 294, 147 Pac. 1159, Ann Cas. 1916A, 1231; State ex rel. Short v. Hinkle, 116 Wash. 1, 198 Pac. 535; State ex rel. Campbell v. Stewart, 54 Mont. 504, 171 Pac. 755; Baker v. Hill, 180 Ark. 387, 21 S. W. (2d) 867; Hovey v. Foster, 118 Ind. 502, 21 N. E. 39.

It must be remembered, also, that the governor is a part of the legislative authority of the state; and the governor approved the legislation we have now before us, thus approving both the necessity for the combined legislation and the emergency existing. As was said in Gottstein v. Lister, 88 Wash. 462, 497, 153 Pac. 595, Ann. Cas. 1917D, 1008:

“The courts are not the sole guardians of the constitution, and while it is necessary that each department of the government heed the mandates of that instrument, it is no less important that the courts should not reach out beyond their constitutional sphere to question and draw to themselves duties and powers which belong to the other departments of the government. ’ ’

Our constitution also provides that:

“The governor shall have power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the state to suppress insurrections and repel invasions. ’ ’ Art. X, ^ 2.

In a contingency under this provision of the constitution, where it was shown only that there were dangers of destruction to life and property in two communities in one county in the state, Governor Perry ordered the state militia to the localities in order to prevent destruction of life and property. Chapin v. Ferry, 3 Wash. 386, 28 Pac. 754, 15 L. R. A. 116. In that case, we said:

“Ample grounds existed, as shown by the petition, for the governor’s order of that date; and, whether they did or did not, his excellency was the sole judge of the situation, and his decision was not to be questioned, either by the troops or the courts, or in any other way than that pointed out in the constitution.”

We there, also, said:

“In these cases prevention is to be desired, not cure; and it is to be hoped that for all time in this state, as in this case, a show of force, without the firing of a shot, will be sufficient to secure respect for the law and the safety of the people.”

Prevention is always better than cure, whether in the body politic or in the human body. Disorders which constitute “incipient insurrection” were declared by the legislature and approved by the governor as existing in this state at the time the combined legislation was enacted. It would seem to any rational mind that it is far better to cure insurrection or incipient insurrection by promoting prosperity rather than by the use of bullets.

It is not to be considered that our constitution makers contemplated that there must be actual, armed, insurrection, with bloodshed, before taking steps and providing means with which to suppress it. “Suppress” means “to prevent,” as well as to subdue or put down by force, as defined in Chapin v. Ferry, supra. Lexicographers define “insurrection” as

“Action or act of rising ag’ainst civil or political authority, or the established government; open- and active opposition to the execution of law in a city or state ; — -usually implying less magnitude and success than there is in case of rebels, etc.” (Webster’s New Int. Diet.)

This does not connote armed opposition or resistance. “Incipient” means “beginning to be, or to show itself; commencing; initial.” (Webster’s New Int. Diet.)

In Rummens v. Evans, supra, this court took notice of the economic and financial conditions then existing (June 30, 1932). All men know and we, as judges, must know that the conditions then existing were probably intensified until the legislature of 1933 met and passed the combined legislation here in question. Widespread hunger and privation, unrelieved, inevitably lead to disorder and reprisal. Unless the same be relieved, insurrection is indeed possible.

Here, the legislature declared and the executive approved the declaration that “Discontent, social unrest and incipient insurrection exist. Acts of insurrection are occurring.”

We have always held to the rule that the legislative declaration of the facts constituting the emergency is conclusive, unless, giving effect to every presumption in its favor, the court can say that such legislative declaration, on its face, is obviously false and a palpable attempt at dissimulation. State ex rel. Brislawn v. Meath, 84 Wash. 302, 147 Pac. 11; State ex rel. Case v. Howell, supra; State ex rel. Short v. Hinkle, supra; State ex rel. Reiter v. Hinkle, 161 Wash. 652, 297 Pac. 1071. In the recent case of State ex rel. Burt v. Hutchinson, ante p. 72, 21 P. (2d) 514, the majority held that the legislation there in question was not necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, or support of the state government and its existing* institutions; and that the legislative declaration was unjustifiable and untrue, and, therefore, violative of the seventh amendment.

It is also well settled, both here and elsewhere, that, in determining the truth or falsity of a legislative declaration of a fact, the court will enter upon no inquiry as to the facts, but must consider the question from what appears upon the face of the act, aided by its judicial knowledge. Cases above cited; State ex rel. Govan v. Clausen, 108 Wash. 133, 183 Pac. 115; Hovey v. Foster, supra; Franklin v. State Board Examiners, 23 Cal. 173; People v. Pacheco, 27 Cal. 176; Trustees of Cass Township v. Dillon, 16 Ohio 38; Gustafson v. Rhinow, 144 Minn. 415, 175 N. W. 903; Commonwealth ex rel. Schnader v. Liveright, 308 Pa. 35, 161 Atl. 697.

In our Govan case, supra, we quoted with approval from an earlier case, Farquharson v. Year gin, 24 Wash. 549, 64 Pac. 717, and from a California case sustaining the rule above stated and that

‘ ‘ The authority and duty to ascertain the facts which ought to control legislative action are, from the necessity of the case, devolved by the constitution upon those to whom it has given the power to legislate, and their decision that the facts exist is conclusive upon the courts, . . . ”

We therefore held that

“ . . . in passing upon the constitutionality of a statute, the court must confine itself to a consideration of those matters which appear upon the face of the law, and those facts of which it can take judicial notice. ’ ’

Cf. Gustafson v. Rhinow, supra.

The California constitution is like ours, but limits state indebtedness to three hundred thousand dollars, except in case of war, to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, etc. The Franklin case, supra, involved the validity of an act to relieve enlisted men in the civil war, the state’s indebtedness being, at the time, in excess of three hundred thousand dollars. The supreme court said:

“The existence of the emergency calling for the exercise of the power is purely a political question, and the Legislature, as the body in whom the political power of the State is vested, are the sole judges as to the existence of such emergency. It is the exercise of a purely political power, upon a political subject, in no manner of a judicial character, and it is not, therefore, subject to review, or liable to be controlled by the judicial department of the State. The Legislature is, therefore, the proper judge of the construction to be given to the Constitution upon this subject.”

The Pacheco case, supra, reaffirmed the decision in the Franklin case, supra, although the later case involved only the construction of a railroad in California during the civil war, the act declaring in a preamble that a state of war existed and that the railroad should be constructed as soon as possible to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the state against its enemies.

The Hovey case, supra, decided by the supreme court of Indiana, is a strong and well-reasoned case to the same effect as our Govan case, supra.

The supreme court of Pennsylvania in the Liveright case, supra, among other things, well said at page 88:

“The poverty that has now become a menace to the well-being and peace and good order of the Commonwealth is poverty born of involuntary unemployment and no one even suspects or hints any other parentage. . . .

“The greatest menace to the well-being and safety of the State is for it to have hundreds of thousands of its able-bodied and willing citizens suffering, with their families, from hunger and lack of clothing and shelter because work is unobtainable. An appropriation from a public treasury to relieve this suffering is no more a ‘charitable’ appropriation than an appropriation made to suppress an uprising, repel an invasion or to combat a pestilence.”

See, also, Rummens v. Evans, supra.

Whether or not the combined legislation before us accomplishes the intended purposes, remains to be seen. The wisdom and expedience thereof are not our concern. Their obvious aims are to prevent insurrection by civilized methods, rather than by violence and bloodshed. It is not for the courts to say that the facts found by the lawmakers were obviously false, or a palpable dissimulation.

We conclude that the laws in question violate none of the limitations and restrictions hereinbefore set out and relied upon .by appellant.

The judgment is affirmed.

Beals, C. J., Blake, Mitchell, and Main, JJ., concur.