Upham v. Plankinton

140 N.W. 5, 152 Wis. 275, 1913 Wisc. LEXIS 72

Opinions

Maesi-iall, J.

Some principles which have been plainly and safely, it is thought, intrenched as a part of our unwritten law, may well be stated at the outset in writing this opinion. No discussion of them is deemed to be necessary. They have passed through that stage and become fixed in place as part of our system of unwritten rules which may be, confidently, turned to, under the guardianship of the fundamental law, to protect the inherent right of the living, reaching beyond tbe termination of visible existence of tbe inheritor, to conserve tbe rights, whether vested or contingent, of those in esse and those existing only in possibility, as well.

The suggested statement of principles is not necessary because of any controversy between counsel for the respective parties as to their existence, or between'counsel and the court, but because of the convenience it will afford in testing the questions to he solved and the dignity it may lend to this important case in pointing the way to right results in future similar controversies.

Every person of mature years and sound mind has a right to make his own will, conformable to statutory regulations designed to safeguard that right and not violating any written or any unwritten law, and to have that will carried out according to his intent. Will of Rice, 150 Wis. 401, 136 N. W. 956, 137 N. W. 778.

It is competent for the courts, and it is their duty, whenever invoked in the matter, to enforce the validly expressed intent of a testator and to discover such intent where there is obscurity. Neither courts nor beneficiaries nor legislatures are competent to violate such intent and substitute their discretion for that of the testator. Will of Rice, supra; Bussell v. Wright, 133 Wis. 445, 450, 113 N. W. 644.

The testamentary intention in any case is to be determined from the will, read in the light of the circumstances characterizing its making, and aided by established unwritten and written rules for construction, in case of obscurity. Such rules can only legitimately aid when aid is necessary to understand the purpose intended to be embodied in the language used and, so, take hold only where uncertainty commences and let go where it ends. They cannot control or vary the intent or properly prevent its execution. In re Moran's Will, 118 Wis. 177, 96 N. W. 367; Lichter v. Thiers, 139 Wis. 481, 486, 121 N. W. 153; Perkinson v. Clarke, 135 Wis. 584, 116 N. W. 229.

If a person creates a valid trust in property by will or otherwise, and, expressly, or by necessary implication, provides that his creation shall not be changed by beneficiaries, trustees, or otherwise, it must b'e carried out according to-the purpose of the creator. Holmes v. Walter, 118 Wis. 409, 95 N. W. 380; Patton v. Patrick, 123 Wis. 218, 101 N. W. 408; Will of Dardis, 135 Wis. 457, 115 N. W. 332; Will of Rice, 150 Wis. 401, 136 N. W. 956, 137 N. W. 778.

In respect to the dignity of a trust created by will, the supreme test is, What did the testator intend % That being discovered it is the law of that trust. Courts have no power to frustrate it and substitute a different scheme, — there can be no substitute method. Bussell v. Wright, 133 Wis. 445, 113 N. W. 644.

“The rights of an owner of property to control its use and management during his life and after his death, within certain limitations imposed by law, are among the most sacred, and entitled to the most careful protection at thé hands of' courts, without scrutiny as to the quality of his reasons in making such choice. Among these rights is that of preserving specific real estate 'as such within a limited time after his-death. He may think that thereby is assured either a more-certain or a larger income than could be obtained by its sale- and the investment of the proceeds, or he may believe that the increase in sale value during that term will be for the-best interest of those for whom he desires to provide.” His-, will so long as he violates no law, is supreme. Patton v. Patrick, 123 Wis. 218, 221, 101 N. W. 408.

A presumed intention is, in general, embraced in the language of a trust prohibiting the trustee from destroying, ot permitting destruction, of the subject of the trust. This-does not mean mere diminution of profitableness nor, necessarily, annihilation of physical things, but destruction of the trust scheme, in the general sense, a happening preventing-the subject of the trust from reaching the intended beneficiaries and in the way intended. Ruggles v. Tyson, 104 Wis. 500, 509, 81 N. W. 367.

For tbe purpose of effectuating the presumed intention of the creator of a trust that the subject thereof shall not be allowed to be lost, equity power may pass upon a situation of peril in that regard, and, if the necessities thereof clearly require it, read out of the trust the purpose aforesaid, and by an-advisory judgment, authorize trust property of one kind to be converted into another to be administered as an equivalent and take the same course as to distribution and enjoyment. Ruggles v. Tyson, supra; Bloor v. Smith, 112 Wis. 340, 347, 87 N. W. 870; In re Kingston's Estate, 130 Wis. 560, 564, 110 N. W. 417.

In the circumstances stated in the last foregoing, equity may bar remaindermen in esse and possibility, those holding vested and those holding contingent interests, all, so as to change the title, absolutely, to the entirety, if that be, and only so far as that may, clearly, appear to be, necessary, but cannot extinguish the rights of person in the equivalent — the subject of the trust in its new form — to possess it presently or contingently, actually or possibly, or enjoy the income of it in the time and in manner and proportion, intended as to the original subject. Ruggles v. Tyson, supra (p. 516); In re Luscombe’s Will, 109 Wis. 186, 85 N. W. 341; In re Kingston’s Estate, supra; Steele v. Korn, 137 Wis. 51, 57, 118 N. W. 207, 120 N. W. 261; Will of Rice, 150 Wis. 401, 436, 136 N. W. 956, 137 N. W. 778.

Guarded by. the foregoing there seems to be very little, if any, difficulty in disposing of the order appealed from. Ch. 300 and ch. 342, Laws of 1899, upon which the special proceeding was grounded, provide, generally, for 'the administration of property interests in real estate in cases falling under either subd. 1 or 2 of sec. 3503 of the Statutes. It embodies a complete scheme which, if applicable to such a case as this, would in whole or in part, supersede the scheme of the settlor. No one could.create a trust by deed or will with any certainty that his creation would have any enduring vitality. It 'would be subject to displacement by tbe judgment of any court having jurisdiction of such matters, and to substitution of some other scheme more suitable to new conditions and the needs or wishes of beneficiaries, in the discretion of the chancellor. It is not likely that the legislature intended any such thing. It would be violative, as we have seen, of fundamental rights. It would be so contrary to the judicially declared law and so subversive of control which it is commonly thought one has, and ought to have, over his property, that the legislation should not be read even as an attempt to authorize supersession of control over trust property, — placed by a settlor with a person of his own selection, to be administered in a way of his own, — by a trustee appointed in some other way and to administer the subject in some other manner. An entire trust estate might be thus split up by the creation of many statutory trusts, and the testamentary trust, or trust by deed, be wholly or partly extinguished, and, in case of a very large estate, most distressing and harmful confusion created.

It is considered that the statute to which the special proceeding is referable, was designed to deal with real-estate interests in the absence, not in violation, of an existing scheme under a valid trust. In any event, it cannot be regarded as affording authority for disturbing the trust created by Mr. Plankinton’s will. Therefore, the order appealed from must be reversed, and the matter remanded for a dismissal with costs.

If reconcilement of the reasons found in the conclusions of law upon which the judgment appealed from is based, with the foregoing stated principles, was vital, very serious if not insurmountable difficulties to its approval would stand in the way. The trial court seems to have been guided, as in making the order closing the special proceeding, by the idea that unrestrained authority exists for judicial exercise of judgment respecting what is for the best interests of the beneficiaries under Mr. Plankinton’s will, and that the trustees, with judicial advice and approval, may freely exercise their judgment as to what will best promote such interests, instead of both judicial duty, and duty of the trustees as well, being confined to execution of the judgment of Mr. Plankinton as regards what he believed would best promote the welfare of the recipients of his bounty. The conclusions of law seem to go upon the theory that the scheme of the statute, — to which we have referred and found does not apply at all, — -or the scheme of the trustees approved by the court may prevail over that of Mr. Plankinton merely to promote, as may be presently thought, the best interests of the beneficiaries. So we must look to the will, in the express and 'implied powers conferred, extending to the power implied in equity as well as that implied from the language used, and, in view of all the circumstances, discover what authority the trustees and the court have over the subject of the trust, — not to any statute or to the general judicial power to supervise the administration of trusts. Mr. Plankinton did not leave his property to be handled at the will of any trustee or court. He was not a man to do such, a thing, as plainly appears from the record. He was a great business man, and, evidently, would not intentionally have consented to any disposition of his property or administration thereof othér than according to his own scheme. So we must tie to that, — to what he thought would be for the best interests of the objects of his bounty, — mot act upon what may, within the meaning of the statutes, appear to the court, merely to best promote such interests.

Whether a case was made by the facts found for a change in the letter of Mr. Plankinton’s scheme, keeping within the implied authority to conserve the subject of the trust from destruction, is by no means clear. The rule on the subject is a very important one, but the overshadowing necessity requisite to give it activity and the limitations of it to necessities, and the essential that, in case of a change, it shall be into an equivalent without changing the real beneficial character of the final destiny of the subject of the trust, must be kept significantly in view. Without the rule itself, the law would not afford capability of dealing with many situations liable to arise. Failure to keep in mind its logical basis and . precise limitations, would result in the mischief of extending its application till, in time, the inviolability of trusts would be destroyed and no person could create one with any certainty of its duration according to his wishes.

We do not understand from the briefs of counsel for respondents, that they seek, in the main, to support the judgment on the doctrine of Ruggles v. Tyson, 104 Wis. 500, 81 N. W. 367, but rather confess that, if authority to make the proposed leases cannot be read out of the will and, especially, if such power is negatived thereby, it is very doubtful, at least, whether the judgment can be sustained. They plant the case confidently upon the proposition that the will does not negative exercise of such power; and, by reasonable implication, confers it as a feature of ordinary administration,— not merely one to prevent destruction under the rule of Ruggles v. Tyson, supra. So, — appreciating the difficulties of squaring the case, on the facts, with such rule in view of the importance of guarding it against extension to accommodate the desires of parties, and without deciding whether such difficulties are insuperable, 'as counsel for appellants contend,— we pass to the main question urged by counsel for respondents.

If the will itself authorizes the exercise of authority as directed by the judgment, and as ordinary matter of administration, limited, if at all, by the exercise of sound judgment and judicial approval, no resort to the extraordinary authority which would be implied ex necessitate, in circumstances satisfying the rule on that subject, is needed.

There are these significant features of the will: The trustor conferred upon his trustees almost unlimited power of administration. They were giren, during the term of thé trust, “entire control, management, and charge of the estate.” They were authorized to “maintain” as well as “keep in good repair and condition all buildings,” etc. The term “replenish” is used as synonymous with “maintain.” The accumulation of a large fund was contemplated to provide for “extraordinary expenditures . . . which they shall deem best for the protection of the estate.” While a desire is plainly expressed for the hotel, as left by the testator, to be maintained, the will as plainly contemplates a possible destruction of it, or necessity of replacement. The special fund provided for, doubtless, had possibilities in his mind equal, with salvage by way of insurance or otherwise, to the requirement for a new building and the trustees were authorized to' expend such fund, in their discretion, “for the protection or benefit of the estate.” The real estate evidently was depended upon by the testator to yield a large revenue in rentals, and it was “committed” to the trustees to make the yield as large as wise management could accomplish. “During the term of their trust” the entire control “was committed to” them. Nothing was said about how such control should be exercised as regards leasing, or any other way for deriving income. All, under the broad power of “control,” was “committed” to the trustees. But income, and income only, as to the improved property as such was thought of, while conversion of realty into personalty as to unimproved realty was contemplated and broad powers were expressly conferred in respect thereto.

' From the foregoing it seems clear that Mr. Plankinton, as regards leasing improved real éstate, intended to clothe the trustees with all power which he possessed and which he might, if living, probably exercise in ease of conditions making it advisable from a business standpoint. There was no restriction upon leasing. There was no express restriction upon power to sell, though there was such by implication. “Entire control, management, and charge” is abont as broad a power in trust as could be expressed. As regards leasing to obtain income such language does not appear to be limited by anything which followed, unless by the implied withholding of power to sell improved property, — implied withholding, from the grant, specially, to sell unimproved property and the thought running all through the instrument of having the improved property so administered as to produce income by selling the use of it.

In connection with the features of the will to which we have referred, the circumstances and conditions which characterized the making of it must be considered. That the instrument is ambiguous to some extent needs but to be suggested. The whole history of this litigation evidences it. So we may properly read the instrument from the viewpoint of the testator a.t the time he made it.

The following circumstances are significant: The particular real estate is of a kind, as indicated from the evidence, and was when the will was made, which can most profitably be handled by long leases, — the longer probably the better. To tie such property up under leases of short and uncertain duration, which would be the case if the power of control gave no right to lease otherwise than during the existence of the trust, would be very detrimental to the income-producing character of it; while long leases with revaluations and readjustments at reasonable periods, would greatly promote income. We may well assume that Mr. Plankinton appreciated that, when he made the will, and further appreciated that, as time continued, the property would become more and more appropriate for long leaseholds, and in that state of mind used the broad language of the power of “control” to place his trustees, as near as practicable, in possession of all the authority he had, save that of parting with the title.

So from the mil itself and from it, in connection with the circumstances characterizing its origin, we are constrained to bold that the power to lease, within any reasonable limitations, which, under all the circumstances, may well be said to include leasing for ninety-nine years, so common in large cities, was given by Mr. Plankinton to his trustees, unless a lease for such a long term, as matter of law or custom, was understood, at the time the will was made, to be within an express or implied prohibition to part with title, or unless such unqualified power as was conferred in this case “during the term of the trust” by necessary implication or by settled law, conferred no power to create a leasehold term extending beyond the termination of the trust.

The general doctrine, applicable to the matter under discussion, is that an express power to lease given to a trustee, confers authority to make a lease for any reasonable period, considering the kind of property and the custom of the country and all the circumstances bearing on the subject. An implied power to lease growing out of the creation of a trust in real estate without power of sale, but in contemplation of its being administered to produce income, confers the same power to lease as in the first situation. “Entire control, management, and charge” conferred on trustees, as in this case, affords discretionary power to lease within such reasonable boundaries as the trustor would have done.

There are many phases of the matter treated in the authorities the general trend of which is as stated. The power to lease is not restricted to the creation of leaseholds, terminable with the trust power, unless so restricted, expressly or by necessary implication, from the language of the trust. 2 Perry, Trusts (4th ed.) §§ 484, 528, 608; 2 Beach, Trusts, § 446; Lewin, Trusts (11th ed.‘) pp. 632, 633; Underhill, Trusts (Am. ed.) 347, 349, note 2; Beckett, Trusts, § 570; Ricardi v. Gaboury, 115 Tenn. 484, 89 S. W. 98; Denegre v. Walker, 114 Ill. App. 234; Hale v. Hale, 146 Ill. 227, , 33 N. E. 858; Marsh v. Reed, 184 Ill. 263, 271, 56 N. E. 306; Denegre v. Walker, 214 Ill. 113, 73 N. E. 409; In re Hubbell Trust, 135 Iowa, 637, 113 N. W. 512.

An examination of tbe cited authorities leaves no sound basis to doubt that, on principle and precedent, under a trust as broad as the one created by Mr. Plankinton and in such circumstances as characterized his creation, the trustees, by permission of the court, may make long leases as contemplated here. They cannot be made in violation of the trust but can be made in the reasonable execution of it. It being found that power exists, in execution of the settlor’s purpose, to lease for a term beyond the period of the trust, the question of reasonableness of the lease is an administrative, 'and when presented to the court a judicial, question, and mainly one of fact, — one of such nature that, once determined by the trial court, a very clear case of want of judgment, — one amounting to an abuse of discretion, — would be required to render it liable to be disturbed on appeal.

It is unfortunate that writers on this subject do not always keep clearly in mind the distinction between reasonable acts in execution of a trust, — the effectuation of the settlor’s purpose, and invasion thereof; and the distinction between leasing, even for a long term, and a disturbance of the regular course under a trust by conveyance of the title itself. Oases will be found so extreme that the result reached was justified under the doctrine of Ruggles v. Tyson, 104 Wis. 500, 81 N. W. 367, yet the court reasoned as if there was a rule authorizing the breaking in, or changing, or even abrogation of a trust in circumstances somewhat such as we have here and, particularly, such as we would have if such dire necessity were shown as to call for application of the valuable doctrine that equity may step in to preserve the subject of the trust and carry out the purpose of the creator by changing the form of such subject and administering the equivalent thereof. In such circumstances there is no breaking in on the trust, — no abrogation or violation of it, — -but merely preservation of its vitality and prevention, to all intents and purposes, of impairment of its integrity.

The creator of a trust which is to last for a long term of years, cannot be expected to anticipate and provide for all contingencies which may arise. Therefore he must create with special reference to such assistance as the law of the land, existing at the time of his death, may afford in case of a change of conditions requiring some special conservation of his subject. Such conservation may take place by administration, quite out of the ordinary; — even to the extent, m ex-tremis, as in Ruggles v. Tyson, of changing of realty into its equivalent in personalty for administration in the new form, and power in that regard from the settlor be judicially seen to be more or less, — 'according to the nature of the subject, the object and the peculiar circumstances characterizing the origin of the trust, — plainly and comprehensively expressed in the language or general scope of the creation.

So, in matter of administration, out of the ordinary, as in this case, the court must stand in place of the creator of the trust, 'as near as may be, and speak by his implied direction under the new conditions. Where there is no requirement to change realty into personalty, as there was in the Buggies Case, — dire necessity for such conversion, — in order to preserve from destruction, but the use of the property in substantially the way the settlor intended, is purposed, as here, the case is quite simple.

The point made that a leasing of the property as proposed is, to all intents and purposes, a sale, — a practical conveyance of the fee in violation of the trust — which at first impression seemed quite plausible, — has been met time and again and logically rejected by courts, as an examination of the authorities cited will show. Leases up to ninety-nine years are so ancient and so common as regards property of the kind in question, under such circumstances as characterized the case in band, as to cease to be thought of as particularly unusual. In fact, they are regarded to be within the reasonable contemplation of a person in such environment as Mr. Plankinton was when he made his will. In Denegre v. Walker, 214 Ill. 113, 73 N. E. 409, a lease for ninety-nine years was held legitimate, but a decree authorizing a lease for ninety-nine years or more, was condemned as empowering the trustee to lease for a thousand years, if he saw fit, thereby virtually to convey the fee. The authority was modified, accordingly, and sustained.

Before closing it should be said that In re Hubbell Trust, 135 Iowa, 637, 113 N. W. 512, upon which counsel for appellants rely, is in harmony with the foregoing. It fully recoguizes what has been said and is to the effect that a trustee cannot as a matter of course create a leasehold interest in real estate held by him, as in this case, to subsist beyond the trust period, but that there is an exception, covering situations where effectuation of the purpose of the trust reasonably requires the long lease. Then the power to do so, unless expressly or by necessary implication negatived, is presumed to be conferred by the trust. The exercise of it to carry out the purposes of the trust, is as legitimate as the exercise of any power expressly conferred.

Thus it is considered that the judgment appealed from is right on the facts found, though not upon the precise logic of the conclusions on which the trial court based it. Being right, it matters very little whether the particular reasons assigned for it below are tenable. It_is in harmony with the right to make a will and have it carried out according to the testamentary intent embodied therein. The particular intent is gathered from the will, upon principle, and with the aid of legitimate instrumentalities for discovering it. The disability to change a trust scheme from the one designed by the trustor, is vindicated along with competency of the trustee to do everything reasonable which is not prohibited and is approved by the court, to effect tbe purpose of tbe trust, as is also, to that end, tbe power, by necessary implication embodied in tbe trust, to change tbe identity of tbe subject thereof into an equivalent, in dire necessity to save from destruction, though activity of tbe extreme power is not found necessary in this case, — only tbe ordinary power of administration to be exercised under tbe advice of tbe court in doubtful cases, as is contemplated in every trust creation by necessary implication where not negatived expressly or otherwise.

By the Court. — Ordered, that tbe order in tbe special proceeding be, and tbe same is hereby, reversed, and tbe cause remanded for dismissal with costs; and that tbe judgment in tbe equity action be affirmed. Costs to go to tbe appellants as to the order ..and respondents as to tbe judgment.

TimliN, J.

Horace A. J. TJpham and George P. Miller, testamentary trustees under tbe will of Jobn Plankinton, deceased, succeeding those nominated in tbe will, brought in tbe circuit court for Milwaukee- county a special proceeding under sec. 3503, Stats. (1898), and eb. 300, Laws of 1899, and amendments to tbe latter, now secs. 3519c et seq., Stats., to obtain leave to lease for ninety-nine years, upon terms and conditions set forth in tbe proposed lease, three several parcels of down-town business property, part of tbe trust estate and situate in tbe city of Milwaukee. Tbe only persons besides tbe said trustees interested are Elizabeth E. Plankinton, a maiden lady aged about fifty-seven years and daughter of tbe testator; William Woods Plankinton, of full age and married and tbe only surviving grandchild of tbe testator; Alexandra Stuart Plankinton, wife of tbe latter; William Woods Plankinton, Jr., and Elizabeth ShiM't Plankinton, infant children of William Woods Plankinton and bis said wife; tbe possible unborn children of William Woods Plank-inton or Elizabeth E. Planhintónj and -a corporation known as the Passavani Hospital. Elizabeth E. Planlcinton and William Woods Planlcinton and tbe wife of the latter join in the application to the court, and the infants are represented by Mr. Fred C. Ellis, their guardian ad litem, and these infants stand for and represent the contingent future interests of the unborn children of William Woods Plcmkin-ton or Elizabeth E. Planlcinton. The trustees also brought in the same court a suit in equity seeking directions in the execution of the trust and asking power to make the said leases, in which suit all persons interested as above stated were also parties and in which Elizabeth E. Plankmton and William Woods Planlcinton and wife joined in the prayer of the bill. The infant children of the latter couple appeared by the same guardian ad litem, and this suit presents the same questions presented in the statutory special proceeding first referred to, and was taken up and disposed of in' the circuit court upon the same evidence and with the special proceeding. The Passavani Hospital appears to have a remote contingent interest in the trust property, and it acquiesces in the disposition of this matter made by the court below. That court authorized the execution of the leases, and the guardian ad litem for the infants and those of the same class thereby represented appealed to this court. These leases, by reason of the amount of rent reserved, the expenses of carrying the property by the lessee on account of taxes, etc., and by the covenants of the leases, require extensive improvements to be made and maintained by the proposed lessees.

At the death of testator, March 29, 1891, there survived him his widow, who died on October 19, 1900, his daughter Elizabeth E., still living, and his son William, who died May 15, 1905, and who was the father of William Woods Plankinton. The residuary provisions of the will which carried the property in question were as follows:

“All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate and of ' property of every kind and nature which I shall own or in which I shall have any right, title, interest or claim, at the time of my death, I hereby give, devise and bequeath unto the above named executrix and executor of this will and to the survivor of them in trust for the uses and purposes hereinafter set forth for a term during the lives of my daughter Elizabeth E. Planhinton, and my son William Plankinton, ■and twenty-one years thereafter, if they shall both survive me, but in case either should not survive me, then for a term during the life of the one who survives me and of my wife, if she survives me, but in case my wife does not survive me and one only of my said children survives me, then for a term during the.life of such surviving son or daughter, and in case neither of my said children survives me and my wife survives me, then for a term during her life.

“It is my will that during the term of their trust, said trustees have the entire control, management and charge of the estate and property committed to them, both personal and real, collecting, receiving and handling all moneys for the interest of the estate, continuing or changing any and all investments which may have been made as they shall deem best, investing and reinvesting or otherwise using any 'and all moneys that may come into their hands in such manner and upon such securities as they shall deem best, intending thereby to give to them full authority and discretion and not holding them to any prescribed rules governing 'an investment of trust funds.

“It is my will that during the term of their trust said trustees out of the income derived from my estate in their hands, care for, maintain and keep in good repair and condition all buildings and other property as shall be for the best interest of the estate and that by repairing and replenishing when necessary, they maintain and keep up the furniture and all articles and property of any kind whatsoever in the hotel building in the city of Milwaukee known as the Plank-inton House, which I shall have provided for use or convenience or adornment so that so long as the building shall remain used and kept as a hotel, it may be, in all respects, first class.

“It is my will that said trustees shall set apart each year, one tenth of the whole net income of my estate and hold the same and all additions thereto as a fund to meet any extraordinary expenditure, or any expenditures for which the income is not sufficient, which they shall deem best for the protection or benefit of the estate.

“The moneys constituting such fund they shall invest and keep invested as they shall be able, so that the fund may be always available for the purpose intended, such investments to be made in such manner and on such securities as the trustees shall deem best.

“The trustees are hereby authorized and the survivor of them is authorized to sell and convey any and all real estate hereby devised to them which shall be vacant and not occupied with buildings at the time of my death on such terms and for such prices as they shall deem best and to invest any or all moneys received from such sales in the purchase of improved real estate or in erecting buildings on 'any vacant land held by them as part of my estate, as they shall deem best.

“In case of the damage or destruction by fire or other casualty of any building held by the trustees for which they shall receive insurance moneys, it is my will that the trustees apply such moneys or so much as may be needed to the repair or rebuilding of such building with full authority to make any changes or improvements in so repairing a damaged building again on the site of a destroyed building as the trustees shall deem advisable and if at any time they shall deem it best they are authorized to use the ten per cent, reserved fund for such purpose in addition to insurance moneys received. >

“I hereby direct that said trustees pay to my wife, Annie B. Plankinton, out of the net income of my estate, held by them, ten thousand dollars annually during her life, it being my intention thereby that she have means provided for the payment of taxes, repairs and other expenses upon the homestead with full authority to use any excess at her pleasure.

“I hereby direct that said trustees after paying or providing for the payment of all sums that shall be required each year for taxes, insurance, repairs and every other purpose required for maintaining and for the charge and care of my estate in their hands, as herein intended, and after setting .apart the ten per cent, reserved fund each year 'and after paying or providing for the payment of the sum of ten thousand •dollars yearly to my wife during her life, shall divide the remainder of the net income equally between my wife, my son ■and my daughter, one third of such net income each year, to each, during their lives and these payments I wish to have made semi-annually.

“In case of the death of either of the three, leaving surviving no lawful issue, I direct that the share of such net income intended for such deceased one be thereafter paid to the other >two, so long as they shall live (not exceeding the term of the ■estate of said trustees) one half to each, and upon the death ■of either of the two so surviving the third, leaving no lawful issue, I direct that the whole of such net income be paid to such last survivor during her or his life, not exceeding the term of the estate of said trustees.

“In case either dying shall leave issue surviving, then I direct said trustee to continue the payment of the share of such income hereby intended for such one deceased to the child or •children of such deceased, share and share alike if there shall be more than one child so long as they shall live and so long -as the estate shall be held by the trustees, and in case of the death of any child having lawful issue surviving, then to such issue during life, so long as the estate shall be held by said trustees, the issue in all cases taking by right of representation and not per capita.

“It is my will that the trust herein created shall cease and the term for which such trustees hold shall end upon the death ■of the one who shall survive last of my wife, my son and my daughter if such death of the last survivor shall occur before the expiration of the twenty-one years hereinabove stated for the life of the trust.

“All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate and of property of any kind that shall be and remain at the termination of the trust and the end of the term for which it is to be held by said trustees, under the preceding provisions of this will, I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the surviving issue of my son and of my daughter, if they shall leave issue surviving, one half to the issue of my son and one half to the issue of my daughter, such surviving issue taking in all cases according to the right of representation and not per capita, and in case either my son or daughter should die leaving no issue surviving him or her, then the entire rest, residue and remainder aforesaid I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the issue surviving of either my son or my daughter who has left issue surviving, such issue in all eases where it is applicable taking according to the right of representation not per capita. All real estate devised by this paragraph of my will is to be taken in fee and all personal property absolutely.

“In case there shall be no lawful issue surviving of either my son or my daughter at the termination of the trust herein and at the end of the term for which said trustees are to hold my said estate and property as above provided, and in case there has been no disposition of the property under any subsequent clause of this will, then upon such termination of the trust, I hereby give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue ■and remainder of my estate and property held by said trustees unto the Passavnnt Hospital hereinbefore mentioned, meaning thereby the society, association of corporation having the charge and control of the hospital in Milwaukee known by that name, for the use and benefit of that hospital, all real estate devised hereby to be taken in fee and all personal property absolutely with full power to the devisees to convert, dispose of or use at pleasure for the benefit of the hospital.”

Then follow contingencies upon which the trust term may be further shortened, none of which has occurred.

If this case presented the question of necessity for a departure from the scheme of the testator for the purpose of preserving the property or relieving the beneficiaries from want, one set of legal questions arise; but if there is no substantial departure from the general scheme of the will or conflict with the apparent plan of the testator and the only question is as to the length of the term and the conditions of the lease, that is to say, whether the lease is a reasonable exercise of the power of trustees and a reasonable disposition of the estate of infant wards, another and quite different legal question arises. I do not think a ninety-nine year lease of property of this kind is equivalent or even analogous to a sale. A sale of real estate implies conversion into a different species of property, subject to different rules of descent, more portable and perishable, easily dissipated or sold, .and requiring for its continued enjoyment safe custody and collateral security, while real property leased for ninety-nine years follows the line of descent or gift, vested or contingent, marked out by the will, and presents the same or even greater features of stability and security as the ' land without such lease. From the nature of the property in question, viz. detached pieces of down-town business property in a large city and of great value, subject to extraordinary burdens and regulations and capable of earning a correspondingly large income, it must be apparent that the testator intended the trustees, in the management of this property, should lease it for a considerable term. Large mercantile or other business concerns whose business investments amount to many hundred thousands or several million dollars do not lease down-town property upon short-time lease, unless as a mere temporary makeshift. Great value must carry with it great burdens in the way of necessary buildings, improvements, taxes, assessments, and insurance. A suspension or cessation of income which would little affect property of smaller value may in a short time work the loss of the kind of property in question here. It was not expected that the beneficiaries of the trust at the termination thereof would occupy the property or use it for other than the use for which it is hest adapted and that which will bring in the best and safest income. This property must be leased for a considerable number of years if it is applied to the use for which it is best adapted and in which it will produce the largest and most certain income. A lease by trustees of agricultural lands for ninety-nine years, were this not forbidden by our state constitution, would probably be unreasonable. Att’y Gen. v. Owen, 10 Ves. 555, 560. But even here the term “reasonable” renders a reference to the circumstances of each particular case indispensable. If it is a question of reasonableness, then the circumstances of each particular ease must control. In case of such property, whether the lease will outrun the trust term is a matter of little or no significance when tbe beneficiaries of tbe trust lawfully consent to tbe lease. Such beneficiaries rarely or never enter into manual possession of this kind of property and carry on a business or several businesses tbereon. Sucb possession without carrying, on an extensive business is impracticable. For tbe reason tbat tbe black sbeep produce less wool than tbe white, and for other more personal reasons, which will readily suggest themselves to tbe inquiring mind,, few of tbe entrepreneurs who carry on these large and risky enterprises are from tbat fortunate or unfortunate class of' tbe people who come into tbe world as beneficiaries of a large trust estate. Tbe objection to tbe length of tbe leasehold term is also based upon tbe fallacy tbat there will always be an advance in rentals. Tbe truth is tbat there may be, in this respect, progress or regress. In tbe large city having room for expansion, location of business property with reference to existing currents of travel or traffic determines tbe rental value as a rule. Tbe advantage may, with tbe efflux of time, pass from one street or quarter of tbe city to another, and when it does- there will be a decrease in rental values on tbe street or in tbe quarter upon which or in which travel and traffic. Large and costly buildings erected and business es-value roughly corresponding to tbe increase of sucb travel and traffic have been reduced. There will be an increase of rental tablisbed by a tenant upon a ninety-nine year leasehold tend to check any diversion of travel and traffic from tbat locality and to keep up tbe rental value. Tbe erection of sucb buildings and establishment of sucb business on any other street may, by diverting travel and traffic, materially decrease tbe rental value of tbe property to be leased, if it is situate on a street lacking sucb improvements. Under a ninety-nine year building lease, if diminution of rental value comes its ill effects fall upon tbe tenant owner of tbe building investment rather than upon tbe landlord, whose ground rental is by this building investment secured. Estimating tbe present and

prospective value, tbe chances for increase or diminution in value, the element of security and continuity of occupation as men do in transactions of barter, capable parties to the contract having adverse interests arrive at an agreement in ordinary cases of leases of this character. Where there are infants interested they may submit the proposed contract to a court for approval after hearing arguments and evidence for and against such contract. I see no reason upon principle to question the discretion of the court or deny its power to authorize a lease for this term. Gomez v. Gomez, 147 N. Y. 195, 41 N. E. 420.

By the will in question “the trustees are to have during the trust period the entire control, management, and charge of the estate . . . continuing or changing any and all investments which may have been made as they shall deem best . . . intending hereby to give to them full authority and discretion and not holding them to any prescribed rules governing an investment of trust funds.” They are to derive income from the estate in their hands, an<J out of that income to care for, maintain, and keep in good repair and condition all buildings and other property as shall be for the best interest of the estate. So long as the Plankinton House shall remain used and kept as a hotel, it shall by repairs and replenishment of furniture, etc., be first class, but there is no requirement that it be maintained for any stated time as a hotel. There is no express power of sale of improved property. An implication forbidding such sale might be derived from the power of sale given to the trustees of unimproved property. The power of sale of the improved property from which income is to be derived is by this trust and by the statutes relating to trusts suspended during the trust term, but that is a mere consc-quence of secs. 2089 and 2091, Stats., and has no application to acts of the trustees not in contravention of the trust. I have no doubt that the trustees, with the consent and co-operation of the adult beneficiaries, were there no other beneficiaries, could therefore enter into this lease, for such a lease in no wise tends to contravene the trust duties or to defeat the scheme of the testator. Ricardi v. Gaboury, 115 Tenn. 484, 89 S. W. 98; Denegre v. Walker, 214 Ill. 113, 120, 73 N. E. 409; Marsh v. Reed, 184 Ill. 263, 56 N. E. 306; In re Hubbell Trust, 135 Iowa, 637, 113 N. W. 512; Norris v. Clymer, 2 Pa. St. 277. As was said in the case last cited: “This is a change merely modal for the advancement of interests both private and public.” If this is correct, I do not see how the fact that there are living infant beneficiaries to whom this real property must go at the termination of the trust estate in case they are then living, or in whom it is now vested subject to be divested by their prior death, and who are parties hereunto, can alter the situation. By sec. 3503, Stats., in force when this will was made, broad powers in this respect are conferred upon the circuit court, and the facts forming a basis for the-exercise of such power were made to appear and are found by the circuit court. Gomez v. Gomez, 147 N. Y. 195, 41 N. E. 420.

Nor can it be successfully urged as an objection that there are or may be contingent future interests in the unborn children of William Woods Plankinton or Elizabeth E. Plankin-ton. These are all parties to this proceeding and this action, and represented, for the purposes of the proceeding and action, by the members of their class in esse. Ruggles v. Tyson, 104 Wis. 500, 506, 81 N. W. 367; Kent v. Church of St. Michael, 136 N. Y. 10, 32 N. E. 704, 18 L. R. A. 331; Mead v. Mitchell, 17 N. Y. 210; Denegre v. Walker, 214 Ill. 113, 120, 73 N. E. 409. At the time of the death of John Plankinton expectant estates were descendible, devisable, and alienable in the same manner as estates in possession, and they still are. Sec. 2059, Stats. When the owner of the expectant estate comes into being this statute at once empowers him. Before he comes into being his estate is subject to legislative action. Cases infra. Expectant estates are either estates commencing at a future day, denominated future estates, or reversions. Sec. 2033. All future estates are either vested or contingent — contingent whilst the person to whom or the event upon which they are limited to take effect remains uncertain. Sec. 2037. Secs. 3519c to 3519? supplement sec. 3503, sv.pra, and place future contingent interests of infants in real estate, so far as selling, leasing, or mortgaging the same is concerned, by order of the court, on a par with the vested interests referred to in sec. 3503 et seq.

Notwithstanding a suggestion to the contrary in In re Kingston's Estate, 130 Wis. 560, 110 N. W. 417, it has always been the law that the legislature could modify future contingent estates of those who come into existence after the passage of such legislation. Bass v. Roanoke N. & W. P. Co. 111 N. C. 439, 16 S. E. 402, 19 L. R. A. 247 and cases in notes. At the time of the separation of the American colonies from England, the law of that country and of this authorized the cutting off of future interests of unborn children in an estate tail by a proceeding called fine and recovery, which might be described in present-day terms as a land contract executed by the person in possession to a would-be purchaser in fee, a formal refusal by the seller to comply with it, and a judgment in favor of the vendee against him purporting to bind him and all unborn claimants. A judgment requiring the execution of a deed to the real owner of land by persons having the record title to the whole estate, subject only to the contingency that other persons may be born who will have an interest in such record-title, is effectual to cut off the rights of such persons subsequently born. Kent v. Church of St. Michael, supra. Under the real-estate law of this state as settled by the Wisconsin statutes above referred to, there can be no doubt, I think, of the application of these precedents to contingent future estates in this state. The power of the legislature in this behalf has been upheld under much more unfavorable conditions. Norris v. Clymer, 2 Pa. St. 277; Leggett v. Hunter, 19 N. Y. 445; In re Field, 62 Hun, 622, 17 N. Y. Supp. 19; S. C. 131 N. Y. 184, 30 N. E. 48; In re Asch, 75 App. Div. 486, 78 N. Y. Supp. 561; Johnson v. Valentine, 4 Sandf. 36; Crutcher v. Rodman, 118 Ky. 506, 81 S. W. 252.

Rut tbe court cannot take tbe property of one beneficiary and bestow it upon another. Ruggles v. Tyson, 104 Wis. 500, 81 N. W. 367; Brevoort v. Grace, 53 N. Y. 245; Powers v. Bergen, 6 N. Y. 358. I also understand In re Kingston’s Estate, 130 Wis. 560, 110 N. W. 417, to say that a court of equity, prior to tbe enactment of ch. 300, Laws of 1899, possessed inherently, by reason of its general equity jurisdiction, tbe power conferred by sec. 1 of that act. I doubt tbe historical accuracy of this statement, Rogers v. Dill, 6 Hill (N. Y.) 415; Baker v. Lorillard, 4 N. Y. 257; Faulkner v. Davis, 18 Grat. 651; Losey v. Stanley, 147 N. Y. 560, 42 N. E. 8; 3 Pom. Eq. Jur. (3d ed.) § 1309; Stat. 11 Geo. IV and 1 Wm. IV, ch. 65 and statutes therein referred to, 17 Ifalsbury’s Laws of England, p. 100; In re Griffiths, L. R. 29 Ch. Div. 248 (1885). Tbe English statute, however, relates only to absolute or vested estates. In re Horne’s Settled Estate, L. R. 39 Ch. Div. 84, 89 (1888). There are some cases to tbe contrary, and it is of little importance in tbe instant case,_ because the decision in In re Kingston’s Estate does not go so far as to say that a statute could not authorize a sale or lease in such case where the sale or lease does not contravene the scheme of the testator. This court has acted in authorizing the sale of contingent interests, in the second application in Ruggles v. Tyson, 114 Wis. 301, 90 N. W. 113, when necessary for the preservation of the property for the beneficiaries or ultimate remaindermen. The order of the circuit court there affirmed authorized the trustee “to make conveyance, with the life tenant, of said lot 5, so as to convey the complete title thereto of all persons existent or hereafter to come into existence in or to said premises.” Page 302. And I understand Ruggles v. Tyson, 104 Wis. , 81 N. W. 367, to bold tbe same rule. So far as tbe instant case is concerned, there being'nothing in tbe judgment of tbe circuit court conflicting with tbe general scheme of tbe testator, tbe property being applied to tbe uses for which it is best adapted and preserved for all who are or may become entitled to it under tbe terms of tbe will, each receiving tbe same kind and quality of estate as that devised to him, a mere question of reasonableness and expediency of tbe contract of leasing is presented.

I find no legal ground for dismissing tbe proceeding brought under cb. 300, Laws of 1899, and amendments, now secs. 3519c et seq., Stats., and no reason satisfactory to me is given in tbe opinion of tbe court. A proceeding of this kind under that statute was dismissed in In re Kingston’s Estate, 130 Wis. 560, 110 N. W. 417, but upon tbe ground, as I understand it, that tbe relief there demanded would frustrate tbe object of tbe testator, and that tbe facts and circumstances wholly failed to show any necessity for such proceeding. In Lueft v. Lueft, 129 Wis. 534, 109 N. W. 562, this court affirmed an order made in similar proceedings, where as in this case there was no conflict with tbe apparent intentions of tbe testator, saying: “Such a course is promo-tive, within tbe contemplation of cb. 300, Laws of 1899, of her interests in tbe property.” Upon fundamental principles there can be no doubt of tbe power of tbe legislature to authorize such a proceeding in a case like this. I do not think sec. 35197c presents any obstacle, because that section authorizes tbe court to designate a trustee who will take charge of tbe proceeds for tbe person entitled thereunto. Tbe testamentary trustees should be so designated by tbe circuit court where there are such trustees, 'and in case of lease they continue to receive tbe rentals and bold and disburse them under tbe trusts created by tbe will. In case of a sale tbe proceeds take like course.

Will of Rice, 150 Wis. 401, 136 N. W. 956, 137 N. W. , contains in tbe points actually decided nothing in conflict with this view. There, upon an appeal to the circuit court from an order of the county court admitting a will to probate, the circuit court had jurisdiction by such appeal only to affirm, reverse, or modify the order appealed from, with the right to determine such incidental and collateral matters cognate to such affirmance or reversal as might arise. Guardians ad litem,, in consideration of large payments to thenq joined with other parties in a stipulation extending the jurisdiction of the circuit court to hear and determine other matters destructive of the trusts. It was beyond the power of the guardians ad litem to make such stipulation, and the jurisdiction of the circuit court could not rest upon such invalid treaty or be upheld thereby. Consequently the whole matter was open to attack in this court, and under the law the trusts created by the will were upheld as against such stipulations and such invalid judgment of the circuit court based thereon. I think the learned circuit court in the instant case decided correctly, and its judgment should be affirmed.