United States v. Hester

137 F.2d 145, 1943 U.S. App. LEXIS 2772
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedJuly 15, 1943
DocketNo. 2669
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 137 F.2d 145 (United States v. Hester) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Hester, 137 F.2d 145, 1943 U.S. App. LEXIS 2772 (10th Cir. 1943).

Opinion

MURRAH, Circuit Judge.

The principal question presented by this appeal is whether certain restricted, but taxable, Indian lands in Oklahoma can be sold by the State for delinquent ad valorem taxes as other lands in that State. Section 4 of the Act of May 10, 1928, 45 Stat. 495, 496, provides in part: “That on and after April 26, 1931, the allotted, inherited, and devised restricted lands of each Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes in excess of one hundred and sixty acres shall be subject to taxation by the State of Oklahoma undor and in accordance with the laws of that State, and in all respects as unrestricted and other lands * * * ,”1

On June 4, 1932, Lucinda Davis, a full-[146]*146blood Choctaw Indian, died seized of her duly allotted lands, which descended to her heirs at law, to wit, Alex Davis, husband, a full-blood Choctaw Indian, Lornnie Davis, a daughter, and Coley Davis, a minor son. During her life time, Lucinda Amos designated one hundred and sixty acres of her allotted lands as exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of the Act of May 10, 1928, supra, and the remainder of the land in excess of the designated one hundred and sixty acres, was placed on the tax rolls by McClain County, wherein the lands were situated, for the taxable year 1932. After the death of the allottee, these lands remained on the tax rolls and taxes were duly assessed and levied against the same for the taxable year 1932 and subsequent years. No taxes were paid thereon, and after sale and resale to the County, the appellee acquired title to the land from the County on April 9, 1941, all as provided and authorized by the applicable statutes governing the sale of real estate for delinquent ad valorem taxes in Oklahoma.2 Thereafter and on September 10, 1941, the appellee instituted this action to quiet title to the lands as against the heirs, the County, and other parties claiming some interest therein. Notice of the pendency of the suit was duly served upon the Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, and the case was removed to the Federal court in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Act of April 12, 1926, 44 Stat. 239.

Thereafter, the United States in its own behalf, and on behalf of the heirs of Lucinda Amos, filed its complaint in intervention, in which it asserted that the lands involved here were at all times restricted and inalienable without the consent of the United States, and therefore the lands could not be alienated by involuntary sale for delinquent taxes without its consent. In the alternative, it is contended that if the lands in question could be alienated for delinquent ad valorem taxes, nevertheless the Government was an interested and indispensable party to the proceedings, which must have been prosecuted in the courts of the United States. In this connection, it is argued that the administrative proceedings conducted in accordance with the laws of the State, by virtue of which the lands were sold and title alienated, afforded no opportunity for the United States to have notice or to be heard in the interest of its Indian wards.

The trial court, after reviewing the legislative history of the Act of May 10, 1928, supra, held that “Congress, in subjecting these lands to taxation in accordance with the laws of the State of Oklahoma, intended to subject the lands to all of the taxing laws of the State of Oklahoma.” It therefore concluded that the Act in question permitted the State of Oklahoma to sell this particular class of restricted lands for delinquent taxes as unrestricted lands of other citizens of the State of Oklahoma.3 The court further held that since the Act in question permitted the full sweep of the applicable State laws, compliance with the State law relating to notice of the sale of real estate for delinquent ad valorem taxes (68 O.S.A. §§ 382 and 432b), was sufficient. Hester v. Davis, D.C. 45 F.Supp. 501.

We agree with the trial court, and can add but little to the fullness of the [147]*147logic which supports its conclusions. It is pertinent to remember that the sovereign State of Oklahoma has plenary power to tax all property within its domain, unless specifically restrained by force of Federal law. Indians residing in Oklahoma are citizens of that State, and they are amenable to its civil and criminal laws. Their property, unless exempt, is subject to taxation in the same manner as property belonging to other citizens of that State. Matter of Heff, 197 U.S. 488, 25 S.Ct. 506, 49 L.Ed. 848; Goudy v. Meath, 203 U.S. 146, 27 S.Ct. 48, 51 L.Ed. 130.

After the effective date of the Act of May 10, 1928, the allottee, Lucinda Amos, designated one hundred and sixty acres of her allotment as tax exempt, in pursuance of Section 4 of the Act, and the remainder of the land, which is involved here, became subject to taxation by the State of Oklahoma after April 26, 1931, and was accordingly placed upon the tax rolls of McClain County prior to her death on June 4, 1932. In other words, the lands involved here had attained a taxable status at the time of her death in virtue of the 1928 Act, and the lands therefore descended to her heirs subject to taxation by the State of Oklahoma, under and in accordance with the laws of that State. There is no contractual right to tax immunity — no treaty obligation, or Federal law to respect. Cf. Worchester v. Georgia, 6 Pet. 515, 8 L.Ed. 483; Kansas Indians, 5 Wall. 737, 18 L.Ed. 667; New York Indians, 5 Wall. 761, 18 L.Ed. 708; Choate v, Trapp, 224 U.S. 665, 32 S.Ct. 565, 56 L.Ed. 941; Bryan County v. United States, 10 Cir., 123 F.2d 782.

The power of the State of Oklahoma to subject these lands to taxation is conceded, only the power to enforce the tax under and in accordance with its laws is challenged here. There is nothing in the text or in the legislative history of the Act to indicate that Congress intended to retain any measure of control over the power of the State to tax the lands, or to qualify or limit its power to enforce the collection of the tax in accordance with its uniform laws. Indeed, it would be difficult to find words more expressive of a Congressional will to permit the full sweep of the State taxing laws over the property in question, and the legislative history amply supports this textual construction.4

True the property involved here is restricted against alienation by force of the same Act which subjects it to taxation by the State of Oklahoma (§§ 1 & 4, Act of May 10, 1928), but restrictions against alienation and non-taxability are separate and distinct subjects. Choate v. Trapp, supra; Superintendent v. Commissioner, 295 U.S. 418, 55 S.Ct. 820, 79 L.Ed. 1517; Oklahoma Tax Commission v. United States, 63 S.Ct. 1284, 87 L.Ed. -. Restrictions against alienation, without more, do not render the restricted lands immune from the operation of the taxing laws of the State of Oklahoma. Landman v. Commissioner, 10 Cir., 123 F.2d 787; Superintendent v. Commissioner, supra, page 123 F.2d at 421; McCurdy v.

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Bluebook (online)
137 F.2d 145, 1943 U.S. App. LEXIS 2772, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hester-ca10-1943.