Collins v. Yosemite Park & Curry Co.Collins v. Yosemite Park & Curry Co.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
Aрpellee, the Yosemite Park and Curry Co., brought. this suit to enjoin the State Board of Equalization and the State Attorney General from enforcing the “Alcoholic Beverage Control. Act” of the State of California, 1 within the limits of Yosemite National Park. Appellee is engaged in operating, within the Park, hotels, camps, and stores, under a contract with the Secretary of the Interior, leasing portions of the Park to appellee for a 20-year term. The contract, expressly intended to implement the Congressional desire to make the Park a resort and playground for the benefit of the public, places upon appellee the duty of furnishing visitors with sundry facilities and accommodations. If it pays dividends in excess of 6% on its investment it must pay to the Secretary of the Interior a sum equal to 25% of the excess during the first ten years, and 22%% of any excess over 6% earned during the second ten years. Appellee sells liquors, beer and wine to Park visitors for prices approved by the Secretary of the Interior. In the ordinary course of business, it imports from places outside of California beer, wine, and distilled spirits, which it stores and sells within the Park.
According to the allegations of appellee’s bill, appellants (defendants below) assert that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act applies within the Park and that appellee is obligated to apply for permits for importation and
Appellee brought this suit to restrain enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act within Yosemite Park, on the theory that the Park is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States. The suit being one to restrain the enforcement of a state statute as applied to a specific situation, a three-judge .court was convened under § 266 of the Judicial Code, 28 U. S. C. § 380. The case was heard below upon motion to dismiss the complaint. The District Court denied this motion. It granted a temporary injunction,
The District Court held that exclusive jurisdiction over the land was acquired again by the United States by virtue of the joint operation of three statutes: an 1891 California law,, ceding to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over such land as might be ceded to it;
6
a 1905 California statute re-ceding the Valley to the United States;
7
and the Act of June 11, 1906,
From this final decree of injunction, a direct appeal to this Court was taken under §•§ 238 and 266 of the Judicial Code. Several questions were argued on the appеal. At this point, reference may be confined to appellants’ contention that the United States has no
Exclusive jurisdiction. By the Act of March 3, 1905, see note 7, California ceded and granted the United States title to the “Cleft” or “Gorge,” known as Yo-Semite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove. As the. Act of March 31, 1891, was then in force, see note 6, exclusive jurisdiction, with the exception of right to administer criminal laws and serve civil process, passed to the United States, on its acceptance, unless the United States was without constitutional power, to exercise it.. By the Act of June 11, 1906, see note 8, the .Congress accepted the cession and made the lands conveyed a part of the Yosemite National Park. The other lands composing the Park had been in the proprietorship- of the national government since cession by Mexico. Exclusive' jurisdiction of them passed from the United States to California by the admittance of that State to the Union. Except for certain rights expressly reserved, exclusive jurisdiction of these lands was granted to thе United States by the Act of April 15, 1919, see note 9, and accepted by the .Congress on June 2, 1920, see note 10. As this Act granted exclusive jurisdiction over all “territory which is now or may hereafter be ... . included in . . . Yosemite National Park,” the language of the cession and acceptance is apt to determine exclusive jurisdiction, with the explicit reservations, of the Gorge also.
The State urges the constitutional inability of the National Government to accept exclusive jurisdiction .of any land for purposes other than those specified in Clause 17, § 8, Article I of the Constitution.
13
This clause has not bеen strictly construed. This Court at this term has given full consideration to the constitutional power of
On account of the regulatory' phases of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of California, it is necessary to determine that question here. The United States has large bodies of public lands. These properties aré used for
Interpretation of Reservations.
The lower court, in interpreting the language of the Acts of grant and acceptance was of the opinion that the saving of “the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property” was not sufficiently broad to justify the collec
As the respective acts of State and Nation were, in the nature of a mutual declaration of rights, this is not an occasion for strict construction of., a grant by a State limiting its taxing power. Without employing that rule, we are of the opinion that this language is sufficiently broad to cover excises on sales,
20
but not the license fees
(a) Licenses. As the State of California has in the area of the'Yosemite National Park only the jurisdiction saved under the cession and acceptance acts of 1919 nnd 1920, it does not have the power to regulate the liquor traffic in the Park. Except as to this, resérved -jurisdiction, California “put that area beyond the field of operation of her laws.”
21
While the State has, under its reservation, the right to use means to force collection of the taxes saved,
22
it seems, clear that the licenses required by § 5 go beyond aids to the collection of taxes and are truly regulatory in character. This is nоt a case where provisions. requiring a license may be treated as separable from regulations applicable to those licensed.
23
Here the regulatory provisions appear in the form of conditions to be satisfied before a license may be granted.
24
The pro
(b) Excise Taxes. A different conclusion, obtains, however, with respect to the excise tax provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, laying a tax, at a specified rate per unit sold, on beer, wine, and distilled spirits sold “in this State.” The Park Company, seeking , to bring the excise provisions of the Act within the principle stated above with respect to the license fee provisiоns, contends that, notwithstanding the separability clause, 25 the taxing features cannot be separated from the regulatory features, and that “the Act does not even purport to tax persons not subject to licensing requirements.” Thus the argument is made that § 23 imposes an excise tax on beer and wine sold by an importer, and applies not to the Company, which sells beverages direct to consumers, but only to importers licensed under the Act, and restricted by their license to sales to retail licensees;
Section 24 imposes an excise tax upon all distilled spirits “sold in this State by rectifiers or wholesalers.” Appellee Company does not come within the statutory
The objection that collection of the taxes may not only •interfere with an agency of the United States but may be actually partly collected from' the National Government because of it's. interest in the'profits under' the contract is fully answered by the fact that the United States, by its acceptance of qualified jurisdiction, has consented to such a tax. 29
XXI Amendment.
The State mákes the point that § 2 of the XXI Amendment
30
gives it the right to regulate
Conclusion.
The bill of complaint states that the- defendants, the state officials, “assert that said Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of the State of California applies to complainant’s operations within said Yosemite National Park; . . . that it is obligated to pay the fees and taxes imposed by said Act and is subject to the penalties thereof for the possession and sale of.' said beverages without compliance with the provisions of said Act.” In the prayer of the bill, the complainant prays for an injunction restraining the defendants “from enforcing in any. manner within the limits of Yosemite National Park, or in respect of transactions within said Park, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of the State of California.”
From the pleadings and decree it is clear that until now the. controversy has turned npt upon special provisions of the Act in question but upon its applicability as a whole. As in our judgment, as heretofore pointed out, the tax provisions are enforceable and the regulatory provision's unenforceable, it is necessary to reverse the decree and remand the cause to the District Court for a determination by the Court in accordance with this opinion of the applicability of such sections of the Act as the State may threaten to enforce.'
Reversed.
Notes
Cal. Stat. 1935, c. 330, as amended, Cal. Stat. 1937, c. 681, 758.
The discussion applies equally to the Mariposa Big Tree Grove.
9 Stat. 922.
9 Stat. 452.
13 Stat. 325.
“Section 1. The State, of California hereby' cedes to the United States of America exclusive jurisdiction over such piece or parcel of land as may have been or may be heréafter ceded or conveyed to the United States, during the time the United States shall be or remain the owner thereof, for all purposes except the administration of the criminal' laws of this State and the service of civil process therein.” Cal. Stat. 1891, c. 181.
“An act to recede and regrant unto the United States of America, the ‘Yosemite Valley,’ and -the land embracing the ‘Mariposa Big Tree Grove.'
“Section 1. The State of California does .hereby recede and regrant .unto the United States of America, the ‘Cleft’ or ‘Gorge’ in the granite peak of the Sierra Nevada mountains, situated in the cpunt-y of Mariposa, State of California, and the headwaters of the Merced river, and known as the Yosemite Valley, with its branches or spurs, granted unto the State of California in trust for public use, resort and recreation by the act of congress entitled ‘An act authorizing a grant to the State of California of the Yosemite Valley and of the land embracing the ‘Mariposa Big Tree Grove,’ approved June 30th, 1864; and
“Sec. 3. This act shall take effect from and after acceptance by the United States of America of the recessions and regrants herein made, thereby forever releasing the State of California from further cost of maintaining the said premises, the same to be held for all time by the United States of America for public use, resort and recreation, and imposing on the United States of Ameriсa the cost of maintaining the same as a national park. Provided, however, that the recession and regrant hereby made shall not affect vested rights and interests of third persons.” Cal. Stat. 1905, c. 60.
“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the recession and regranting unto the United States by the State of California of the cleft or gorge in the granite peak of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, situated in the county of Mariposa, State of California, and the headwaters of the Merced River, and known as the Yosemite Valley, with its branches or spurs, granted unto the State of California in trust for public use, resort, and recreation by the Act of Congress entitled ‘An Act authorizing a grant to the State of California of the Yosemite Valley and of the land embracing the Mariposa Big Tree Grove,’ approved June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four (Thirteenth Statutes, page three hundred and twenty-five), as well as the tracts embracing what is known as the ‘Mariposa Big Tree Grove,’ likewise granted unto the State of California by the aforesaid Act of Congress, is hereby ratified and accepted, and the tracts of lands embracing the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove, as described in the Act of Congress approved June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, together with that part of fractional- sections five and six, township five south, range twenty-two east, Mount Diablo meridian, California, lying south of the South Fork of Merced River and almost wholly between the Mariposa Big Tree Grove and the present south boundary of thе Yosemite National Park, be, and the same are hereby,
“An Act to cede to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over Yosemite national park, Sequoia national park, and General Grant national park in the State of California.
“Section 1. Exclusive jurisdiction shall be and the same is hereby ceded to the United States over and within all of the territory which is now or may hereafter be included in those several tracts of land in the State of California set aside and dedicated for park purposes by the United States as ‘Yosemite national park,’ ‘Sequoia national park,’ and ‘General Grant national park’ respectively; saving, however, to the State of California the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the aforesaid parks in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred or crimes committed in said state outside of said parks; and saving further, to the said state the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in said parks) and the right to fix and collect license fees for fishing in said parks; and saving also to the persons residing in any of said parks now or hereafter the right to vote at- all elections held within the county or counties in which said parks are situate; provided, however, that jurisdiction shall not vest until the United States through the proper officer notifies the State of California that they assume police jurisdiction over said parks.” Cal. Stat. 1919, c. 51.
41 Stat. 731, 16 U. S. C. § 57.
“Be it enacted by the Senate and Home of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the provisions of the act of the Legislature of the State of California (approved April 15,1919), ceding- to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over the territory embraced and included within the Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and General Grant National Park, respectively, are. hereby accepted and sole and exclusive jurisdiction is hereby assumed by the United States over such territory, saving, however, to the said' State of California the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the aforesaid^ parks or either of them, in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed in said State outside of said parks; and saving further to the said State the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on thé lands included in said parks, and the right to fix and collect license fees for fishing in said parks; and saving also to the persons residing in any of said parks now or hereafter the right to vote at all elections held within the county or counties in which said parks are situated. All the laws applicable to places under sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States shall have force and effect in said parks or either of them. All fugitives from justice taking refuge in said parks, or either of them, shall be subject to the same laws as refugees from justice found in the State of California.”
Cf.
Fort Leavenworth R. Co.
v.
Lowe,
James
v.
Dravo Contracting Co.,
“To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States,, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat .of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;. . .”
James
v.
Dravo Contracting Co.,
Fort
Leavenworth R. Co. v. Lowe, supra; Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co. v. McGlinn,
Fort Leavenworth R. Co. v. Lowe, supra.
Cf.
Rainier Nat. Park Co. v. Martin,
James
v.
Dravo Contracting Co., supra,
147;
Kohl
v.
United States,
“Sec. 5. The following are the types of licenses to be issued under this act and the annual fees to be charged thérefor.
1. Beer manufacturer’s license__________________________$750.00 per year
2. - Wine manufacturer’s license (to be computed only on the ' gallonage manufactured) five thousand gallons or less- 2Ó. 00 per year-
Over five thousand gallons to twenty thousand gallons per year---------------------------------------------- 40. 00 per year
Over twenty thousand to- one hundred thousand gallons per year — --------------------------------------- 75.00 per year
Over one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand gallons per year-------1------------------------- 100.00 per year
Over two hundred thousand gallons to one million gallons a year--------------------------------•__________ 150.00 per year
For each million gallons or fraction thereof over a million - gallons an additional______________________________ 100. 00 per year
3. Distilled spirits manufacturer’s license________________ 250. 00 per year
4. Still license------------------1 --------:------------ 10. 00 per year per still
5. Rectifier’s license----------------------------------- 250.00 per year
6. Brandy manufacturer’s license_______________________ .150.00 per year
- 7. Distilled spirits importer’s license____________________ no fee
8. Wine importer’s license___1_________________________ < no fee
9. Beer importer’s license______________________________ no fee
10. Public warehouse license---------------------------- 10.00 per year
11. Wine bottling or packaging license_______________'_____ 10. 00 per year
12. Beer bottling or packaging license____________________ 500.00 per year
13. Distilled spirits wholesaler’s license___________________ 250.00 per year
14. Beer and wine wholesaler’s license____________________ 50.00 per year
15. Broker’s license______________-______________________ . 250.00 per year-
16. Retail package off-sale beer and wine license____________ 10.00 per yеar
17. Retailrpackage off-sale distilled spirits license for the first $10,000 retail sales per year_______________________ 100. 00 per year
For each $1,000 retail sales or fraction thereof over $10,000 per year — ---------------------------- 10.00 per year
18. Industrial alcohol dealer’s license___________________,__, 50.00 per year
19. On-sale beer license--------------------------------- 25.00 per year
20. On-sale beer and wine license — ____________________ 75.00 per year
21. On-sale beer and wine license for trains (per train)____ 15.00 per year •
22. On-sale beer and wine license for boats (per boat)______ 50.00 per year
23. On-sale distilled spirits license______________________As set by the board
24. Distilled spirits manufacturer's agents license__________ 250.00 per year”
“Sec. 23. An excise tax is hereby imposed upon all beer and wine sold in this State by a manufacturer or importer, except as otherwise in this act provided, at the following-rates:
“(a) On all beer, sixty-two cents for every barrel containing thirty-one gallons, and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity;
“(b) On all natural dry wines one cent per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity; (c) on all other still wines two cents per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for any otherquantity; (d) on champagne, sparkling wine, except sparkling hard cider, whether naturally or artificially carbonated one and one-half cents per half pint or fraction thereof, three cents per pint or frac.tion thereof greater than one-half pint, six cents per quart or fraction thereof greater than one pint; (e) on sparkling hard cider two cents per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for аny other quantity.” Statutes 1937, ch. 758; operative July 1, 1937.
“Sec. 24. An excise tax is hereby imposed upon all distilled spirits sold in this State by rectifiers or wholesalers thereof, at the following rates:
“On all distilled spirits of proof strength or less, two cents on each bottle containing two ounces or fraction thereof; five cents on each bottle containing eight ounces or fraction thereof greater than two ounces; ten cents on each bottle containing one pint or fraction thereof greater than a half-pint-; sixteen cents on each bottle containing one-fifth gallon or fraction thereof greater than one pint; twenty cents on each bottle containing one quart or fraction thereof greater than one-fifth gallon; forty cents on each bottle containing one-half gallon or fraction thereof, greater than one quart; eighty cents on each bottle containing one gallon or fraction thereof greater than one-half gallon, and at a proportionate rate for any quantity.
.“All distilled spirits in excess of proof strength shall be taxed at double-the above rate.” Statutes 1937, ch. 758; operative July 1, 1937;
Mid-Northern Oil Co.
v.
Walker,
‘ In this view we need" not consider appellants’ argument that the Constitution of California forbids, the release of the taxing power.
Standard Oil Co.
v.
California,
Rainier National Park
v.
Martin,
Cf.
Electric Bond & Share Co.
v.
Securities & Exchange Comm’n,
Art. XX, § 22, of the California'Constitution provides that the State Board of Equalization “shall have the power, in its discretion, to deny or revoke any specific liquor license if it shall determine for good cause that the granting or continuance. of such license would be contrary to public welfаre or morals.”
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Cal. Stat; 1935, c. 330, as amended Stat. 1937, c. 681, c. 758, contains, inter alia, provisions that no person may perform acts authorized by a license, unless licensed (§ 3); that an importer’s license may be issued only to the holder-of a manufácturer’s, rectifier’s, or wholesaler’s license, § 6 (d)that appli
“Sec. 70. If any section, subsection, clause, sentence or phrase of this act which is reasonably separable from the remaining portion, of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, stích derision shall not affect the remaining portions of this act. The Legislature hereby declares' that it would have passed the remaining portions of this act irrespective of the fact that any such section, subsection; clause, sentence or phrase of this act be declared unconstitutional.”
Sec. 2 (k): “ ‘Importer’ means any consignee of alcoholiс beverages brought into this State from without this State when such alcoholic beverages are for delivery or use within this State, . . See. 2 (w): “ ‘Within this State’ means all territory within the boundaries of this State.” Sec. 2 (wl): “ ‘Without the State’ means all territory without the boundaries of the State.”
See supra, note 26. See boundary of State .of California as defined in Cal. Const., Art. XXI, § 1.
Compare
Rainier Nat. Park Co.
v. Martin,
Sec. 2 (j) “‘Rectifier’ means every person who colóre, flavors, or otherwise processes distilled spirits - by. distillation, blending, percolating or other processes.”
(s) “ ‘Wholesaler’ means, and includes every person other than a manufacturer or rectifier who is' engaged in business, as a jobber or wholesale merchant, dealing in alcoholic beverages.”
Rainier Nat. Park Co.
v.
Martin,
“Sec. 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the Unitеd States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.”
“Sec. 49. Alcoholic beverages shall be brought into this State from without this State for delivery or use within the State only’ when such alcoholic beverages are consigned to a licensed importer and only when consigned to- the premises of such licensed importer or to . the premises of a public warehouse licensed under this act. Alcoholic beverages which are consigned to a destination within this State shall be presumed to be for delivery or use within this State. Alcoholic beverages imported into this State contrary to the- provisions hereof shall be seized by the board. Every .person violátiñg the provisions, of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” Statutes 1937, ch. 758; оperative July 1, 1937. •
“Sec. 49.2. Common or private carriers transporting alcoholic beverages into this State from without the State for delivery or use within this State must obtain the receipt of the licensed importer, distilled spirits manufacturer or distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent for the alcoholic beverages so transported and delivered, and, if the consignee refuses to give such receipt’ and show his license to the carrier, the carrier shall be relieved of all responsibility for delivering said alcoholic beverages. Where the. consignee - is not a licensed importer, distilled spirits manufacturer or distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent or where the consignee refuses to give his receipt and show his license the carrier shall immediately notify the board at Sacramento giving full details as to the character of shipment, point of origin, destination and address of the consignor and consignee, and within ten days such alcoholic beverages shall be delivered to the board and shall’be forfeited to the State of California. If any alcoholic beverages seized under the preceding section or forfeited under this section are sold by or under the direction of the board the common carrier’s unpaid freight and storage charges accruing on the shipments of such alcoholic beverages shall be satisfied out of the proceeds of any sale made by the State after deducting the cost of such sale and any -excise taxes accruing thereon. Every person violating the provisions .of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” Statutes 1937,-ch. 758; operative July 1, 1937.
The conclusions have been reiterated in Mahoney v. Joseph Triner Corp., ante, p. 401.
Standard Oil Co.
v.
California,
Compare
Western Union Telegraph Co.
v.
Chiles,