154 N.Y.S. 773 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1915
The petitioner was duly elected chairman of the Democratic county committee of Washington county October 9,1914, and a proper certificate was filed with the board of elections of Washington county
The petition prays for an order declaring the proceedings of the Democratic county committee on April 10, 1915, to be illegal and void; and further declaring that the petitioner, Francis L. Ganley, is the duly elected chairman of the Democratic county committee., and that his term of office does not expire for one year from October 9,1914; also directing that the certificate filed with the secretary of state April 13,1915, and with the board of elections of Washington county April 12, 1915, be canceled and stricken from the files; that the' certificate filed by petitioner be declared in full force and effect; also restraining Edward F. Boche from' acting as chairman of the county committee.
This proceeding was instituted under section 56 of the Election Law, which provides for a summary proceeding before the court or a judge.
The respondents take the objection that the court has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter. An equity court has no jurisdiction in matters of a political nature. It may be invoked only in matters of property and the maintenance of civil rights. Schieffelin v. Komfort, 212 N. Y. 531; Green v. Mills, 69 Fed. Rep. 852; Matter of Hines, 141 App. Div. 569:. “Parties aggrieved (in matters of a political nature) are required to assert their rights in proceedings provided by stat
Section 56 of the Election Law contains the following : “Any action or neglect of the officers or members of a political convention or committee, or of any inspector of primary election, or of any public officer or board, with regard to the right of any person to participate in a primary election, convention or committee, or to enroll with any party, or with regard to any right
This case does not come within this section. No disregard of any of the provisions of article IV of the Election Law, of which section 56 is a part, is disclosed. There has been no action or neglect of any officer or member of the committee with regard to the right of the petitioner to participate in the committee, or with regard to any right given or duty prescribed by article IV. There is no complaint here of any action or neglect with regard to the right of the petitioner to participate in the committee. The petitioner has been removed from the chairmanship, but he is still a member of the committee, with full rights, as such. Article IV, which includes sections 45 to 58, deals with “ party nominations and designations; ” article III, which includes sections 35 to 43, deals with “ party organization.” The legislature had good reason for providing a summary proceeding to settle matters affecting the presentation of candidates for public office to the vot
The provisions of the statute referring to political committees are in article III. It is- not necessary to determine whether the court has the right in some proper proceeding to enforce obedience to a provision of article III, at the request of one who claims to be aggrieved, because no provision of said article is disregarded. The only provision claimed to have been disregarded is section 40, which permits each committee to make rules, which shall continue to be the rules until amended or new rules adopted. The committee is not required to make rules; it may act without formal rules and the court would not interfere; nor should it interfere if the self-made rules, which may cover any subject and every detail, are not followed in full. Such rules have not the force of a statute and should not be so considered, and the legislature has not provided for their enforcement.
The petitioner has not suffered in any civil, personal or property right. He has been deprived of the chairmanship of the county committee, a quasi public office, and in consequence of some influence in party affairs which usually attends the position. The court should not assume the burden of making good such loss. I believe, it has no jurisdiction to that end.
Ordered accordingly.