Wells v. Childers

1945 OK 365, 165 P.2d 371, 196 Okla. 353, 1945 Okla. LEXIS 593
Supreme Court of Oklahoma·Decided December 22, 1945·No. No. 32373.·Published·Cited by 31 cases

Opinions

RILEY, J.

This original action involves the validity of allocations made under the act construed in Wells v. Childers, 196 Okla. 339, 165 P. 2d 358. Therein was tested constitutionality of House Bill 518, Title 74, S.L. 1945, ch. 1, p. 376, and upon consideration of the attack in whole on the specific grounds mentioned, the appropriation, except as to section 3 (by its terms transferring $200,000 to the fund, not then necessary to be decided) was sustained with approval of the legislative “policy and purpose to protect the state, in the interim between its sessions, from evil effects due to contingencies or emergencies which might happen, and which could not be provided against prior to their occurrence.” It was said:

“The Legislature created the fund for a public purpose and defined its policy in caring for contingencies and emergencies which were not foreseeable by it.”

Therein the court reserved matters such as now presented, saying the court was not then “concerned with any specific allocation of said funds . . . whether or not the Governor, in making a particular allocation, has acted within the purview of the legislative act, or whether or not, in a particular instance, *354 the ' Governor’s authority transcends constitutional restrictions:’’^ was noted that the authority of' allbcation was “capable of easy abuse.”

The present action presents alleged abuses in gubernatorial allocations, under eleven causes of action:

No. 1. Allocation of $1,317.50, to State Examiner and Inspector for extra help, to be used in audit of School Land Department, under contract (64 O.S. 1941 § 156, S. B. 233, S. L. 1945, p. 247). The Legislature, having the'matter before it, did not provide an emergency to S. B. 181, S. L. 1945, p. 465, and the legislative appropriation was not available until July 25, 1945 (90 days after legislative adjournment, April 26, 1945). The allocation seeks to supply funds for the interim — to do that which the Legislature did not do.

Nos. 2 and 3. Allocations' of $403.50, to State Fire Marshal, for salaries and expenses of two liquefied petrbleum inspectors for 25 days from July 1, 1945, to July 25, 1945 (Title 52, O. S. 1941 § 422). By H. B. 507, S. L. 1945, p. 172, sec. 9, an appropriation was provided for the purpose, but it was not available until July 25, 1945. The allocations sought to supply funds for the interim —to do that which the Legislature did not do.

No. 4. Allocation of $1,142.93, to State Board of Public Affairs, for expenses and salaries of employees to maintain and improve Cápitol and mansion grounds from July. 1, 1945, to July 25, 1945. By S. B. Í93, S. L. 1945, p. 468, an appropriation was made for the purpose, but it was not available until July - 25, 1945. The allocations sought .to supply funds' for the iterim— to do that which the Legislature did not do.

No. 5. Allocation of $302.25, to State Insurance Commissioner, for salaries of three clerk-stenographers from July 1, 1945, to July 25, 1945. By S. B. 190, S. L. 1945, p. 467, an appropriation was provided for the purpose, but it was not available until July 25, 1945. The allocation sought to supply funds for the interim — to do that which the Legislature did not do.

No. 6. Allocation of $2,000 to Oklahoma Confederate Home, Ardmore, Oklahoma, to be used for continuance of operation (maintenance) from July 1, 1945, to July'25, 1945, after which the Oklahoma Confederate Home would cease to exist, being transformed into Southern Oklahoma Hospital, an auxiliary to the University Hospital. (72 O. S. 1941 §§ 181 et seq.). By S. B. 2, S. L. 1943, p. 304, a biennial appropriation was made for the purpose and funds were available to June 30, 1945. By H. B. 200, ch. 32, S. L. 1945, p. 338, the Southern Oklahoma Hospital was created and all property of the Oklahoma Confederate Home was transferred to it, as an auxiliary of the University Hospital. The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma was vested with control and management. 72 O.S. 1941 §§181 et seq. were repealed. However, the effective date of the act was not until July 25, 1945; while “maintenance cost” of the eleemosynary institution is provided as a contingency and emergency under item 8, sec. 5, Title 74, ch. 1, p. 377, S. L. 1945 (Governor’s Contingency Fund) and while the allocation sought to supply funds for the interim, nevertheless the purpose is not one “arising” as a contingency or emergency subsequent to legislative adjournment. The Legislature had the matter before it and that which the Legislature elected not to do may not be done as a contingency or emergency “arising” subsequent to legislative adjournment.

No. 7. Allocation of $1,800. to State Board of Health for per diem and traveling expenses of its members. By H. B. 77, Title 63, ch. 1, S. L. 1945, p. 224; the State Board of Health was created, By section 1 it was provided “the members of such board shall receive as compensation . . . $10 per day . . . and their actual and necessary expenses while engaged in the performance of their official duties”, limited to $100 per year. The board may be entitled to *355 its compensation under the rule stated in Riley v. Carter, 165 Okla. 262, 25 P. 2d 666; Edwards v. Carter, 167 Okla. 287, 29 P. 2d 610; Telle v. Carter, 170 Okla. 50, 39 P. 2d 134. If so, no confine, gency or emergency existed. Otherwise, the Legislature had the matter before it and elected not to provide an appropriation for the purpose. The matter does not present a contingency or emergency “arising” subsequent to legislative adjournment.

No. 8. Allocation of $810 to State Industrial Commission for employment of a reporter for six months from July 1, 1945, to December 31, 1945. S. B. 131, S. L. 1945, p. 416, effective July 25, 1945, authorized the State Industrial Commission to employ seven reporters, being one additional reporter to that previously authorized. However, by S. B. 9, S. L. 1945, p. 452, an appropriation was made for only six reporters. The allocation seeks to authorize employment of additional reporter for 25 days prior to the effective date of the act providing the employment (Shaw v. Grumbine, 137 Okla. 95, 278 P. 311) and to supplant the election of the Legislature not to appropriate for the position after the effective date of the act creating it. The matter was before the Legislature and it is not a contingency or emergency “arising” subsequent to legislative adjournment. It is urged that $67.50 of this allocation was paid on July 16, 1945, prior to commencement of action Wells v. Childers, 196 Okla. 339, 165 P. 2d 358. Pro tanto the cause of action is moot. That may not be prohibited which has already been done. Roper v. Bd. of Education, etc., 167 Okla. 382, 29 P. 2d 950. As to the balance allocated, the matter is not moot.

No. 9. Allocation of $100 to Secretary of State, for extra help from July 1, 1945, to July 25, 1945. By S. B. 189, S. L. 1945, p. 465, an appropriation was made for the purpose, but. it was not available until July 25, 1945. The Legislature had the matter before it, did not provide an emergency to the appropriation. By the allocation it is sought to supply funds for the interim and to do do that which the Legislature did not do. This is not a contingency or emergency “arising” subsequent to legislative adjournment.

Acts of the Legislature become effective 90 days after adjournment, art.

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Wells v. Childers, 1945 OK 365, 165 P.2d 371, 196 Okla. 353, 1945 Okla. LEXIS 593 (Okla. 1945).

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