8 Iowa 193 | Iowa | 1859
The answer, (or so much as is demurred to), sets up that defendant was at the time of the taking, charged in the petition, treasurer of Muscatine county, and as such officer, was the duly authorized collector of taxes for said county; and that prior thereto, the tax list for the year 1855, was placed in his hands, together with the warrant of the county judge of said county, commanding defendant to collect the taxes mentioned in said list, which said tax list and warrant, he avers lie is ready to produce in court. A copy of the warrant he attaches, and asks that it be made a part of his answer. It is further stated, that in said tax list, plaintiff was charged with the sum of (naming the sum), taxes, which, upon request made of him. by defendant, he refused to pay; that said taxes became delinquent; that defendant, by virtue of the aforesaid warrant and tax list, proceeded to distrain plaintiff’s property for the payment of said tax; that he levied upon the property on the 16th of May, 1856 ; that ho gave notice of the time and place of sale, (a copy of which is attached, dated May 17th, and fixing the sale May 21th, 1856); and sold said property at the time fixed, at public auction, to the highest bidder; and that after deducting said plaintiff’s taxes, interest thereon, and the costs of sale, there remained in his hands the sum of, (which is stated), which balance he has offered to pay plaintiff, and which he has refused to receive. So the defendant says that such levy and sale, under the authority stated, is the trespass complained of, and prays judgment.
The demurrer to this answer raises two questions : Birst, That the tax list, or so much of it as is applicable to the
'Without putting the decision of this part of the case, upon the ground that by replying or pleading over, plaintiff waived his right to insist upon his demurrer, we will, as counsel for appellant have discussed the question at some length, examine the points made. And we are very clear that the demurrer was properly overruled.
It was not necessary to annex a copy of the tax list to the answer. When defendant gave a copy of the warrant, attached to the list, as required by the Code, (section 187), and averred his readiness to produce the list itself, he did all that is required of him, in the first instance, by either the letter or spirit of our system of pleading and practice. Section 1750, of the Code, in requiring a copy of the instrument, or account upon which the pleading is founded, to be annexed, has reference to the note — the obligation— or written instrument — which is the foundation of the action or defense, rather than a book, like the tax list placed in the hands of the treasurer for the collection of the taxes from year to year. It was intended that this, as well as all the provisions of the Code, should receive a construction consistent with reason, public policy, the nature of the evil existing, and the remedy designed to be applied. It would, be clearly unreasonable and absurd, to say that the list itself should be attached, to the detriment and delay of the public business in the collection of the revenues of the county and state. It would be equally absurd to require a copy of the entire list, for this would involve an expenditure — an accumulation of costs, and an encumbering of the record, to an extent required by no rule .of pleading, or the rights or interests of parties. It must not be forgotten, either, that such a list is a public record, and to which the plaintiff- has full access. ITe requires no copy to enable him to be fully advised of its features, or its sufficiency as
We are not certain that we correctly apprehend the point made by the second ground of demurrer. As we understand it, it is based upon a misconception of the averments contained in the answer. The law requires the clerk, as soon as practicable after the taxes are levied, to make out a tax list. Upon this list, an entry is required to be made, showing what it is, and for what county and year, to which the county judge is required to attach his warrant, under his hand and official seal, in general terms, requiring the treasurer to collect the taxes therein levied, according to law. This list is required to be delivered to the treasurer, and it is a full and sufficient authority for him to collect all taxes therein contained. Upon receiving this list and warrant, the treasurer is to proceed to collect the taxes levied, and the list and warrant are his authority and justification against any illegality in the proceedings, prior to receiving the list. He is not required to make any demand of the taxes, but all persons subject to taxation, are required to attend at his office and make payment; and if any one shall fail to pay, before the first day of January following the levy; the treasurer is directed to make the same by distress and sale of personal property, “ and the tax list alone will be a sufficient authority for such distress. Sections 486-7-8, and 492.
Now, in this case, the ansAver sets up that defendant is treasurer of Muscatine county, and as such, received the tax list for said county, for the year 1855, to Avliich was at
As to the limits within which the tax list was to operate, there can reasonably be no room for doubt. The copy of the warrant attached becomes a part of the answer, and is to be regarded as if incorporated into it. From this, in connection with the averments of the answer, we have no difficulty in understanding that the pleader refers to the tax list of Muscatine county, for the year 1855, which was placed in his hands at the proper time, as the officer authorized to collect such list, and that he was to collect the same within the limits of the county, in the manner, and only in the manner, required by law.
We pass to the consideration of the demurrer to the replication.
The replication sets up, that the tax mentioned in the answer, was for railroad purposes, under a particular vote in said county, in the year 1853, to subscribe $150,000 to the capital stock of the Mississippi and Missouri railroad
Two questions are made : First. Had the county judge power to submit such a proposition % Second. If he had, will a failure upon the part of those conducting the election, and those whose duty it is by law, to make the entries and give the notices required, make the defendant liable as a wrong doer ?
The first question we understand to be settled, in favor of the power, by the cases of Clapp v. Cedar County, 5 Iowa, 15 ; Ring v. Johnson Co., 6 Ib., 265, and McMillen v. Boyles, Co. Judge, 6 Ib., 301, and the cases there refer-! red to. It is suggested, however, that the replication alleges that said vote was without authority of law; or if! under any law, that such law was unconstitutional andi void ; that the demurrer admits this, and therefore, should! have been overruled. We do not understand that the de-i, murrer admits any such thing. A demurrer admits'the facts which are well pleaded, but not the law, as claimed by the pleader ; nor the inference or conclusions drawn by him. Chitty’s Pleadings, 700.
The second question is settled, as we regard it, against the
It is claimed, however, that these provisions have reference to the list made out for the collection of the ordinary state and county revenue, and that no such protection is conferred, when the tax is for a special purpose, raised and levied in a particular manner; and that as to such tax, the treasurer must proceed at his peril, subject to being mulcted in damages for the illegal proceedings of the officers, prior to the delivery of the list to him.
A tax of this character, is levied in pursuance of a vote of the people, upon a pi’oposition submitted to them, which is to contain or specify the rate of tax to be levied for each year. It is styled “ an additional tax ” — “ a special tax ”— “ a tax in addition to the usual taxes ” — and a “ distinct fund.” When the question is submitted, it is required to be accompanied by a provision to levy a tax for the payment thereof, in addition to the usual taxes. Where the object is that contemplated by the vote had in this instance, the an
Now, these provisions, as well as those cited in considering the demurrer to the answer, it would seem to us, place the treasurer, as to his justification in levying upon property, in the same position as to all taxes. The county judge should, possibly, be held to a greater degree of strictness as to this additional, or special tax, but the list and warrant are the authority and justification to the treasurer for the collection of this, by the means given him in the law, as much as for the colleetien of the school, or ordinary taxes of the county. If the tax was levied without authority of the law, or if there was no vote authorizing the subscription, the question presented would be very different. But where the law authorizes such a submission — where there has been such a submission in fact, and the result is declared in favor of the proposed measure or tax, the treasurer is not to be held liable for any failure of the judge, or other officer, to comply with the directory provisions of the Code regulating the conducting of the election, or their neglect in making the proper entries.
It will be observed that this suit is brought to make the treasurer liable, not for any act or omission of his, (so far as
It is suggested that the treasurer did not comply with the law, in giving notice of such sale. To this, it is answered, that no such objection is made by the demurrer to the answer, nor is any such allegation contained in the replication. We may say, however, that we see nothing in the record to sustain the position.
The position that defendant might be liable in the action of replevin, though not, as a trespasser, is without weight. If, as treasurer, he could collect this tax, by distress and sale, he had a right to take the property levied upon into his possession, and, if rightfully, the replevin would not lie. Code, sections 1994 — 5; 1 Iowa, 593.
Judgment affirmed.