158 P. 1170 | Okla. | 1916
The errors assigned and relied upon for a reversal are that the court erred in its finding and decision that E.L. Hubbard and Clyde Cady were qualified *220 property taxpaying electors at the town election; and that the election was illegal and void, for that all but qualified property taxpaying voters were barred from voting thereat; and that on account of said errors the court erred in overruling plaintiffs' motion for a new trial.
At the election the vote on the bond issue, as canvassed by the election officers, stood 29 votes for and 28 votes against the proposition. It is urged that, neither Hubbard nor Cady being at the time of the election "qualified property taxpaying voters of such town," the proposition involving the issuance of said bonds failed to secure a majority of the votes cast. But counsel in their zeal have overlooked the fact that the record does not disclose that either of these voters voted in favor of the bond issue, and for aught that appears, their ballots may have been cast against the proposition. To warrant setting aside the election, it must affirmatively appear that these votes, if illegal, were cast in favor of the issuance of the bonds. The mere circumstance that improper votes were received is not, of itself, sufficient to vitiate the election. It is not enough to say that illegal votes were cast; it must be shown that a sufficient number of such votes were cast for the successful issue or proposition to change the results.Tarbox v. Sughrue,
Both Hubbard and Cady testified as witnesses for the plaintiffs below, and it does not appear that any claim was made by them, or objection offered, respecting their right to testify concerning their vote. Neither does it appear that their right to vote was challenged or questioned until after the result of the election became known. That the Red Rock Record, of which Hubbard was the editor, through its columns favored the issuance of the waterworks bonds is no evidence whatever that Hubbard voted in favor of the bond issue. Elections will not be overturned and the will of the people defeated by such character of incompetent testimony. There was no reasonable effort made by the plaintiffs to show how either Hubbard or Cady voted; and, even though they were reported as favorable to the proposition, we will not indulge the presumption that they in fact voted for it, when to do so would defeat the declared result of an election, otherwise fairly and legally conducted.
There is little difficulty in meeting the objection that none but qualified property taxpaying voters were permitted to take part at such special election. The issuance *222
of the bonds in the sum of $22,000 was to provide funds for the purpose of constructing and equipping a waterworks system for the town of Red Rock, to be owned and controlled exclusively by said town. The position of counsel for plaintiffs in error appears to be that, under the authority of Faulk v. Board ofCounty Commissioners,
We have had frequent occasion to decide what constituted a public utility within the meaning of the Constitution. InState ex rel. Edwards v. Millar, Mayor,
Considering the public use for which it is intended and to which, when installed, it is put, a public waterworks system, to be owned and controlled exclusively by an incorporated town or city, is a public utility, within the meaning of section 27, art. 10, of the Constitution. What constitutes a public utility, generally speaking, was considered at some length by Mr. Justice Hayes, in State ex rel. Manhattan Const. Co. v.Barnes, Mayor, supra, and we shall not attempt to add at any length to what is there said. A system of waterworks, owned by a municipal corporation, has a relation directly to public purposes, and for the public, and appertains to the corporation in its political or governmental capacity. It is subject to the exclusive control of the town or city, and for the convenience, health, and general welfare of the inhabitants and *224 property owners of the municipality. The town or city determines the source of the water supply, the amount of water mains, where to be laid, and the number and location of the fire hydrants, and other details of the water system. Over it the individual has no control. That water may be furnished inhabitants of a town or city, for private domestic purposes in no wise affects the character of a public waterworks as a public utility. Having thus determined, it is only necessary to add that only "qualified property taxpaying voters" of the incorporated town of Red Rock were entitled to vote at the election in question. As held in State ex rel. Edwards v.Millar, Mayor, supra, section 27, art. 10, of the Constitution, is a self-executing grant of authority to the qualified property taxpaying voters of a city or town, voting at an election held for that purpose, by a majority vote, to become indebted in a larger sum than that specified in section 26, art. 10, of the Constitution, for the purpose of purchasing or constructing public utilities, or for repairing the same, to be owned exclusively by such city or town. Plaintiffs in error having planted themselves upon the broad language of the Constitution, giving to "a majority of the qualified property taxpaying voters" of an incorporated city or town, voting at an election to be held for that purpose, the right to become indebted as and for the purposes provided in section 27, art. 10, a construction of section 1 of the act of May 8, 1913 (Sess. Laws 1913, p. 388), or its constitutionality, is not made necessary or involved; hence is not determined. The only errors assigned we have already shown in the beginning of this opinion. We may add, however, that it appears both Hubbard and Cady had tax receipts, each dated within 12 months prior to the election. *225
As the public waterworks system, proposed to be installed by the municipal authorities of the town of Red Rock, is a public utility, and as the bond issue has received a majority of the legal votes cast at said election, it follows that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.
All the Justices concur, except THACKER, J., not participating.