22 Haw. 381 | Haw. | 1914
OPINION OP THE COURT BY
The petitioners, David K. Sherwood, Harry H. Holt and Charles P. Osborne, presented to the second judge of the first judicial circuit their petition for an alternative writ of mandamus directed to David Kalauokalani, Jr., city and county clerk of the city and county of Honolulu, whereupon an alternative writ of mandamus issued directed to the said David Kalauokalani, Jr., as city and county clerk, commanding him to appear and show cause why he issued to himself a certain certificate certifying that at the election held in said city and county on the 12th day of September, 1914, he received a majority of all ■of the registered voters voting at said election and was elected to the office of city and county clerk; why he should not deliver
To the alternative writ the respondent, David Kalauokalani, Jr., filed a demurrer setting forth several grounds, to wit: 1. That the writ does not state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action or to entitle the petitioners to the writ demanded. 2. That petitioners have no legal capacity to sue and the
The circuit judge reserved to this court, on the record, the following questions, to wit: 1. “Shall the demurrer be sustained on the grounds submitted ?” 2. “Is Act 151 S. L. 1913 constitutional?” 3. “Is Act 151 S. L. 1913 in contravention of the Organic Act of Hawaii?” 4. “Is Act 151 S. L. 1913 ultra vires of the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii ?”
It is our opinion and we so hold, that the demurrer to the alternative writ should be sustained. The writ of mandamus is the proper remedy to compel an individual, corporation or judicial officer or tribunal to perform a certain act which the law enjoins upon him, or it, and performance thereof is refused. (Sec. 2010 R. L.; Hipa, v. Luce, 5 Haw. 520; Treasurer v. Benson, Smith & Co., 18 Haw. 76; McCandless v. Campbell, 20 Haw. 411.) It Will not lie where there is a speedy remedy at law by which adequate relief may be obtained unless there is a showing that the public good and the administration of justice would otherwise suffer. (Sec. 2011 R. L.; Peacock v. Collector of Customs, 8 Haw. 531.) Mandamus is not the proper remedy to try the title to an office, the law having provided a speedy and adequate remedy by quo warranto. (Sec. 2044 R. L. as, amended by Act 39 S. L. 1907; Kanealii v. Hardly, 17 Haw. 1, 9; People v. Olds, 3 Cal. 167; Henry v. Camden, 42 N. J. L. 335; Duane v. McDonald, 41 Conn. 517; People v. Matteson, 17 Ill. 167; St. Louis v. Sparks, 10 Mo.
Eor the reasons herein stated the first reserved question is answered in the affirmative. It is unnecessary to answer the other reserved questions, the affirmative answer to the first one being decisive of the proceeding.