17 W. Va. 812 | W. Va. | 1881
announced the opinion of the Court:
This is a proceeding instituted in the county court of Ohio county for the condemnation of certain land belonging to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. for the use of the petitioner in constructing an extension of its railroad. It is a proceeding under chapter 88 of the Acts of 1872-3, of which proceeding the county court alone had original jurisdiction. Chesapeake & O. R. R. Co. v Hoard, 16 W. Va.
Section 18 of said chapter 88, among other things provides, that “the court of any county, wherein the land or material to be taken may be, upon application therefor shall appoint five disinterested persons, (any three of whom may act) for the purpose of viewing and ascertaining a just and equitable compensation for the quantity of land actually taken by said railroad corporation * * *, and the sheriff of the county, after such appointment is made, shall summon the said viewers to meet on the land, at such time as they may appoint, within thirty days after such appointment, giving twenty days notice to the part-
It is therefore here insisted by petitioner’s counsel, that the notice, which was in this case given of such application, was unnecessary, and that therefore the resist-anee by pleas and otherwise by the defendant to the order of the court, declaring the land should be condemned for the use of the petitioner, was unauthorized by law and should be wholly disregarded by this court, that the defendant had no right to appear in this proceeding to contest the condemnation of the land; that such condemnation of the land for the purposes of petitioner was an ea-parte proceeding, and that defendant had no right to appear in the proceedings except on the question of compensation.
A long and critical examination of very many adjudicated cases discloses the fact, that the statutes of the different states upon the subject of taking private property for public use are very obscure, and that ours is not among the most lucid of them. The statutes of the several states generally do not lay down any specific rules of proceeding except as to the manner of ascertaining the compensation to be paid; and the courts have therefore not been uniform in their mode of procedure in such cases. But there are general rules applicable to the rights of the citizen, which must not be disregarded in condemnation proceedings any more than in others. The law protects with jealous care the rights of the citizen, and while he must yield to the public necessity, and surrender his private property to public use upon just compensation being paid or secured to him, yet in compelling him to do this the courts will see to it, that the
The court iu condemnation cases has jurisdiction the subject matter and parties ; and its judgment, unless reversed in some appellate proceeding, is therefore conclusive upon the parties. From the statute it appears, that this would be the effect of a judgment in favor of the applicant for condemnation. The judgment in its result is to operate as a transfer of the title of the owner of the land without his consent to the applicant upon payment of the ascertained compensation, and is as conclusive between the parties as a conveyance would be. Independent of statutory proceedings the rule seems to be fully established, that a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction in condemnation-proceedings is as conclusive upon the parties thereto, as any other judgment. Butman v. Vermont R. R. Co., 27 Vt. 500; Evans v. Haefner, 29 Mo. 141; Allen v. Utica R. R. Co., 15 Hun. 80; Houston v. Eaton & Hamilton R. R. Co., 4 Ohio St. 685; Secombe v. R. R. Co., 23 Wall 109.
Butman v. Vt. R. R. Co. was a special action on the case to recover damages beyond what had been awarded to the plaintiff by the commissioners for an injury, which it was claimed was done to him by reason of the construction of the defendant’s railway across his premises. The plaintiff recovered in the court below, but the Supreme Court reversed the judgment and held, that the decision and award of commissioners appointed to assess the damages sustained by an owner of land from the location of a railroad is a j udicial act, and unless appealed from becomes res adjudioata and cannot be collaterally impeached; and further, that after an appraisal by such commissioners, which is not appealed from or otherwise vacated, an action at law can not be maintained to recover damages, which were not appraised and awarded in consequence of the false representations by the agents of the railroad company in regard to the manner in which the railroad was to be constructed.
In Houston v. Eaton & Hamilton R. R. Co. it was held, that the owner of land, regularly appropriated to the use of a railroad company upon proceedings instituted by the company under laws providing therefor, is barred of the common law remedy to sue for and recover the damages he may have sustained by the entry of the company and the construction of its road upon such land. And in such case the bar is equally effectual, although the owner may have refused to submit to such proceedings, or to receive the amount accorded to him and deposited for his use.
In Secombe v. Railroad Co. the action was ejectment to recover a lot in Minneapolis used by the company for a station. The railroad company was in possession of the lot, claiming it under an act of condemnation made in 1867 in favor of the Minnesota Central Hallway Co. in the alleged exercise of the right of eminent domain. Against the right of the railroad company Seeombe alleged, 1st. That under the constitution and laws of Minnesota the company was not a corporation, and therefore under the said laws not authorized to procure a condemnation in any form ; 2d. That whether it was
Mr. Justice Davis, who delivered the opinion of the court, said : “ It is urged also against the validity of the award of the commissioners, that it was not made in reasonable time, or the amount of it ever paid or tendered to the parties in interest. Whether this be so or not does not concern the plaintiff. It is enough for him to know, that a judgment was entered confirming the award, and the money paid into the court for the use of Prinney and Osborne, his grantors, and is there now, unless they have seen fit to withdraw it. It is a fair presumption, as both these persons had notice, actual or constructive, of the proceedings in condemnation, and took no steps to review them, that they were either satisfied with the award, or concluded they could not make successful opposition to it. This suit is an effort to question the propriety of the condemnation and sale of the property in a collateral proceeding, not by a party even whose land was appropriated, but by a stranger to the original proceeding, who, whatever his motive in buying, got no other estate than the original owner could convey — a fee subject to the easement of the railroad company. The judgment of condemnation in this case was rendered by a competent court, charged with a special statutory jurisdiction; and all the facts necessary to the exercise of this jurisdiction are shown to exist. A judgment thus obtained is no more subject to impeachment in a collateral proceeding, than a judgment of any other court of exclusive jurisdiction. If it were so, railroad companies would have no assurance, that the steps taken by them to procure the right of way would conclude any one, and they would constantly be subject to vexatious litigation.”
The owner of land is entitled therefore to notice of the application to be made to the court to appropriate
In Rockwell v. Nearing it was held, that the Legislature transcends the limits of its authority, when it enacts, that one citizen may take, hold, and sell the property of another without notice to the owner, or without process or warrant, as a mere penalty for a private trespass.
In Rutherford’s Case the act in question provided for an ex parte appointment of commissioners to view and determine, whether the land could be re-drained and report what drains should be made, their dimensions, &c.; the act required no notice to the land-owner as to appointment of commissioners or their report, on the filing of which the owner is to be ordered to open the drains within a given time under a daily penalty. It was held, that this was not due process of law and was contrary to the bill of rights. It was further held, that in cases where a law omits to require notice, and it might be supplied by actual notice, such notice must be a judicial notice.
In Langford v. Commissioners, &c., it was held, that an act of the Legislature, which authorizes the taking of private property for the purposes of a State-road, appointing three commissioners, private citizens, without the consent of the persons whose lands are taken, and authorizing them, or a majority of them, to determine the compensation due to the land-owners, but requiring no notice of the proceedings before the commissioners)
In Cooper v. Board of Works, &c., 108 Com. Law 180, it was held by Willis, J., “ That a tribunal, which is by law invested with power to affect the property of one of Her Majesty’s subjects, is bound to give such subject an opportunity of being heard, before it proceeds; and that that rule is of universal application, and founded upon the plainest principles of justice.”
It has been frequently held, that it is an essential principle of natural justice, that every man have an opportunity to be heard in a court of law upon every question involving his rights or interests, before he is affected by any judicial decision of the question. Commonwealth v. Inhabitants of Cambridge, 4 Mass. 627; Underwood v. McVeigh, 23 Gratt. 418; Underwood v. McVeigh, 3 Otto 274; McVeigh v. United States, 11 Wall. 259; Harris v. Hardeman et al., 14 How. 340; Aldrich, v Kinney, 4 Conn. 384.
It is true, that the statute has omitted to provide, that notice of the application for condemnation shall be given to the land-owner, before the viewers are appointed to ascertain a just compensation for the land, but does it follow, that the owner is not entitled to such notice, and is not allowed to appear and show, if he can, that the applicant has no lawful right to take the land from him ? This is not the construction to be given such a statute. Where a statute authorizes a legal proceeding against any one, and does not expressly provide for notice to be given, it is implied that an opportunity shall be afforded him to appear in defence of his rights, unless the contrary clearly appears. Bostwick v. Isbell, 41 Conn. 305; Commissioner of Highways v. Clan, 15 Johns. 537; Eddy v. The People, 15 Ill. 386; Chase v. Hathaway, 14 Mass. 222; Cooper v. Board of Works, 108 Com. L. 181;
It is insisted by counsel for defendant in error that notice to the land-owner is not requisite to ya];c|;ty 0f the taking of the land, however it maybe with regard to the assessment of damages; and they refer to Mills on Em. Dom. to sustain the proposition. Is Mr. Mills sustained by the authority he cites? He refers to Harper v. Lexington R. R. Co., 2 Dana 227; Brown v. Cleveland & Pittsburgh R. R. Co., 5 Ohio St. 140.
In Harper v. Lexington R. R. Co., Underwood, J. said: “We do not perceive the necessity for giving the owner.of land personal notice of the time and place of the meeting of the jury, as contended for by the counsel for Harper. The law has not required such notice; and therefore we are not disposed to regard it as indispensable, although there is much, propriety in giving it. There may be cases where it could not be given except by advertisement against persons unknown.. In this case however we suppose from an endorsement on the warrant of “ executed/’ and all the subsequent proceedings, that Harper had notice. The jury are to make the assessment on their own view, and hence there is not the same necessity for notice, as if they had to decide on evidence furnished by the parties.” The statute is not cited in the opinion of the court, neither does it appear whether Harper was a non-resident.
Wilson v. Hathaway, 42 Ia. 173; and Copp v. Commissioners, &c., 19 Ohio St, 173, decide, that where the act provides for the publication of notice, that is sufficient.
In Steward v. Board of Police, &c., 25 Miss. 479, it appeared, that in condeming land to be used as a public road no provision was made by statute in relation to notice to those interested. The court held, that “as a general rule it is true, that no party is concluded by the judgment of any court, unless he has notice of the suit, by which his rights are to be affected. In this State
In neither of the foregoing cases are any authorities cited.
In Georges Creek Coal & Iron Co. v. New Central Coal Co., 40 Md. 437, the court by Miller, Judge, says : “ It is next objected, that the appellant had no notice of the application for a new requisition, and no opportunity to be heard against the petition and motion for it, and it is contended, that without such notice the order directing it was passed without lawful authority. Here again the statute furnishes a complete answer to the objection. It does not require any notice to be given to the landowner either of the original application to the magistrate, or of that to the court for a new inquisition when the first has been set aside. However important notice in such cases may be, it is sufficient for the question we are now considering, that the law-makers have not made it a prerequisite to the validity of the proceedings. It is probable the Legislature thought, the construction of such works of public interest ought not to be delayed by the necessity of giving notice to parties not sui juris, and non-residents of the county where the lands to be condemned were situated, and that the requirement of a previous attempt to purchase from resident owners sui juris and failure to agree was sufficient notice to them, that the company would proceed to have their lands condemned. But we need not speculate, what was the motive of the Legislature in omitting the requirement of notice in such cases; they have passed a law, which confers jurisdiction upon courts to pass orders like this without notice.”
Here again no authority whatever is cited; and I
In City of Boonville v. Ormrod’s adm’r, 26 Mo. 195, gco^ ju(jg6j ja delivering the opinion of the court said : “ The constitution may not require notice to be given of the taking of private property for public use, yet when the Legislature prescribes a mode, by which private property may be taken for such purpose, we will out of respect to it suppose, that it did not contemplate a violation of that great rule, recognized and enforced in all civil governments, that no one shall be injuriously affected in his rights by a judgment or decree resulting from a proceeding, of which he had no notice, and against which he could make no defence. Nothing would so much impair that just self respect arising from the ownership of property fairly acquired as the reflection, that it is subject to be defeated by others without notice to the person. The times require, that courts should be zealous in carrying out that great aim of government — the defence of men and their children in the enjoyment of property acquired by their dilligence, toil and labor. No man can cherish a warm affection for a government, that suffers others without notice and behind his back to seize and appropriate his property on occasions justified by no emergency.”
In Owner of Ground, &c. v. Mayor, &c., 15 Wend. 374, it was held, that private property could not be taken for public use without notice of the proceeding to the owner, but that it was competent to the Legislature to direct the mode of giving such notice, and if the requirements of the statute in such cases should be complied with, it would be sufficient.
The case of Corliss v. Corliss, 8 Vt. 373 was one in a probate court; and it was remarked, that notice is so essentially necessary, that without it such proceedings are uniformly held void, except in cases, where the statute has provided a specific means of relief, So far has this
The fourth section of the act amendatory of the charter of the city of Boonville (Leg. Acts 1847 p. 183) directs, that “ if the parties cannot agree upon a compensation, the mayor shall cause the same to be ascertained by a jury, &c.”
In the case of Hinckley et al., 15 Pick. 448 a similar provision in a statute providing for an agreement of the parties was beld clearly to indicate, that the Legislature contemplated a notice to the party whose property was to be taken for public use.
In Hood v. Finch, 8 Wis. 381, it appeared, that the charter of the city, which had condemned land for a street, enabled the city council “ to take private property for‘public use without any notice to the individual whose property was to be taken,” Cole, J. said: “fe cannot dismiss this case without adding, what in substance was said in the case of Lumsden v. The City of Milwaukie, 8 Wis. 485, that provisions of this character in city charters confound all our ideas of fairness and equity, and are clear departures from those principles of the constitution and of common justice which are,the security for the rights of property.”
In legal proceedings, where actual service cannot be had on the defendant, constructive service, if authorized by statute, will be regarded as “due process of law.” Owners of Grounds v. Mayor of Albany, 15 Wend. 374; Empire City Bank Case, 18 N. Y. 200; Board v. Board, 24 Ind. 321; Wilson v. Hathaway, 42 Ia. 173; The Village of Gloversville v. Howell et al., 70 N. Y. 287.
That notice is not required in such proceedings is also denied. Wilson v. European, &c. R. Co., 67 Me. 358; Chicago & Alton R. Co. v. Smith, 78 Ill. 96; Levison v. Cole et al., 38 Ia. 463.
In Bostwick v. Isbell, 41 Conn. 305, it appears, that the act of 1867 of the Legislature of the State provided,
But. suppose it is true, that the proceding to condemn private property for public use is a proceeding in rem, then it would be necessary, in order to give the court jurisdiction, that the property should be actually seized by an officer of the court. Pike v Wassell 4 Otto 712; The Rio Grande, 23 Wall. 458; Cooper v Reynolds 10 Wall 317.
In Taylor v Carryl, 20 How 599, the rule is thus laid down : “In admiralty all parties, who have an interest in the subject of the suit, the res, may appear’, and each may propound independently his interest. The seizure of the res and the publication of the monition or invitation to appear is regarded as equivalent to the particular service of process in law and equity. But the res is in no other sense than this the representative of the whole world. But it follows, that to give jurisdiction in rem, there must have been a valid seizure and an actual control of the ship by the marshal of the court.” See also Tracy v Corse 50 N.Y. 143; Hollingsworth v Barboar et al., 4 Pet. 475. It is essential to the validity of a proceeding in rem, that some notification beyond that arising from the seizure of the property should be given by monition,
It is here contended by counsel for defendant in error, that the taking of land is not a judicial proceeding, and that therefore the land-owner was not entitled to notice; and that from the judgment of condemnation there could be no supersedeas. The right of eminent domain appertains to every independent government. It requires no constitutional recognition; it is an attribute of sovreignty. The clause found in the constitutions of the several States, providing for a just compensation for property taken, is a mere limitation on the exercise of the right.
When the use, for which private property is ed, is public, and the Legislature has acted upon the question, the expediency or necessity of appropriating any particular property is not a subject of judicial cognizance. The property may be appropriated by an act of the Legislature ; or the power of appropriating it may be delegated to private corporations, to be exercised by them in the execution of works, in which the pub-lie is interested. But when the sovereign power attaches conditions to the exercise of the right of eminent domain, the enquiry, whether the conditions have been observed, is a matter for judicial cognizance. Boom Co. v Patterson 8 Otto 403.
In Milwaukie and St. Paul Railway Co. v. City of Faribault, 23 Minn. 167, Cornell, Judge, in delivering the opinion of the court said : “ It is claimed by the defendant, that the city council in this case was the sole and exclusive judge as to the public necessity and propriety of laying out the proposed street, on the ground that the necessity and expediency of laying out highways is exclusively a legislative and not a judicial question.
In Bankhead v. Brown, 25 Ia. 540, Dillon C. J. speaking for a majority of the court lays down as the law the following propositions : “ 1st. That the constitutional limitation prohibits by implication the taking of private property for any private use whatever without the consent of the owner. 2d. It forbids the forcible taking of private property for any but public use, and then only upon just compensation being made. 3d. When the public exigencies demand the exercise of the power of taking private property for the public use, is solely a question for the Legislature, upon whose determination the courts can not sit in judgment. 4th. What is such public use, as will justify the exercise of the power of eminent domain, is a question for the courts. But ‘if a public use be declared by the Legislature, the courts will hold the use to be public, unless it manifestly appears by the provisions of the act, that they can have no tendency to advance and promote such public used Per Shaw, C. J. in Hazen v. Essex Co., 12 Cush. 475.” See also Challis v. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Co., 16 Kans. 117; County Court of St. Louis Co. v. Griswold et al., 58 Mo. 175; Giesy v. C. W. & Z. R. Co,. 4 Ohio St. 308.
In North Mo. R. R. Co. v. Gott, 25 Mo. 540, it was. alleged in the petition in behalf of the company for the condemnation of the land upon which its road was located, that the road passed hills and valleys, and that a strip of one hundred and fifty feet in width was necessary for the construction of the road. The seventh sec
It seems to be well settled, that the public use, 'for which private property may be taken, is a question for the Legislature, In Secomb v. Railroad Co., 23 Wall. 109, it was held that the mode of exercising the right of eminent domain, in the absence of any power of organic law prescribing a contrary course, is within the discretion of the Legislature. There is no limitation upon the power of the Legislature in this respect, if the purpose be a public one, and just compensation be paid or tendered to the owner of the property taken. Water Work Company of Indianapolis et al. v. Burkhart et al., 41 Ind. 364; Wise v. St. P., Stillwater & Taylor’s Falls R. Co., 18 Minn. 155.
How much land the corporation may take, unless defined by the law, is a question for the courts and should be ascertained, before the commissioners to assess its value are appointed. Reed &c. v. Louisville Bridge Co. 8 Bush 69. In Railroad Co. v. Greely 17 N. H. 47, it was held, that whether the use is public within the meaning oí the act of the Legislature is a question for the courts ; and the mere recital in the act, that the use is public, will not take from the courts the power of enquiring whether the use to which the property is to be appropriated is a pub-
A great many questions as to the right to take certain property for public use have been regarded as judicial qUes^jons^ an(j have been adjudicated by inferior courts. Among such questions are the following: — Whether the use for which the property was sought to be taken was a-public one? Osborn v. Hart, 24 Wis. 89; Paluret’s Appeal, 67 Pa. 479; Sadler v. Langham, 34 Ala. 311; Deanville Cemetery Association, 66 N. Y. 569; City of East St. Louis v. St. John, 47 Ill. 463; West Va. Transportation Co. v. Volcano Oil and Coal Co., 5 W. Va. 382; Salt Co. v. Brown, 7 W. Va. 191; — Whether the corporate powers of the applicant had ceased ? Atkinson v. M. & C. R. Co., 15 Ohio St. 21; Brooklyn v. Winfield & Newton R. Co., 72 N. Y. 245. In the last named case it was held, that the legal existence of a corporation authorized to construct a railroad is at the foundation of the right to take property for its use under the exercise of the right of eminent domain ; it is a fact, which it is compelled to allege in proceeding to acquire title to land, and which may be controverted. See also Prospect Park and Coney Island R. Co., 67 N. Y. 371; —Whether the party making the application has been able to agree with the land-owner? Vail v. Morris & Essex R. Co., 1 Zab. 189; W. Va. Trans. Co. v. Volcano Oil and Coal Co., 5 W. Va. 382; O’Hara v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 25 Pa. 445; Ells v. Pacific R. Co., 51 Mo. 200; Lind v. Clemens, 44 Mo. 540; Contracosta R. Co. v. Moss, 23 Cal. 323; Darlington v. United States, 82 Pa. 382; — Whether the applicant was authorized by law to'take the land for the purpose for which he was seeking to condemn it? Miami Coal Co. v. Wigton, 19 Ohio St. 560; City of East St. Louis v. St. John, 47 Ill. 463; Renselaer & Saratoga R. Co. v. Davis, 43 N. Y. 137; — Whether the particular land described in the application, was necessary for the purpose for which it was' sought to be condemned ? So. Ca. R. Co. v. Blake, 9 Rich. L. 228;
If then all these questions, so vital to the rights of the citizen, can be heard and determined in the inferior court, if either of the parties to the controversy feels aggrieved by the judgment of the court, why may not the judgment be reviewed in the Appellate Court? It seems to me, that the correct rule is laid down in New Orleans Railroad Co. v. Hemphill, 35 Miss. 17, which is: Where the statute on condemnation proceedings does not declare, that the judgment shall be final, the judgment of the inferior court must stand as all other judgments, and the aggrieved party is entitled to the benefit of the general law regulating writs of error and supersedeas.
Our statute, is silent on the subject of the review of such judgments; but the constant practice of our courts has been to review such judgments in the Appellate Court. Transportation Co. v. Volcano Oil & Coal Co., 3 W. Va. 382; Chesapeake & Ohio R. Co. v. Pack, 6 W. Va. 397; Valley Salt Co. v. Brown, 7 W. Va. 191; Chesapeake & Ohio R. Co. v. Patton, 9 W. Va. 648, in which there was a supersedeas awarded as well as a writ of error; Chesapeake & Ohio R. Co. v. Hoard, 16 W. Va. Such
We have therefore no doubt, that this case is properly here for review upon writ of error, and that the superse-deas was properly granted.
It is suggested by counsel for the defendant in error, that the relief open for a party, whose land is improperly taken, is by injunction; but it seems to me, that after a court of law has taken jurisdiction in condemnation proceedings, and the parties are notified to appear to such proceedings, as it is certainly requisite to the validity of the proceedings that they should be, a court of equity would haye no jurisdiction to interfere by injunction to stay the proceedings, unless according to some of its established rules applicable alike to other proceedings at law such jurisdiction would attach. In New Central Coal Company v. George’s Creek Coal and Iron Company, 37 Md. 537, it was held that irregularities in taking the inquisition of condemnation, inadequacy of the damagés assessed, and all such questions can only arise and be decided by the tribunal, to which the inquisition is required to -be returned for ratification or re
It is objected, that the pleadings made and the trial of the issues by a jury were irregular, as the statute, under which the proceeding was had, did not require formal pleadings and a trial by jury. It is true, that in but few of the adjudicated cases it appears, that there were formal pleadings and a trial of the issues by a jury. In Virginia in Railroad Co. v. Switzer, 26 Gratt. 661, it was held, that according to a proper interpretation of the statute, similar to ours, all matters affecting the validity of the report and the action of the commissioners are open for investigation without notice, rule or pleading. In Concord Railroad Co. v. Greely, 17 N. H. 47, the objection to the taking of the land was raised in the inferior court by exceptions to the commissioner’s report, and only in that manner, and said exceptions were passed upon by the Appellate Court. The same objection was raised in the same manner in Hingham & Percy Bridge and Tunnel Co. v. County of Norfolk, 6 Allen 853, and Neff v. Cincinnati, 32 Ohio St. 218: While such objections may be raised by exceptions to the commissioner’s report, yet it is a practice, that should be discouraged. In a condemnation proceeding the first question to be decided is, shall the land be condemned for the use of the petitioner ? And it is the better practice to determine this question, before the commissioners to assess its value are appointed, Chesapeake & Ohio
The record in this case is well made up. I think it is a model of its kind ; and I have endeavored, in a sue-cint statement to preserve to the profession the result of the labor of the learned counsel on both sides, as it commends itself to my mind, as among the clearest and most sensible records presenting pleadings, &c. on the question of the taking of private property for public use, that I have found in the many books I have examined on the subject.
One error assigned is, that the court refused to allow defendant in error to open and conclude the argument to the j nry. Who has the affirmative of the issue ? In condemnation proceedings as to the value of the land the owner has the right to open and close. Oregon & Cal. R. R. Co. v. Barlow, 3 Oregon 311; Minnesota R. Co. v. Doran, 17 Minn., 188; Burt v. Wigglesworth, 117 Mass. 302. As to a mere matter of the conduct of a trial, it must be clear that injustice has been done, before an Appellate Court will reverse a judgment for such reason.
In Fry v. Bennett, 28 N. Y. 324, it was held, that the question, as to which party shall open and close the case, should be regarded as one of practice, to be regulated by the discretion of the judge, and his decision upon it is not a subject of exception. If the court had the power to review a decree upon a matter, which is the subject of discretion, it would not be disposed to reverse
In Preston v. Waller, 26 Ia. 205, it was held, while the right to review the question, as to which party holds the affirmative of the issue and has the right of opening and closing the argument, is not absolutely denied, yet there must be a clear case of prejudice, to justify a reversal on this ground after atrial upon the merits.
In Brandford v. Freeman, 5 Exch. 734, it was held, that an incorrect ruling at nisi prius, as to the proper party to begin, is no ground for a new trial, unless it also appears, that substantial injustice has resulted from it.
In Marshall et al. v. Am. Express Co., 7. Wis. 1, it was held, that “ ás a matter of practice the party holding the affirmative of the issue has the right to open and close the argument to the jury ; but a mistake of the judge in this respect is not a ground of error to reverse the judgment, unless it is manifest, that injustice has been done.”
As the party seeking the appropriation of the land, has the affirmative of the issue upon its right to take it, such party is entitled to open and conclude the argument to the jury on that question. Whether this Court would reverse a judgment, because the court below erred in refusing to a party the opening and closing of the argument to the jury, wé do not decide, as the question does not arise, as the court below in this case decided correctly on this point.
Another ground of error assigned is, that the lenge to the juror Moffatt was overruled. The only ground of challenge to the juror was, that he was a citizen of Ohio county and paid county-taxes as such citizen. Sec. 63 of chap. 115 of the Acts of 1872-3 effectually disposes of this assignment of error. The last clause of said section declares “ nor shall any one be incompetent as a juror, because he is an inhabitant of the county or liable to the county-levies.”
It is also assigned as error, that the court reiused to .permit, pleas numbers two and three to be filed. The ' pleas are the same in substance, number two applying to one parcel of land, number three to the other parcel.— The substance of the plea's is, that when the condemnation proceeding was commenced, the said parcels of laud were, and still are owned, and held by the defendant tor the purpose of being used in its said business, and for no other purpose, and that it is not necessary tor the said petitioner 1 following the general course of its road to build its said road upon said land. The. pleas were insufficient for reasons to be hereinafter stated, when we discuss the instructions asked and reiused by the court.
It is also assigned as error, that the court overruled defendant’s objection to the replication to' special plea number four. Special plea number four is in substance, that the land in said plea mentioned was at the beginning of said condemnation proceedings, and still is, held and owned by defendant for the purpose of being used in its said business, and was at the time of the beginning of said proceedings, and still is in use by the said defendant in its said business, and that in following the general course of the petitioners road it is not necessary for said petitioner to build its road over said land. The special replication in substance is, that the use of said parcel of land by defendant was not in good faith; that in view of the commencement of the condemnation proceedings, the defendant built a trestle and placed cars upon it for the purpose of preventing the condemnation of the land.
It is no obstacle in the way of the appropriation of land, owned by one railroad company for the use of another, that merely to prevent the condemnation of the land the former puts it to a use, not uecessary for the proper exercise of its franchise. The replication was properly filed. Morris v. The Schallsville Branch, &c. R. R. Co., 4 Bush 448; Harris v Commissoners, 2 Hill 444; P. P. & J. R. R. Co. v P. & S. R. R. Co., 66 Ill. 176.
It is assigned as error, that the court reiused to give
Instruction number three is a follows : “If the jury believe' from the evidence, that any part of the land lying west of Water and north of Twentieth street and sought to be condemned by the Pittsburg, Wheeling & Kentucky Railroad Co. was at the time of the commencement of this condemnation proceeding in the bona fide use of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. for the purposes of its legimate business, they should find for the said Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. as to the whole of the portion thereof so proposed to be condemned, notwithstanding that any other portion of the same parcel may not have been in use as aforesaid; and therefore if the jury believe the land so proposed to be condemned includes a portion of the buttress of the bridge of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. erected by it across Wheeling creek, and if they believe, that the said bridge
and buttress were erected and are maintained and used by the said Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bona fide for the •purposes of its legitimate business, then the jury shall find for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. the issues as to the whole of the land lying west of Water and north of Twentieth street and so sought to be condemned.”
One fatal objection to this instruction is, that it propounds as law in a condemnation proceeding, that if all of the land sought to be condemned is not liable to be taken, then in that proceeding no part thereof can be taken. In a condemnation proceeding the jury or court may find, that a part of the land sought to be condemned may be taken, and not the residue. It might be, that a railroad company would seek to condemn a strip one hundred and fifty feet wide through a farm, when it appeared, that only one hundred feet wide was necessary, the one hundred feet only in that case would be condemned.
It is also a mistake to suppose, that land in use for certain purposes by a railroad company is not liable to condemnation. Pleas numbers two and three did not so much as aver, that the lands were in present use; and they were of course properly rejected. There is nothing so sacred in the title of a railroad company to property, that it cannot be taken under the exercise of the right of eminent domain. I understand the law to be, that property belonging to a railroad company and not in actual use necessary to the proper exercise of the franchise thereof may be taken for the purposes of another railroad under the general railroad law of the State. An express legislative enactment is generally required in order to take such property in use by a railroad company, except where the proposed appropriation would not destroy or greatly injure the franchise of the company, or render it difficult to prosecute the object thereof. If such consequences would not follow, a general grant, is sufficient. Enfield Toll Bridge Co. v. Hartford & New Haven R. Co., 17 Conn. 40; Little Miami R. Co., v. Day, 23 Ohio St.
This being the law, the objection of petitioner to the filing of pleas numbers four and five ought to ha*ve been sustained, and the said pleas ought not to have been filed, as they were each fatally defective in not averring, that the use therein set forth “ is necessary to the proper exersise of the franchise of the defendant.” But as this was not an error to the prejudice of the defendant in the court below, it has no reason to complain, that the pleas were filed, and of course the judgment of the court would not be reversed for that reason.
In Richmond &c., R. Co. v. Louisa R. Co., 13 How. 71, itappeared, that the Legislature of Virginia incorporated the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Portsmouth Railroad Co. and in the charter pledged itself not to allow any other railroad to be constructed between the places or on any portion of that distance, the probable effect of which would be to diminish the number of passengers traveling between the one city and the other .upon the railroad authorized by that act, or to compel the said company in order to retain such passengers to reduce the passage-money. Afterwards the Legislature incorporated the Louisa Railroad Company, whose road came from the west, and struck the first named company’s track nearly at right angles at some distance from Richmond ; and the Legislature authorized the Louisa road to cross the track of the other and continue their road to Richmond. The court held, that in the last grant the obligation of the contract with the first company* was not impaired within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States; that in the first charter there was an implied reservation of the power to incorporate companies to transport other articles than passengersthat a franchise could be condemned in the same manner as individual property. West Bridge Co. v. Dix et al., 6 How. 507.
In Grand Rapids &c. R. R. Co. v. Grand Rapids & Indiana R. R. Co., 35 Mich. 265, it was held, that one
It is insisted by counsel for plaintifE in error, that where a corporation is authorized by its charter or a general law to take by condemnation the land required for its purposes, it cannot under such general authority condemn property already appropriated to public use by another corporation ; that to authorize it to do so, the power must be granted to it by express terms, or by necessary implication. For this position they rely upon: B. & M. R. Co. v. L. & L. R. Co., 124 Mass. 368; Housatonic R. Co. v. Lee & Hudson River R. Co., 118 N. Y. 391; Evergreen Cemetery Association v. New Haven, 43 Conn. 234; Matter of B. & A. R. R. Co., 53 N. Y. 574; Matter of City of Buffalo, 68 N. Y. 167.
In the case in 124 Mass, it appeared, that the location of the proposed extension of the defendant’s railroad, of which the plaintiff complained, was twenty-six feet wide and crossed upon a level two branches of the plaintiff’s railroad about a quarter of a mile apart; and at these crossings and for the whole distance between them was for a small portion of its width upon the plaintiff’s depot and station grounds; but for the greater part of its width was along and within the plaintiff’s location of 1847, and included a great part of the signal houses, of the store-house, of the paint-shop and of the carpenter’s-shop, and of the freight platform ; — that the construction of the proposed extension of the defend
In the case in 68 N. Y. it was held, that “The Legislature may interfere with property held by a coi’poration for one public use and apply it to another, and may delegate the power so to do to another corporation, but Such delegation must be in express terms or arise from necessary implication. In determining whether a power to take lands given in general terms Avas meant to have operation upon lands already devoted by legislative authority to a public purpose, it is proper to consider the nature of the prior use and the extent, to which it will be impaired or diminished by the taking for the subsequent use. A legislative intent to subject landsjdevoted to a public use, already in exercise, to one which might thereafter arise, Avill not be implied from a gift of power made in general terms without having in vieAv a then existing and particular need, for the subsequent use; at least where both uses cannot stand together, and the latter, if exercised, must supersede the former.” ,
It will be observed, that in these last cases the interference with the franchise was great, and much injury would have been sustained by the companies^'if their property had been taken. But the taking of a portion of a buttress might inflict no injury at all upon the Bal
It is assigned as error, that the court refused to set aside the verdict and grant a new trial. Upon a careful examination of the evidence we think it fully sustains the verdict. But it is insisted by counsel for plaintiff in error, that the evidence shows, that more land was included in the upper parcel of land sought to be condemned, than was necessary for the purposes of petitioner, and the verdict ought therefore to be set aside.
It is true, as contended by the counsel, that private property can only be taken for a public use, and no more of such property can be taken than is necessary for such use, which must be determined when proper from the statute upon the subject and the facts appearing in the case. Therefore when it clearly appears, that the property taken, or a part thereof, is not necessary for the public use, for which such condemnation is sought, as to such part the taking is unlawful. Matter of Albany Street, 11 Wend. 149; Dunn v. Charleston, Harp. (S. C.) 189; Buckingham v. Smith, 10 Ohio 288; Cooley Con. Lim. 539. But does it appear in this record, that more land was condemned than was necessary for the public use set forth in the petition ? The only evidence before the jury on that subject was brought out on the cross-examination of the engineer, of the petitioner, who said : “ For any structure which petitioner would put on the parcel of land just south of Wheeling creek, it would only need twelve and one half feet on each side of its centre line. For the remainder of the parcel west of this twenty-five feet petitioner had no immediate use; and witness could not say, that it would ever be useful. It was one of those cases where railroads sometimes con
Whether the whole of the upper parcel south of Wheeling creek was necessary for the use of petitioner was not an issue before the jury. The petition particularly described it and claimed, that it was necessary for the use of the petitioner, which was a public use. The defendant in the county court did not take issue on that allegation in the petition. The only issues as to that parcel were, “ that the land last hereinbefore mentioned was at the time of the beginning of the said condemnation proceedings, and still is, held and owned by the said defendant for the purpose of being used in its said business, and was at the time of the beginning of said proceedings, and still is, in use by the said defendant in its said business; and that in following the general course of the petitioner’s road it is not necessary for the said petitioner to build its said line of road over' said last mentioned land.” Therefore it is clear, that the said evidence is not responsive to any issue before the.jury.
On a motion for a new trial, in a condemnation as in any other case, evidence, that is not relevent to any issue before the jury, will not be considered by the court. This evidence then as we have seen was given to the jury and not to .the court, and the court could not therefore regard it. If, as is contended, the petitioner is compelled to prove to the court in a condemnation proceeding, that the land described in the petition is necessary for the public use, for which the condemnation is sought, whether or not it is by the land-owner in any way denied that it is necessary, then we say, that the evidence before the court, if any, is not certified, nor .it is shown in the record, that it was all before the court; and for any thing to the contrary that appears to us, it may have been
The buttress of the bridge, a small portion of which was taken, is not necessary to the support of the bridge and the exercise of the franchise of the company, as the evidence shows; neither will the taking thereof endanger the bridge. If the mere fact, that a part of the buttress extends to where the petitioner’s track would be constructed, will prevent the road being located there in this particular case, the buttress might have been extended so far toward the river, as to have prevented the construction of petitioner’s road contiguous to the river, notwithstanding the fact, that the extension of the buttress would not benefit the defendant.- Therefore the court did not err in refusing to set aside the verdict because a small part of the buttress was taken. As to the lower parcel of land we see nothing in the evidence, that would authorize the court to interfere with the verdict and judgment.
It is also assigned as error, that the commissioners were directed by the court to ascertain compensation for damages to the residue of the land, portions of which were sought to he condemned, It is well settled, that in cases
The commissioners’ report is also excepted to, because the parcel south of Alley 19 is not sufficiently identified. I see nothing in this exception. The deed of the land is referred to in the petition, which petition describes the strip as one hundred and thirty-two feet long and five feet wide taken off the east end of the two lots conveyed by said deed besides specifying particularly, where the said two lots are located. The other exceptions to the commissioner’s report, we have already considered in this opinion.
The remaining question to be considered is : Should the case have been on the motion of the defendant removed to the circuit court of the United States ? Objections are made, that if the proceedings were removable, the record did not show such a state of facts, as would justify the removal. The facts,.upon which a petitioner bases his right to the removal of a case from a State to a Federal court must be made to appear to the satisfaction of the State court; but no particular mode is prescribed, in which the facts are to be made to appear. People v. Superior Court, 34 Ill. 356. The State court has a right to judge of the sufficiency of the petition.
The Supreme Court of the United States in the cases of Armory v. Armory, 5 Otto 186, and Insurance Com
It is claimed that the petition for removal is insufficient, if it does not-show, that the plaintiff was a citizen of West Virginia at the time the proceeding was begun; that it is not sufficient to state the citizenship at the time of the application for removal. Holden v. Putnam Insurance Co., 46 N. Y. 1; Indianopolis Railroad Co., v. Risely, 50 Ind. 60; Savings Bank v. Benton, 2 Metc. (Ky.) 241; People v. Superior Court, 34 Ill. 356; Tapley v. Martin, 116 Mass. 275; Pechner v. Phœnix Insurance Co., 65 N. Y. 195; Affirmed 5 Otto 185. These cases all fully sustain the proposition-The' fact need not necessarily appear upon the face of the petition; the facts, upon which the petitioner bases his right to removal must be made to appear to the satisfaction of the State court, but no particular mode is prescribed. It may be by the admission of parties, by an affidavit, or by testimony of-witnesses; but it should-be made a part of the record however appearing. People v. Superior Court, supra. The petition becomes a part of the record, and should state facts, which taken in connection with such as already appear, entitle the petitioner to a removal of the case. Insurance Co. v. Pechner, 5 Otto 185. For the purpose of the transfer of a cause the petition, which the statute requires, performs the office of pleading. Upon its statement in connection with other parts of the record the court must
_ . . , . . . IT The petition and record m this case would authorize the removal, if it was such a case as could be removed. But could this case have been removed to the circuit court of the United States? The act of Congress approved March 3, 1875, provides: “That any suit of a civil nature at law or in equity now pending or hereafter brought in any State court, where the matter in dispute exceeds exclusive of costs the sum or value of f500.00 * * in which there shall be a controversy * * between citizens of different States, * * either party may remove said suit into the circuit court of the United States for the proper district.”
In the case of Kohl v. United States, 1 Otto 367, the government of the United States instituted condemnation proceedings in the circuit court of the United States for the Southern District of Ohio to appropriate a parcel of laud in the city of Cincinnati as a site for a post-office and other public uses. The Supreme Court held, that the right of eminent domain exists in the government of the United States and may be exercised by it within the States, so far as is necessary to the enjoyment of the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution. There is nothing in this case, that would intimate even, that such a case, as we are now considering, could be removed to the Federal court. By entering into the Union of the States and subscribing to the Constitution of the United States the State of Ohio gave up her sovereign control over so much of the land within her borders, as was necessary for the public use of the United States government, and consented, that the United States government might through its courts condemn such of the private property of any of the citizens of Ohio, as was necessary for the public use of the United States. This must be so in the very nature of things;
In Warren v. Wisconsin Valley R. R. Co., 6 Biss. 425, there was a condemnation of private property, and under the State law the defendant not being satisfied with the amount of the award appealed to the circuit court of the county. The statutes provided, that the appeal should be considered an action, pending in court subject to a change of the place of trial and appeal to the Supreme Court, as other actions, and should be entered by the clerk upon the records of the court by setting down the owners of the land, for whom such award was made and who are parties to the appeal, as plaintiffs, and the railroad company as defendants. It further declared, that the appeal should be tried by a jury, unless waived, and that costs should be awarded to the successful party on such appeal, &c. When the case was thus pending on appeal, the plaintiff being a citizen of Illinois filed his petition for removal to the circuit court of the United States, which petition the State court granted and the case was removed. In the circuit court the defendant moved to remand the case to the State court, on the ground that the circuit court of the United States had not jurisdiction thereof. One of the grounds relied upon in support of the motion was, that it was not a suit in such a sense as to be removable; that it was a special proceeding provided- for ascertaining the damages and passing title to the land taken or condemned especially applicable to proceedings in the State courts, and not adapted to the practice and modes of proceedure in the United States courts ; and thatthe rights of the railroad
Hopkins, J., said : “ If this objection states truly essential nature of the case, it might be regarded as an answer to the jurisdiction of this Court. But'does it? sIt was suggested, that the State could have provided for an assessment of damages by a sheriffs jury, and not given to the proceedings any attribute of a suit. Without determining that question either one way or the other, the point to'be passed upon here is, has the State stripped the proceedings of all the characteristics of an action ? I think it has not. It is true, the mode of getting the case into the courts is different, but after having provided a way of getting the matter into court, it is then treated as an action. The act says : The appeal shall be considered as an action pending in court, and from that time it is proceeded with in the same manner as other actions up to and including judgment and execution.7 *_ * * But even if the proceedings in the State courts are different from the usual mode of prosecuting suits for the enforcement of private rights, still it is in effect a suit of a civil nature, in which the controversy is between citizens of different States. The plaintiff is seeking to obtain compensation of the defendants for the land they have taken from him. It involves the question of the value of the land taken by defendants and the damages of the plaintiff sustained thereby.77 The court overruled the motion to remand.
It will be observed, that the court regarded the controversy entirely as to the amount of eompensation, to which the party, whose land had already been taken, was entitled.
The case of Boom Co. v. Patterson, 8 Otto 403, was a writ of error to the circuit court of the United States for the District of Minnesota. The Boom company was created under the laws of Minnesota and the owner of the land was a citizen of Illinois. The company was authorized under the laws of Minnesota to enter upon
Field Judge, in delivering the opinion of the court said: “The only question, on which there was any contention in the circuit court was as to the amount of compensation the owner of the land was entitled to receive, and the principle upon which the compensation was. to be estimated. But the company now raise a further question, as to the jurisdiction of the circuit court. Objections to the jurisdiction of the court below, that go to the subject-matter of the controversy, and not to the form merely of its presentation, or to the character of the relief prayed, may be taken at any time.— They are not waived, because they were not made in the court below.
“ The position of the company on this head of jurisdiction is this, that the proceeding to take private prop-
“But notwithstanding the right is one, that appertains to sovereignty, when the sovereign power attaches conditions to its exercise, the enquiry, whether the conditions have been observed, is a proper matter for judicial cognizance. If that enquiry take the form of a proceeding before the courts between parties, the owner of the land on the one side and the company seeking the appropriation on the other, there is a controversy, which is subject to the ordinary incidents of a civil suit, and its determination derogates in no respect from the sovereignty of the State. The proceeding in the present case before the commissioners appointed to appraise the land was in the nature of an inquest to ascertain its value, and not a suit at law in the ordinary sense of these terms. But when it was transferred to the district court by appeal from the award of the commissioners, it took under the statute of the State the form of a suit at law and was thenceforth subject to its ordinary rules and incidents.
“The point in issue was the compensation to be made
In this case the only question was as to the compensation to be paid to the owner of the land ; and we can very well see, how a controversy between citizens of different States upon this question might be removable to the Federal court, because it is then much like any other controversy. As we have already seen, before the question of compensation can properly arise, the court must of necessity declare, that the private property sought to be appropriated must be condemned. ’ With thequestion of the appropriation of the land sought to be taken the government of the United States, a separate sovereignty, unless it is the party seeking the condemnation, has nothing to do. And no foreign corporation can in the courts of the United States condemn the land of a citizen of a State for the use of such corporation ; and if the Federal courts have not original jurisdiction for such purpose, a proceeding of that kind instituted .in the State court cannot be removed to the Federal courts, because the Federal court can under no circumstances have jurisdiction in such cases. The contrary doctrine would destroy every vestage of control, which a State has over its own internal affairs. If there is any one thing, that was supposed to be sacred to the States, it is the mode by which the title to its lands shall be vested
It has always been supposed that the State had the right to prescribe the terms, upon which any foreign corporation should do business within its borders. Now if it be true, as contended, that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. is a foreign corporation, is it not a startling proposition, that it has the right to go into the courts of another and separate sovereignty, and have such courts to condemn the lands of its citizens for the use of such foreign corporation, and that the State is powerless to protect them? The Constitution never conferred any such power upon the Federal courts. The idea, that such a thing could be done, has never been countenanced by any court. Here the whole controversy was as to the right of the petitioner to appropriate the land in question ; and if this case could have been removed to the Federal court, then it would follow, that, if the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. desired to have land condemned for its purposes, it might file its petition in the Federal court for that purpose against a West Virginia owner of land, if, as it claims, it is a foreign corporation. The Federal courts have no jurisdiction in such cases.
But is not the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. a domestic corporation ? In State v. Northern Central Railway Co., 18 Md. 193, it appeared that “By an act of the General Assembly of Maryland passed on the 10th day of March, 1854, entitled, ‘An act to authorize the consolidation of the Baltimore & Susquehanna Railroad Co. with the York & Maryland Line Railroad Co., &c.,' the stockholders of the Baltimore & Susquehanna Railroad Co. were authorized to unite and consolidate their company or corporation with the York & Maryland Line Railroad Co., the York & Cumberland Railroad Co. and the Susquehanna Railroad Co. in the State of Pennsylvania, so as to form and constitute one company or corporation, to be called : “ The Northern Central Railway
The court held, that corporations owing their corporate existence in part to the State of Maryland, and exercising their franchises therein, may be restrained herefrom expending their funds for any other than corporate purposes anywhere. A plea by a corporation to the jurisdiction of a Maryland court, on the ground that the corporate property lies partly in another State, or that its corporate existence is derived in part from a charter of another State, is not tenable. Such a corporation must for the purposes of j ustice be treated as a separate corporation by the courts of each State, from which it derives its being, that is, as a domestic corporation to the extent of the State in which it acts, and as a foreign corporation as regards the other sources of its existence.
In County of Allegheny v. Cleveland & Pittsburgh R. R. Co., 51 Pa. St. 228, Woodward, Chief Justice, after quoting from the opinion of Chief Justice Taney in O. & M. R. Co. v. Wheeler, 1 Black 286, says : “ The Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad' Company was first incor
In Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Co., v. Wheeler, 1 Black 286, the declaration stated, that the plaintiff was “a corporation created by the laws of the States of Indiana and Ohio, having its principal place of business in Cincinnati in the State of Ohio ; that the corporation is a citizen of the State' of Ohio, and Henry D. Wheeler, the defendant, is a citizen of the State of Indiana.” The defendant pleaded to the jurisdiction of the court; averring that he was a citizen of the State of Indiana, and that the plaintiff was a body politic and corporate created, organized and existing in the same State under and by virtue of an act of Assembly of the State. The plaintiff demurred to the plea. It appeared, that Indiana first chartered the company, and afterwards the State of Ohio. Taney, C. J. said: “ The averments in the declaration would seem to imply that the plaintiff claims to have been created a corporate body, and to have been endowed with the capacities and faculties it possesses by the cooperating Legislatures of the two States, and to be one and the same legal being in both States. If this were the case, it would not affect the question of jurisdiction in this suit. But such a corporation can have no legal existence upon the principles of the common law, or under the decision of this court in the-case of the Bank of Augusta v. Earle, before referred to.
“ It is true, that a corporation by the name and style of the plaintiff, appears to have been chartered by the States of Indiana and Ohio, clothed with the same
The reason why the said corporation could not in the Federal court maintain a suit against either a citizen of Ohio or a citizen of Indiana according to this decision is obviously, because, if the suit were brought in Ohio against a citizen of either State, the corporation would be confronted with the fact, that it was a citizen of the same State. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. is as really a citizen of Maryland and of West Virginia, as is the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad a citizen of both Ohio and Indiana. True it was first chartered by Maryland on the 28th day of February, 1827, and eight days thereafter, on the 8th day of March, was chartered by Virginia. Under the decision of Ohio and Mississippi R. Co. v. Wheeler there can be no doubt, that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. is a domestic corporation of West Virginia and can not remove a case to the Federal court, when a citizen of West Virginia is a pai'ty thereto as plaintiff or defendant, If it is true as held
But the sensible and reasonable decision of the Supreme Court in O. & M. R. Co. v. Wheeler, obviates all this difficulty and shows, that a railroad corporation .may have an existence in more than one State, if chartered or licensed to build its road and do business in moree than one. If this were not true, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. would have been confined to the State of Maryland, and could have built no road outside of that State, and to-day it would be a pigmy instead of the giant that it is. When a helpless infant only eight days old, it did not wish to be confined to the narrow limits of one State, and applied to Virginia to adopt it as her child, which she did, and while under the Maryland charter it could build less than one hundred and fifty miles of railroad, under the Virginia charter it has built nearly four hundred miles.. Now is it possible, that after this company has been for over half a century nurtured by the two Virginias, been permitted in their courts to condemn the lands of their citizens for its pur
In B. & O. R. Co. v. Gallaher’s adm’r, 12 Gratt. 655, Allen, President, speaking for the whole court after referring to the act of March 8, 1827, said: “The company under this law is a Virginia corporation, and its powers within the territory of Virginia are derived from the grant contained in the Virginia law. The act of Maryland incorporated the subscribers to the capital stock, their successors and assigns, by the name designated ; and the Virginia act in effect re-enacts it in all essential particular’s, thereby erecting the company into a Virginia corporation within her territory. If liable to be sued in Maryland the same liability attaches to it in Virginia.” If liable to be sued in Virginia it is only because it was a Virginia corporation, and if a Virginia corporation, when a controversy existed between it and a citizen of. Virginia, such a suit cannot be removed into the Federal court. To the same effect is. Goshorn et al. v. Supervisors, 1 W. Va. 308; B. & O. R. Co. v. Supervisors, 3 W. Va. 319. See discussion of the question in Hall et al. v. Bank of Virginia et al., 14 W. Va. 618; Kephart v. Mahaney, 15 W. Va. 609.
In Railroad Company v. Harris, 12 Wall. 65, the plaintiff, Harris, sued the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. in one of the courts of the District of Columbia for
Thus the direct question was presented to the Supreme Court on writ of error, whether the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. was an inhabitant of the District of Columbia by virtue of the acts of Congress granting it the right to construct, and operate its road there and therefore liable to be sued there. The court by Swayne, Justice, said: “ In both (the acts of Virginia and the acts of Congress) the original Maryland act of incorporation is referred to, but neither expressly or by implication creates a new corporation. The company was chartered to construct a road in Virginia as well as in Maryland. The latter could not be done without the consent of Virginia. That consent was given upon the terms which she thought proper to prescribe. With a few exceptions, not material to the question before us, they were the same as to powers, privileges, obligations, restrictions and liabilities as those contained in the original charter. The provision
“That this may be done was distinctly held in Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Go. v. Wheeler. It is well settled that corporations of one State may exercise their faculties in another on such terms and to such extent, as may be permitted by the latter. We hold, that the case before us is in the latter category. The question is always one of legislative intent and not of legislative power or legal possibility. So far as there is anything in the language of the court in the case of The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Go., v. Wheeler, in conflict with what has been here said, it is intended to be restrained and qualified by this opinion.”
The opinion cites with approbation the case of B. & O. R. Co. v. Gallaher’s adm’r, 12 Gratt. 655, and the cases in 1 & 3 W. Va. before cited in this opinion. Mr. Justice Swayne quotes with approbation the following from the case in 12 Grattan: “It would be a startling proposition, if in all such cases citizens of Virginia and others should be denied all remedy in her courts for causes of action arising under contracts and acts entered
Nor can it be supposed, that the Legislature of Virginia intended, that the far greater powers and privileges granted to the same company should be followed by such results. But Mr. Justice Swayne in the same connection further says: “But turning our attention from this view of the subject, and looking at the statute alone, and reading it by its own light, we entertain no doubt, that it made the company liable to suit, where this suit was brought, in all respects as if it had been an independent corporation of the same locality.” (The italics are mine.) If• this be true, we need not differ as to whether the act of Virginia was a charter to the Baltimore & Ohio Bail-road Co. or a license of the character described, the result would be the same in either case ; the effect would be to make it, quoad all its bearings, contracts, &c.,in West Virginia, liable to suit here, the same as if it were a corporation of West Virginia.
The case of Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Co. v. Wheeler is modified by Railroad v. Harris, in a very important particular, and we think properly. That is that, the chartering of a corporation by another State, after it has received its charter from the first, does not create-a
In the case of Railroad Co. v. Whitton’s adm’r, 13 Wall. 270, it was said by Mr. Justic Field, who delivered the opinion of the court: “ The plaintiff is a citizen of the State of Illinois, and the defendant is a corporation created under the laws of Wisconsin. Although a corporation being an artificial body created by legislative power is not a citizen within such provision of the Constitution, yet it has been held, and that must now be regarded as settled law, that where rights of action are to be enforced, it will be considered as a citizen of the
There is nothing in this case, contrary to the position we have assumed. The case is precisely, as if a citizen of West Virginia should sue the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. in the Federal court in Maryland, or in the State court, anda removal should be asked. The answer would be : that the corporation as to that suit was a citizen of Maryland, and the plaintiff a citizen of West Virginia, and that therefore the Federal court had jurisdiction. The principle of the case in 13 Wall, is, that had the suit been brought in Illinois, the United States courts would not have had jurisdiction. To the-same effect is Muller v. Dows, 4 Otto 444.
A number of insurance cases decided in the Supreme Court of the United States are cited and relied upon by counsel for plaintiff in error, which it seems to us are irreconcilable in principle with the railroad cases we have discussed, decided by the same court, unless the distinction is taken, that there is a'wide difference between the charter or license of a railroad company to construct its road through a State, condemn land, build station-houses, occupy ground, and at all times abide, and do business in the State, and a mere license to an insurance company
The hardship of regarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. not liable to suit in the courts of West Virginia, as pointed out by Mr. Justice Swayne in Railroad Co. v. Harris, would be no less, if cases brought in the State courts against the company,could be removed to the Federal court. It would in many cases amount to a denial of justice. For instance, an action is brought against the company in Jefferson county for a sum exceeding $500.00. The plaintiff is a poor man and has suffered an inj ury from the railroad ; his witnesses reside in the county; he can without trouble secure their attendance there ; he has some show of a speedy trial, for there are three terms of a State court in a year; but the case is removed into the circuit court of the United States. That court sits at Parkersburg, three hundred miles from the home of the plaintiff. The court sits but twice a year. He is compelled to pay the fare of all his witnesses on the defendant's road for three hundred miles, if he is able to do it; if not, justice is denied him* He may take them, once, twice or thrice,, and the case may be continued. He has suffered in expense perhaps more than his claim will amount to. On the other hand? the railroad company transports its witnesses without charge at any time it pleases, and is actually reaping a profit out of the poor man, who is compelled to pay the railroad company for transporting his witnesses. If such is the law, it is harsh and unjust. It has not yet been so held ; and it seems to me, it never can be.
I conclude therefore, that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. is a domestic corporation in West Virginia, and as such liable to be sued here; that when sued in
Since the submission of this case chapter 88 of the Acts of 1872-3, under which the condemnation was had, has been by section 74 of chapter 17 of the Acts of 1881, approved March 17, 1881, repealed. It is now here argued by counsel for plaintiff in error, that the effect of that repeal is to require this Court to reverse the judgment of the circuit court and dismiss the proceedings, as it is insisted, that there was no saving as to pending suits. Many authorities have been cited in support of the position, and among them Curran v. Owens, 15 W. Va. 208. Whether the repealing act shall have the effect to arrest proceedings in pending cases depends upon the intent of the Legislature. That intent must be gathered from the action of the Legislature itself, but not necessarily from the repealing act alone, but if it can be gathered from the passage of any act by the Legislature at the same session upon the same subject, that it was the legislative intent, that pending actions or proceedings should be saved, it is sufficient to effect that purpose.
The language used by this Court in Curran v. Owens, that the legislative intent in such cases must be gathered from the repealing act itself, must be understood as applying to the circumstances of that case. In that case there was no act passed at the session of the Legislature referred to upon the subject, except the act containing the repealing section; and the legislative intent was in that ease necessarily gathered from the repealing act itself. At the last session of the Legislature, when the general incorporation law was passed, which contains the section repealing chapter 88 of the Acts of 1872-3, on the 12th of March, 1881, an act was approved, entitled : “An act to revive, amend and re-enact chapter 42 of the Code of West Virginia concerning the taking of land without the owner’s consent for purposes of public utility, and to
We deem it unnecessary to consider in this case the other interesting questions, as to the effect of repealing statutes upon pending suits, as the point we have decided disposes of the question raised in this case.
For the foregoing reasons the judgment of the circuit court affirming the judgment of the county court is affirmed with costs and $30.00 damages.
JUDGMENT ÁPFIRMED.
