Danciger v. American Express Co.

247 Mo. 209 | Mo. | 1912

BECWN, P. J.

Action for conversion. Prom a judgment for plaintiffs in the circuit court of Jackson county, defendant, appeals.

Plaintiffs sue defendant for the alleged conversion of $1670.40 worth of intoxicating liquors delivered to defendant at Kansas City, Missouri, under a contract to transport said, liquors to sundry places in the State of Mississippi and there deliver same to consignees upon the payment of the purchase price.

The defendant failed to deliver the liquors, as per contract; and as a defense for nonperformance, alleges that after the receipt by defendant of said liquors, the Legislature of Mississippi enacted a law requiring’ all express companies delivering intoxicating liquors in that State to take out a license and pay .a privilege tax of $5000 for each office where such liquors are so delivered. That defendant could not deliver said liquors to the various consignees thereof without first paying a privilege tax on 252 offices in said state, aggregating a total tax of $1,260,000. Defendant therefore asks to be released from its con-. tract, by returning said liquors to plaintiffs.

For their reply, plaintiffs assert that the aforesaid law of Mississippi is invalid, and is therefore no excuse for nonperformance by defendant; and as grounds for this contention, allege:

That said law conflicts with paragraph 3, section 8, article 1; of the Constitution of the United States, which reads as follows: “Congress shall have power ... to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.”

The trial court gave a declaration of law sustaining the contention of plaintiff that the Mississippi law imposing a “privilege tax” on express companies is unconstitutional, and rendered a judgment for plaintiffs.

There are -other issues in the case; but the foregoing is all that is necessary for us to consider in determining whether or not this court has jurisdiction to hear and determine defendant’s appeal.

Was a constitutional question raised below in such manner as to confer jurisdiction of the appeal on this court?

The above mentioned statute of the State of Mississippi levies a “privilege tax” only on express companies — not upon liquor dealers. It is apparent that it does not directly infringe upon any right of the plaintiffs. Consequently, they are not in a position in this action to attack its constitutionality.

The doctrine that a litigant cannot attack the constitutionality of a statute which does not directly invade his rights, is sustained by the cases of Cunningham v. Current River Railroad, 165 Mo. 270; Ex parte Lucas, 160 Mo. 218; State ex rel. Crandall v. McIntosh, 205 Mo. 589; Ordelheide v. Modern Brotherhood of America, 226 Mo. 203.

In the last named case, the inability of litigants . to assail the constitutionality of a law which does not purport to affect their rights is considered in such an exhaustive, manner as to render a further citation of authorities useless.

There was no constitutional question properly presented to the trial court, and having no jurisdiction of the appeal on any ground, the cause should he transferred to the Kansas City Court of Appeals. It is so ordered.

Ferriss and Kennxsh, JJ., concur.