State v. Belle Springs Creamery Co.

111 P. 474, 83 Kan. 389, 1910 Kan. LEXIS 543

• Court: Supreme Court of Kansas
• Decided: November 5, 1910
• Docket: No. 17,036
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Smith, J.:

A number of objections made to the complaint are argued in the briefs together, and are, in substance, that the complaint is not sufficiently definite and certain as to the facts constituting the alleged offense therein charged. It is especially urged that the statute establishes a certain weight for a print or package of butter, and that the complaint does not inform the accused whether it was a print or a package which is alleged to have been sold short of such weight. It is a matter of common knowledge that formerly butter was retailed in prints of about one pound weight each; that more recently, for cleanliness and attractiveness, butter has been put up and sold in packages of about the same weight; and that at and before the passage of the act both print and package were generally understood as a measure of the same amount in weight —one pound. The legislature, in passing the act of which the quoted sections are a part, .is presumed to have used the terms in accordance with common usage. In fact in the latter part of section 15 the word “package” is used in lieu of “print or package,” and the word “packages” in lieu of “prints or packages.”

The act is entitled “An act concerning weights and measures and the regulation thereof.” (Laws 1909, ch. 264.) Section 14 establishes the size of a measure of butter, whether the measure be called a print or a package. The words are used synonymously as to the quantity designated thereby. One measure was established under two well-recognized names. As in the sale of potatoes by measure, an abuse had arisen by the use of a measure of smaller content than was indicated to the public by the name of the measure used. To correct this abuse the statute in question was enacted. The objection is based upon the assumption that two different measures are designated by the act. The objection therefore is not tenable.

Several objections are urged which appear to be criticisms of the language of the complaint, even where it follows the exact language of the statute in defining the crime. These objections we will not discuss seriatim. Suffice it to say that the statute is not susceptible of some of the constructions attemped to be placed upon it, and while probably the crime is not defined therein as clearly as it might be, yet the definition seems to be intelligible, and the complaint follows closely the language thereof. It does not negative the proviso, or exception, in the last sentence, of the section, of which we will speak later.

The objection that the complaint is bad for duplicity is completely answered in the case of The State v. Sherman, 81 Kan. 874. The exposing for sale and selling, as charged, appears to have been simultaneous and each as a part of one act.

Again, it is contended that even if the statute recites facts which constitute the offense, and if, as has been repeatedly held by this court, the complaint is sufficient so far as it follows the language of the statute in describing the offense, still this complaint is bad in that it does not negative the exception or provision contained in the last sentence of section 15, which reads:

“A slight variation from the stated weight, measure or quantity for individual packages is permissible, provided this variation is as often above as below the weight, measure or quantity stated.” (Laws 1909, ch. 264, Gen. Stat. 1909, § 9752.)

This is in fact an independent sentence, although as punctuated in the statute it is separated only by a semicolon from the preceding sentence. It forms no part of the definition of the offense charged, but is a proviso, or, at most, an exception thereto. The provision simply excepts sales where the variation in weight is slight and is as frequently above as below the weight expressly stated or the weight implied in the absence of the required label. In such -case it is not necessary to negative the exception. (See The State of Kansas v. Thompson, 2 Kan. 432; City of Kansas City v. Garnier, 57 Kan. 412; The State v. Thurman, 65 Kan. 90; The State v. Buis, ante, p. 273.)

The more serious contentions in this case are: (1) That the statute in question is not in terms made applicable to corporations; (2) If intended to apply to ■corporations it is in violation of section 17 of article 2 of the constitution of Kansas, for the reason that it- ■ can not have a uniform operation throughout the state, the penalty prescribed being a fine or imprisonment in jail, or both, in the discretion of the court; (3) That the sections of the act in question are repugnant to the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States in depriving persons of liberty and property without due process of law, etc., the defendant being a resident of Kansas and of the United States.

As to the first objection it is practically conceded by the appellee that if the statute in question had expressly or by clear intendment been made applicable to corporations and had provided for a fine only it would have been valid; also, that it devolves upon this court to determine what was the intention of the legislature in enacting the law — as to whether or not it was to ■apply to corporations. It was formerly held that a corporation could only be indicted for a failure to perform some duty, and not for malfeasance, but it is now generally held that corporations may be indicted for malfeasance or misfeasance, and may be civilly held responsible for the acts of their officers and agents. In some of the states this is as far as the law has progressed. In some other states it is held that a corporation may be held criminally responsible for an act denounced by the statute, which does not include, as a necessary ingredient, wrongful intent, it being in some cases remarked that a corporation, having no soul, can not have 'a criminal intent. As early as .1854 Mr. ■ Justice Bigelow, in the opinion in the case of Commonwealth v. Proprietors of New Bedford Bridge, 68 Mass. 339, said:

“The indictment in the present case is for a nuisance. The defendants contend that it can not be maintained against them, on the ground that a corporation, although liable to indictment for nonfeasance, or an omission to perform a legal duty or obligation, are [is] not amenable in this form of prosecution for a misfeasance, or the doing of any act unlawful in itself and injurious to the rights of others. There are dicta in some of the early cases which-sanction this broad doctrine, and it has been thence copied into text-writers [textbooks], and adopted to its full extent in a few modern decisions. But, if it ever had any foundation, it had its origin at a time when corporations were few in number, and limited in their powers and in the purposes for which they were created. Experience has shown the necessity of essentially modifying it; and the tendency of the more recent cases in courts of the highest authority has been to extend the application of -all legal remedies to corporations, and assimilate them, as far as possible, in their legal duties and responsibilities, to individuals. To a certain extent the rule contended for is founded in good sense and sound principle. Corporations can not be indicted for offenses which ■derive their criminality from evil intention, o'r which consist in a violation of those social duties which appertain to men and subjects. ’ They can not be guilty ■of treason or felony; of perjury or offenses against the person. But, beyond this, there is no good reason for their exemption, from the consequences of unlawful and wrongful acts committed by their agents in pursuance of authority derived from them. Such a rule would, in many cases, preclude all adequate remedy, and render. reparation for an inj ury committed by a corporation impossible, because it would leave the only means of redress to be sought against irresponsible servants, instead of against those who truly committed the wrongful act by commanding it to be done. There is no principle of law which would thus furnish immunity to a corporation. If they commit a trespass on private property, or obstruct a way to the special injury and damage of an individual, no one can doubt their liability therefor. In like manner, and for the :same reason, if they do similar acts to the inconvenience and annoyance of the public, they are responsible in the form and mode appropriate to the prosecution and punishment of such offenses. .. . . If, therefore, the defendants have been guilty of a nuisance, by obstructing unlawfully a navigable stream, an indictment, may well be maintained against them.” (pp. 345, 346.)

Since the decision in that case the law has rapidly developed in favor of holding corporations criminally responsible for the commission of acts denounced as criminal by statutes, especially where a specific intent is. not an essential ingredient of the crime. This has been held in several federal decisions, and by decisions in the courts of last resort in several of the states. In United States v. New York Herald Co., 159 Fed. 296, it was held:

“A corporation has capacity to commit the crime of' mailing obscene, nonmailable matter, prohibited by Rev. St. § 3893, as amended (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p.. 2658.” (Syllabus.)

A demurrer to the indictment in that case'was overruled, although the penalty prescribed by the statute-was a fine or imprisonment at hard labor, or both. It; was further held in that case:

“Rev. St. § 3893, as amended (U. S. Comp. St. 1901,. p. 2658), describes certain nonmailable matter, and provides that any person who shall knowingly deposit,, or cause to be deposited for mailing or delivery, anything declared by the section to be nonmailable, shall for each offense be fined, on conviction, or imprisoned at hard labor, or both, etc. Held, that such section was-applicable to a corporation organized for the purpose of' publishing a newspaper, and that proof of the mailing-by such corporation of its newspaper, containing obnoxious matter, was sufficient to show that the corporation had knowledge thereof.” (Syllabus.)

It was said in People v. Palermo Land and Water Co., 4 Cal. App. 717:

“There is no reasonable foundation in the nature of things or such intrinsic difference between corporations-, and natural persons, of which I am aware, that, requires the application of a measure'of jurisdiction over an offense committed by a corporation different from that to be invoked where an individual is charged with the same or similar crime.” (p. 721.)

It was said in, Southern Express Co. v. State, 1 Ga. App. 700:

“The responsibility of corporations for violation of penal laws, though developed by gradual evolution, is well settled and necessary.

“A corporation can be guilty of the offense of furnishing liquors to a minor, if such liquors be delivered to a minor by the agent of the corporation in the course of its business, or if such agent knowingly permits such delivery by another.” (Syllabus.)

Among the states upholding the doctrine that a corporation may be indicted for misfeasance and for a violation of acts prohibited by statute, cited in section 2138 of volume 12 of the Century Digest, are Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Tennessee. Other states, notably Indiana and Maryland, hold to the ancient doctrine that a corporation can not be indicted for misfeasance. In several of the states cited there is a statutory provision that the word “person,” where used in the criminal, statute, includes corporations. There is no such provision in this state, and we do not find any decision in this state which so holds, although in the case of The State v. Williams, 74 Kan. 180, it was «aid that the word “person,” used in section 270 of the ■crimes act, referring to the person libeled, includes a ■corporation. The question may well be asked, If the word “person” used to designate one libeled includes a ■corporation, why it should not also include the corporation if the same word were used to designate the one ■guilty or supposed to be guilty of the libel? The statute in question (§15) by its language, “a person who, by himself, or his servant or agent, or as the servant or the agent of another, uses;” etc., seems almost to suggest that the word “person” was intended to include a ■corporation. The statute was enacted to prevent a particular abuse, and it is a matter of common knowledge in the state that large corporations as well as individuals were practicing the abuse of selling butter by print and package containing less weight than is required by the act, and, it may be said, of less weight than the public generally understood such prints or packages to contain. That an individual who after the passage of the act should expose for sale or sell a print or package of less than the prescribed weight should be guilty of a crime, and that a corporation might conduct the practice with impunity, seems revolting to all ideas of justice ; and we hold, in accordance with the general trend and development of the law, that the word “person,” being the second word in section 9752 of the General Statutes of 1909 (Laws 1909, ch. 264, § 15), as there used, includes a corporation.

As to the second objection, that the statute if applied to corporations can not have a uniform operation in the state, the question was involved in the New York Herald case, supra, but seems not to have been considered of sufficient importance to merit discussion. In W. H. Small & Co. v. Commonwealth, (Ky. 1909) 120 S. W. 361, it was said:

“That an individual guilty of an offense may be both fined and imprisoned, .and a corporation likewise guilty only fined, does not affect the validity of the statute. The apparent discrimination grows out of conditions that can not be avoided, and the corporation that is favored by the discrimination can not complain.” (p. 363.)

It is true only the penalty of a fine can be applied to a .corporation; whether the additional penalty of imprisonment in the jail should ever be applied to an individual is a matter that rests in the discretion of the court. There are many other instances where the same question will be raised; for instance, a corporation may be guilty of contempt of court and can only be fined, while an individual may be fined and imprisoned. (1 Clark & Marsh. Priv. Corp. § 257; Telegram Newspaper Co. v. Commonwealth, 172 Mass. 294.)

The third contention, that sections Í4 and 15 in question are void because in violation of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States, is. likewise untenable. They are upheld as police regulations, and such regulations of. weights and measures, have stood upon the statute books of this state practically during the entire existence of the state, and likewise in other states of the Union.

We conclude that the motion to quash the complaint, should not have been sustained. The judgment is therefore reversed, and the case is remanded with instructions to deny the motion and proceed in accordance.with the views herein expressed.