144 F. 796 | 9th Cir. | 1906
after stating the case as above, delivered the opinion of the court.
It is assigned as error that the court admitted evidence in the case over the objection of the plaintiff in error that the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The argument in support of this assignment is that the provision of the Alaskan Code in regard to usury expressly permits contracts for interest at the rate of “12 per centum” without specifying whether the 12 per centum is per annum or per month or for what
“Sec. 255. The rate of interest in the district shall be eight per centum per annum, and no more, on all moneys after the same become due; on judgments and decrees for .the payment of money; on money received to the use of another and retained beyond a reasonable time without the owner’s consent, expressed or implied, or on money due upon the settlement of matured accounts from the day the balance is ascertained; on money due or to become due where there is a contract to pay interest and no rate specified. But on contracts interest at the rate of twelve per centum may be charged by express agreement of the parties, and no more.”
“Sec. 257. If usurious interest, as defined by the preceding sections, shall hereafter be received or collected the person or persons paying the same, or their legal representatives, may, by action brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, within two years after such payment, recover from the person, firm or corporation receiving the same double the amount of the interest so received or collected.”
It will be observed that in the first part of section 255 it is prescribed that the rate of interest on obligations, where there has been no express agreement as to the rate, shall be 8 per centum per annum, and no more. In the latter part of the section it is said that on contracts, interest at the rate of 12 per centum may be charged by express agreement of the parties, and no more. There can be no reasonable doubt that the intention of Congress in using the words “at the rate of 12 per centum” was the same as in using the words “8 per centum” in the first part of the section. The words “12 per centum” as they are ordinarily understood, designate an annual rate of interest, and will be given that meaning whether used in contracts or in statutes (Thompson v. Hoagland, 65 Ill. 310) ; and the words will not be deprived of that meaning from the fact alone that they are found in a penal statute. In United States v. Lacher, 134 U.S. 624, 10 S.Ct. 625, 33 L.Ed. 1080, the court said that penal statutes “like all others are to be fairly construed according to the legislative
See, also, Schmidt v. United States, 66 C.C.A. 389, 133 F. 257; Tyee Con. Min. Co. v. Jennings (C.C.A.) 137 F. 863.
The plaintiff in error presents in a supplemental brief. ■ the point that the language of section 257, which allows the recovery of “double the amount of the interest so received or collected,” directly refers to and qualifies the words “usurious interest” and authorizes a judgment for no more than double the amount of the excess of the interest above the rate allowed by law. This question was not brought to the attention of the court below, and it is not indicated in any of the assignments of error. Nevertheless, for the reason that the statute is a penal one, we have considered it. The plaintiff in error cites Garza v. Sullivan, 30 S.W. 240, in which the Court of Civil Appeals of Texas construed the statute of that state, which is similar to section 257 of the law of Alaska, in accordance with his contention. But in section 258 of the statute of Alaska, it is provided that if it be ascertained in any action brought on any contract that' a rate of interest has been contracted for greater than authorized by that chapter, the same shall be deemed to be usurious and shall work a forfeiture of the entire interest on the debt. That provision renders the provisions of the Alaskan law substantially
The trial court made an order requiring the plaintiff in error to permit the defendant in error to inspect his books of account containing evidence on matters relating to the-merits of the action. It is assigned that the court erred in making this order, for the reason that it compelled the plaintiff in error in an action against him to enforce a penalty, to furnish evidence against himself in violation of the fourth and fifth amendments to the Constitution. The order was made before the cause came on for trial. The plaintiff in error excepted to it, but specified no ground of objection. There is nothing in the record to show that the order was ever complied with, or that the plaintiff in error was, in fact, compelled to or did furnish any evidence against himself, or submit his books to the inspection of the opposite party. The burden is upon the plaintiff in error to show clearly and affirmatively from the record itself the facts constituting error. This rule is so firmly established as to require no citation of authorities. An order of the court to produce books and papers for inspection stands upon the same ground with a ruling of the court that proffered evidence be admitted. Unless complied with, it does not affect the substantial rights of the party against whom it is made. If there was error in making the order, it was harmless error, and it is no ground for reversing the judgment.
The plaintiff in error contends that the findings of fact of the trial court, as to the actual payment of usurious interest, are supported by no evidence in the record, that
The judgment is affirmed.