39 Kan. 703 | Kan. | 1888
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This action was brought by Henry C. Lacy against John A. Martin, as governor, to enjoin him from proceeding with the organization of Greeley county. Lacy alleged, as a qualification to maintain the action, that he was a resident and legal elector of Greeley county, but the governor consented that the action might proceed in the name of the plaintiff, and waived objection to the capacity of Lacy to prosecute the same. The material allegations of the petition are that a memorial was presented to the governor on April 6, 1887, purporting to be signed by 423 householders and legal electors of Greeley county, representing that the county contained more than 2,500 bona fide inhabitants, of which more than 400 were resident householders of the county, and that the county contained within its boundaries the amount of tax
The prayer of the petition is, that the governor be enjoined
At the hearing for the temporary injunction, testimony was offered to sustain the charge of unfairness and fraud on the part of the census-taker, and affidavits were offered to show that some of the persons who signed the memorial were not householders and legal electors at the time the memorial was filed. A temporary injunction was granted, and of this order complaint is made.
It is not alleged or shown that the defects in the memorial or the frauds charged against the census-taker have ever been brought to the notice of the governor. If facts are brought to his attention which lead him to believe that the memorial and census report are incorrect, fraudulent, or false, the law requires him to delay or refuse to further proceed with the organization, and to institute an investigation by sending three disinterested householders of the state into the unorganized county to ascertain the truth or falsity of the charges made, and to order prosecutions instituted against any person who may have been guilty of violating any law relating to the organization of the county. (Laws of 1876, ch. 63, § 3.) The law thus prescribes that the inquiry attempted to be instituted in the courts should be made before the governor, and therefore it cannot be said that a plain and adequate remedy other than injunction does not exist. It is not claimed that the governor has refused to perform his duty, and the presumption is, that if cause for delay and for investigation is shown before him, he will obey the injunctions of the law and faithfully perform the duties of his high office. The chief executive is invested by the legislature with full authority to ascertain the truth or falsity of the charges, and the remedy for the grievances complained of thereby furnished is adequate, and over his judgment and decision in such inquiry the courts have no control. The petition shows that as yet he has not acted, nor has he had any opportunity to act upon the charges made, and it does not appear that any reason or necessity exists
Judgment reversed.