16 Iowa 369 | Iowa | 1864
Petitioner was arrested and held in custody under a writ issued by W. H. Leas, as Mayor of the city of Des Moines, for an offence against the ordinances of said city. In his petition, he claims that said Leas is not the mayor of said city, that he was never elected as such mayor, and that he had no power or authority to issue said writ. The answer shows that said Leas was declared duly elected, that a certificate of election was issued in due form by the proper officer, that he took the oath and executed the bond required by la\y, entered upon the discharge of his duties, and was in the exercise of the same as such mayor, at the time of issuing said writ.
• To this answer a demurrer is interposed, claiming, in substance, that it does not show that said Leas was the mayor de jure, and that though an officer de facto, this would not authorize him to exercise the duties, issue the writ, and hold the petitioner in custody.
There is a clear distinction between a bold, unwarranted assumption of right to exercise the duties of an officer and their exercise under color of right. If A, without any pretense of an election or an appointment to an office, or without any claim of right, should issue a process and cause the arrest of an alleged offender, we would not hesitate to hold the restraint illegal and discharge the prisoner. But where it appears, as in this answer, that no other person was exercising or discharging the duties of the office that the incumbent had been declared duly elected, received his certificate of election, filed his bond, and entered upon the
The respondent, under such circumstances, holds the office under cobr of right, and though not an officer de jure, his right to hold it will not be inquired into in this proceeding, but a direct proceeding should be instituted to first determine the legality of the holding.
It is claimed in the petition that one Absalom Morris was elected to said office, so declared, and that he and not respondent is the real and actual mayor of said city. With this statement, it is but too manifest that the object of this proceeding in effect is to contest the right of Leas to said office, or to convert this writ into a contested election proceeding. That the investigation may stop short of an inquiry into all of the facts attending said election, whether the one or the other received a majority of the legal votes cast at the election, whether the canvassers erred in granting the certificate of election to respondent rather than his competitor, cannot affect the question; for, after all the purpose and object of this proceeding is the same, and such inquiry we do not feel authorized to make. If decided either way, no right would be settled between the real contestants. We can do no more than say that this prisoner is or is not illegally detained. The very nature and framework of the writ shows that this is its sole office, and that it cannot be converted into process under which the rights of parties to official position can be settled and determined. Our statutes provide other and more direct, and well understood and settled methods for determining such controversy.
None of the cases cited by the petitioner relate to a proceeding of this character, nor does any of them' hold
It is admitted in this case, that if the city council had the legal power or right to entertain and determine the contest between Leas and Morris, who were the competing candidates for the office of mayor, and which decided in favor of the former, and awarded him the certificate, that then he is mayor de jure, and per consequence that the writ of habeas corpus will not lie.
Although we might decide the case upon other grounds, yet as this question is legitimately presented, and has been ably argued at bar, it is proper to notice it, and it will perhaps be much more satisfactory to counsel and the parties interested, that we shall do so, rather than to rest the decision entirely upon the technical grounds peculiar to the writ of habeas corpus.
Under the city charter of January 28th, 1857, section 4, it is clear that the mayor was a member of the city council. It was expressly provided in said section, that the city council “ shall be the judges of the election returns and qualifications of their own members."
Under this charter, the city council, some years ago, passed an ordinance, section 9, whereof is as follows: “ The election of any city officer may be contested by any elector of the city, and the proceedings shall be in accordance with the 30th chapter of the Code of Iowa [being chapter 37 of the Revision], regulating the mode of contesting county officers, so far as the same may be applicable, provided the city council shall be the tribunal before which such contest shall be had, whose decision shall be final.”
Such an ordinance, so far from being in contravention. of the law, or inconsistent with the charter, is plainly authorized and obviously convenient, if not necessary, to make available the grant of power authorizing the council to act as the contesting tribunal. Id., § 343.
It prescribed simply the rules by which they will regulate their action.
The power to pass such an ordinance is not taken away by section 14 of the charter, which confers upon the council authority to make and establish by-laws and ordinances in certain specified cases. This section does not expressly forbid the passage of ordinances in any other cases, nor can it justly be construed to exclude or forbid, by implication, the right to pass ordinances to carry into effect plain and distinct grants, of power with reference to other subjects. A. & Ames, §§ 325, 326, 343, 415, the last of which is pointedly applicable.
We conclude, then, that this ordinance was rightfully passed under the charter of 1857.
But afterwards, under authority from the Legislature (Laws of 1862, p. 24, §§ 6 and 7), this charter was abandoned, and Des Moines organized as a city of the second class, under the general incorporation act. Rev., ch. 51. This act (§ 1140) provided that “ all laws, ordinances and resolutions heretofore lawfully passed and adopted by the city council shall be, remain and continue in force until
But, aside from this view of the matter, there is another that ought not to be omitted. Section 1093 of the Revision makes the city council “judges of the election returns and qualifications of their own members.” What does this language mean ? It does not mean that the council a*e to canvass the returns of the election, for a different mode is specifically provided by another section (§ 1131). It must either have no effect or else it must mean that they may go behind the returns and judge of or decide questions which may arise in respect to these returns. That they can do so with respect to members of the city council proper is clear, and, indeed, is not disputed. And here two questions arise: 1st. Is the mayor a member of the council, within the meaning of the section ? 2d. May the city council judge of the election returns for all city officers, including mayor, or are they only judges of those returns as respects their own members ?
We see no reason why the latter or limited construction should be given.
There are many good reasons in favor of the other interpretation. Two members are elected for each ward. The mayor may preside in the council. If there is a tie he may give the casting vote. In the council, when presiding, he is essentially a member of it. Out of the council his duties are chiefly executive and judicial. The general laws pro
It is highly essential that such a power shall reside in and be exercised by each 'municipality. If the council does not possess it, it does not exist. Influenced by these considerations, and keeping in view the ordinance and the broad language by which it is continued in force, and freely admitting that the question is not free from doubt, we are inclined to hold that the council did not exceed its power in entertaining and determining the contest in question.
And here we might conclude, were it not that the inference might then be drawn that we admit that the right of the respondent to exercise the duties of his office, might, under these circumstances, be inquired into on habeas corpus.
Facts show that there was an election authorized by law; that Morris and Leas were rival candidates; that the canvassers declared in favor of Morris; that Leas contested his right; that the council decided in his favor, and ordered the clerk to make him the proper certificate, which was done; whereupon he took the oath and seal of office, and is exercising its functions, and is the only person who is acting as mayor. That the council acted fraudulently, as alleged, has not been proved. There is no evidence, whatever, which leads us to suppose that they did not act in good faith.
If we are mistaken in supposing that the council had the power to decide the contest between Morris and Leas, still, on the admitted facts in this case, we are not mistaken in holding that Leas was at least an officer defacto, and not a mere usurper.
An usurper is one who intrudes into or undertakes to exercise the duties of an office without any claim or color of right. An officer de jure is one who has a complete legal
If a mere usurper, without color of right, should undertake to confine or imprison a person, the legality of the restraint could be inquired into on habeas corpus; but not so when the officer is one de facto. The statute provides the mode for testing the title of an officer to his office. Rev., ch. 151.
And this is the only appropriate way in which it can be done. To allow every person arrested to try on habeas corpus the question with the officer whether he has an unimpeachable de jure title, whether he was duly elected, whether his certificate or commission is fraudulent, though coming from the proper authority, or to make it the means of settling contesting elections, would be to give to this writ a function and an office wholly unheard of; one which, from its very nature, it is not calculated to perform, and to embarrass and defeat the course of public justice.
We have examined Hurd on Habeas Corpus and other authorities, and have failed to find any case, nor has the petitioner’s counsel produced any, where the title of an officer, whether dejure or de facto, has been tested and determined on habeas corpus.
This strengthens the conclusion in which we all unite, and in relation to which there can be no reasonable ground for doubt, that the petitioner is not entitled to be discharged on habeas corpus, for the reason that the respondent is beyond all dispute an officer defacto, if not dejüre.
Petitioner remanded without costs.