State ex rel. News Pub. Co. v. Pike County

20 Ohio C.C. Dec. 406

• Court: Pike Circuit Court
• Decided: January 15, 1908
• Status: Published

Opinions

JONES, J.

The relator seeks a peremptory writ of mandamus to compel the defendant to publish a fuller and more complete report of their financial transactions during the year preceding the third Monday of September, 1907. He states that he is the owner and publisher of a newspaper, and by proper allegations in his petition; establishes his right to publish the report in question.

Defendants answer, the answer containing four defenses. The fourth defense attaches a copy of the report to the plea'ding.

Without stating specific reasons therefor, the court will content itself by saying that the demurrer to the first, second and third defenses respectively, is sustained.

The fourth defense, having the copy of the report attached, however, is considered upon its merits, the sole question being whether the commissioners have complied with the law .in-publishing their re-_port.

Objections have been urged, by counsel for the relator, because the report has' grouped under various heads and subheads the amounts, thereby showing for what purpose they were expended. We t.hinlr ' that, by this means, the report is a substantial compliance with the statute, and that a reference to such heads and subheads will sufficiently show the purpose of the several expenditures. Especial objection is made, for instance, to the items under the subheads “allowance to counsel” and “allowance to justices and mayors,” etc. The item “allowance” so used, is information to the effect that they were statutory allowances, and more specific terms were not absolutely necessary. Other items appear showing various amounts were paid out under the'head of “insurance.” We do not think it necessary that the report show upon what property the insurance was effected; neither under the head “boarding in county jail,” do we think it necessary to state explicitly what prisoners were fed. In such and other similar items the report shows substantially the purpose of the expenditures, and that is all the statute requires.

Upon the question, however, of what constitutes “a detailed report in writing, itemized as to amount, to whom paid, and for what purpose,” the members of this court are not in full accord. It is contended by counsel for relator that, under a proper construction of Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193), that the amounts shown to have been paid out must be itemized and that instead of the aggregate sum allowed and paid out, the report should show upon its face the several distinct items composing the aggregate sum. For example, under the heading of “stationery and supplies for county officers,” various expenditures appear showing an aggregate sum paid out to Barrett Bros., for the use of the probate judge, and others paid out' for the use of the other county officials. It is insisted that the report show the various items of stationery and supplies; that the statute now requires this to be done with the explicitness of an account. This is but one instance of the character of the report. An inspection of the report shows, that if these aggregate sums found throughout were so itemized, the report would be greatly lengthened.

The majority of the court are unable to concur in this view. Neither does the strict reading of Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193), nor a \ proper construction of that section require the minute itemizing of each bill passed on, allowed and paid out, when paid to a single person. In the first place Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193) merely requires a, report of the “financial transactions” of the commissioners. Revised Statutes 850 (Lan. 2109), provides for the keeping of a record by the county commissioners of their proceedings, which record shall be received as evidence in every court in the state. By that section the "financial transactions” mentioned in Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193), are-entered on that journal. And in the instance mentioned, where the-board audits the itemized bill of Barrett Bros., for stationery and supplies furnished the probate judge, and allows the bill in the aggregate, the act is but one "transaction;” and the allowance of the aggregate sum is all that is necessary to be placed on its journal.

Again, the strict reading of Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193), does not require the amount to be itemized if paid to a single person. The word "itemized” modifies the word "report,” just preceding. The statute-requires the report to be itemized in three particulars — amount, to-whom paid, and, for what purpose. In other words the natural reading of this section requires the report to be itemized: first, as to amount paid; second, to whom paid; third, for what purpose.

In construing this statute before its amendment, as to what constitutes a "detailed report,” Judge Bradbury, in State v. Washington Co. (Comrs.) 56 Ohio St. 631, 646 [47 N. E. Rep. 565], uses this pregnant language:

"It is, of course, within the power of the general assembly to require such minuteness as this in the report made by the commissioners, but unless the language chosen by that body imperatively demands, such construction, the section should not, in our opinion, be so construed. ’ ’

Judge Newby, of the Fayette common pleas, in construing this-feature of the section in State v. Sollars, 19 Dec. 000, held the same-view, for he says:

"I do not think this contention well founded, provided the aggregate amount was paid for a single purpose, for the statute goes no-farther than to require that the name of the person receiving the-money, the amount paid, and the purpose for which paid be stated, and does not require the dates and amounts of several payments to one-person for a single purpose to be given, but permits the several payments to be stated in the aggregate, because by such a statement, the public are advised as to the amount paid, the name of the person to-whom paid, and the purpose for which paid, and the detail contended for is not necessary to serve any purpose.of the statute.”

Attached to the commissioners’ report is the turnpike directors’' report of receipts and expenses made in conformity to Rev. Stat. 4898 (Lan. 8371).

We all agree That the latter section governs the preparation of .such turnpike directors’ report, and that the particularity of statement required by Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193), does not apply thereto. This section was not amended, as was Rev. Stat. 917 (Lan. 2193), and the construction adopted by the Supreme Court in State v. Washington Co. (Comrs.) supra, applies thereto.

Finding that there has been a substantial compliance with the ¡statutes, the demurrer to the fourth defense will be overruled, the prayer for a peremptory writ of mandamus refused, and the petition dismissed.

Cherrington, J., concurs-: