Bethune v. Funk

| Or. | Jul 12, 1917

Mr. Justice Moore

delivered the opinion of the court.

Section 3322, L. O. L., was amended by an act approved February 20, 1917 (Gen. Laws Or. 1917, Chap. 330) so as to read:

“There shall be allowed by the county court of each county to the several judges and clerks of election $3 per day while holding elections * * ; and it is provided that in incorporated cities and towns where a city, primary, or general election is held on the same day and within the same hours as a primary or general election under the laws of this state and the election precincts within any such city or town do not embrace territory outside of the corporate limits thereof, the judges and clerks of election shall render the required service as such judges and clerks of such city or town election without additional compensation * * ; provided, that incorporated cities and towns holding elections on the same day of such primary or general election, and using the services of judges and clerks, shall bear their pro rata expense of such election. ’ ’

1. The proper meaning of the phrase “a primary or general election under the laws of this state” as thus employed must necessarily determine the controversy. A primary election is the opportunity given by law to electors enabling them to express their choice by ballot of one or more candidates for office to be voted for at an ensuing election: Section 3350, L. O. L. In Marsden v. Harlocker, 48 Or. 90, 94 (85 Pac. 328, 120 Am. St. Rep. 786), it is said:

“If, by operation of law, the election invariably occurs at stated intervals, without any superinducing cause, except the efflux of time, the election is general, in which case all qualified persons are presumed to have knowledge thereof, and hence the failure of any officer or person upon whom the duty devolves to give a prescribed notice does not invalidate the votes cast thereat. ’ ’

The description of a general election thus given, though applicable to the facts there involved, is not broad enough to include all elections that might properly come within the modifying term “general.” Article IV, Section 1 of the organic law of the state declares:

“All elections on measures referred to the people of the state shall be had at the biennial regular general elections, except when the legislative assembly shall order a special election. ’ ’

The meaning of the clause, “except when the legislative assembly shall order a special election,” might as well have been rendered by the expression, “except when the legislative assembly shall otherwise order.” It was the time and not the kind of election that was being thus distinguished. The phrase “biennial regular general election” in the excerpt last set forth would necessarily imply, by comparison, a “special general election,” so that the qualifying word “special” has in this instance no particular significance. The phrase “general election” will be found in Sections 2943, 2944, 2947, and 2948, L. O. L. In referring thereto Section 2952, L. O. L. reads:

“The general election at which such officers, or either of them, must be elected is the general election next preceding the expiration of the term of the then incumbent of such office.”

Section 3303, L. O. L., was amended so as to read:

“A general election shall be held in the several election precincts in this state on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1914, and biennially thereafter. Gen. Laws Or. 1913, Chap. 288.”

The Governor is required to issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as may have occurred in the legislative assembly: Article Y, Section 17 of the Constitution. The statute regulating the exercise of such prerogative declares:

“The governor shall issue a writ of election, directed to the sheriff of the county, or sheriffs of the counties composing the district in which such vacancy shall occur, commanding him or them to notify the several judges of election in his county or their district to hold a special election to fill such vacancy or vacancies, at a time appointed by the governor”: Section 3431, L. O. L. See also Section 3438, L. O. L.

2. A consideration of these provisions induces the conclusion that a “general election” is one that regularly recurs in each election precinct of the state on a day designated by law for the selection of officers, or is held in such entire territory pursuant to an enactment specifying a single day for the ratification or rejection of one or more measures submitted to the people by the legislative assembly, and not for the election of any officer.

3. Section 1 of Chapter 422, Gen. Laws Or. 1917, conforming to a statement contained in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of this state, declares:

“A special election shall be held in the several voting precincts of this state on the forth (fourth) day of June, 1917.”

The use of the qualifying word “special” as thus indicated did not make the election so to *be held of that kind, for the election having been simultaneously held in every voting precinct of the state conclusively establishes the fact that the election was general and not special, which latter term, though not involved herein would appear to mean an election held in only a subdivision or a part of the state. Such being the case Chapter 330, Gen. Laws Or. 1917, is controlling, and the petitioner herein having been paid by Multnomah County for the services which he performed is not entitled to any further remuneration from the City of Portland or its executive officers.

It follows from these considerations that the alternative writ does not state facts sufficient to authorize the relief demanded, the demurrer thereto is sustained, and the proceeding is dismissed.

Demurrer Sustained. Proceeding Dismissed.

Mr. Justice Burnett not sitting.