McCoy v. Able
30 N.E. 528
Ind.
1892
Check Treatment

Lead Opinion

Elliott, C. J.

In March, 1886, a petition for the construction of a free gravel road was presented to the board of commissioners of Jay county. The board ordered the construction of the road, and awarded the contract for its construction to the appellant. He constructed the road, and the board accepted it. During the progress of the work partial estimates were issued to him, and upon its completion the engineer issued to him a final estimate. The contract assumes to provide, and does in terms provide, that the estimates of the engineer shall be conclusive. After the completion and acceptance of the work, the contractor presented his claim to the board for the sum due him as evidenced by the estimate issued to him by the engineer. The board allowed the claim. The case went by appeal to the circuit court, and, finally, by change of venue,went to the Blackford Circuit Court, That court sustained the appellees, thus vacating the allowance made by the board of commissioners upon the estimate of the engineer.

The appellant unsuccessfully moved to dismiss the appeal. There is no bill of exceptions containing the motion or exhibiting the ruling thereon, and we can not regard the question as before us for review. Crumley v. Hickman, 92 Ind. 388; Yost v. Conroy, 92 Ind. 464, and cases cited; Board, etc., v. Montgomery, 109 Ind. 69.

In deciding, as we do, that there is no question presented because the motion to dismiss is not in the record, we are not unmindful of the fundamental doctrine that the objection that there is no jurisdiction of the subject-matter maybe interposed at any time. We affirm that doctrine, and declare that such an objection needs for its exhibition neither formal motion nor bill. But we deny that the doctrine has any ap*420plication to this case. There was here jurisdiction of the general subject, that is, of the general class of cases to which the particular case belongs, and where such jurisdiction exists specific objections to the jurisdiction must be opportunely made and duly brought into the record. “By jurisdiction of the subject-matter,” said the court in Chicago, etc., R. R. Co. v. Sutton, 130 Ind. 405, “is meant jurisdiction of the class of cases to which the particular case belongs.” Jackson v. Smith, 120 Ind. 520 (522); State, ex rel., v. Wolever, 127 Ind. 306 (315); Alexander v. Gill, 130 Ind. 485; Yates v. Lansing, 5 Johns. 282.

The decision in Wilson v. Wheeler, 125 Ind. 173, is not in point. In that case the motion to dismiss was sustained, and as the presumption is in favor of the trial court, it was rightly declared that the inference should be that the proper bond and affidavit were not filed. In Robinson v. Board, etc., 37 Ind. 333, and Alexander v. McCordsville, etc., Co., 44 Ind. 436, bills of exceptions were filed.

It is not shown by the record that there was any error or any abuse of discretion in permitting the appellees to file an answer in the circuit court. We must, therefore, presume that there was no error in the action of the eoqrt.

The appellees strenuously contend that the evidence is not in the record. One of the reasons adduced in support of this contention is that the bill was not filed within the time fixed by the order of the court. The cases cited by counsel decided under the statute in force prior to the revision of 1881, are uninfluential. As the law now stands the time of the filing is not of controlling importance, for the presentation of the bill to the judge, if shown in the body of the instrument, controls the question. It is still true that the bill must be filed. Hormann v. Hartmetz, 128 Ind. 353. But the time is not always of controlling importance, inasmuch as the presentation of the bill to the judge is the act which gives effect to the bill when it is signed and filed. Vincennes, etc., Co. v. White, 124 Ind. 376; Robinson v. Anderson, 106 Ind. 152; Ohio, etc., R. W. Co. v. Cosby, 107 Ind. 32; Terre *421Haute, etc., R. R. Co. v. Bissell, 108 Ind. 113. The decision in La Rose v. Logansport, etc., Bank, 102 Ind. 332, was in some respects erroneous, as shown and adjudged in Robinson v. Anderson, supra, and Terre Haute, etc., R. R. Co. v. Bissell, supra. As the bill before us shows, on its face, that it was presented to the judge in due time, the fact that it was not filed until some time afterwards does not impair its force.

It is contended that, as the record does not show that the stenographer was appointed or sworn, the. evidence is not in the record. This position is untenable. The settlement and granting of a bill of exceptions isa judicial duty. Seymour, etc., Co. v. Brodhecker, 130 Ind. 389, and authorities cited. As the duty is judicial it can not be delegated. It is,'indeed, probably true that even the Legislature can not impose that duty upon any person other than a judicial officer. But the mere clerical work of taking down the evidence and writing it out may be done by counsel, by a stenographer, or by any one else. If the judge who tries the case sanctions and accepts the statement of the evidence, he thereby adopts it as his own judicial act, and as such it comes to this court. Bradway v. Waddell, 95 Ind. 170; Stagg v. Compton, 81 Ind. 171; McCormick, etc., Co. v. Gray, 114 Ind. 340; L’Hommedieu v. Cincinnati, etc., Co., 120 Ind. 435 (436).

It is settled beyond controversy that the stenographer’s report can not be made part of the bill of exceptions in any other mode than by incorporation. Patterson v. Churchman, 122 Ind. 379, and cases cited; Clark v. State, ex rel., 125 Ind. 1; Fiscus v. Turner, 125 Ind. 46; Dick v. Mullins, 128 Ind. 365, and cases cited; Morningstar v. Musser, 129 Ind. 470. But when it is incorporated in the bill of exceptions in the mode pointed out in Wagoner v. Wilson, 108 Ind. 210, it is there by the act of the judge, and will be considered as fully and effectively in" the record.

In this instance the long-hand manuscript of the reporter is preceded by the proper and usual recitals of a bill of exceptions, and the usual formula : “And this was all the *422evidence given in the cause,” is written in the bill, as are, also, the date of the presentation to the judge and the appropriate conclusion. To the bill thus prepared is affixed the signature of the judge. The course adopted was a proper one, and the evidence as taken down and transcribed by the reporter is in the bill of exceptions.

A further contention of the appellees’ counsel is that the clerk can not certify to us the original bill of exceptions containing the reporter’s long-hand manuscript. We are referred to the case of Hull v. Louth, 109 Ind. 315, where it was said that the long-hand manuscript may be taken from the bill of exceptions and certified up, without copying, by the clerk. In our judgment the practice adopted in this case is preferable to that suggested in Hull v. Louth, supra. We adjudge the better rule to be this : Where a bill of exceptions upon a ruling denying a new trial is taken for the purpose of getting the stenographer’s report of the evidence, with its incidents, into the record, the original bill may be certified up to this court as part of the record. All there is of such a bill, besides the report of the evidence, is composed of formal parts and brief recitals, so that little would be left to be copied if the report of the evidence were taken out. Confusion is avoided by sending up the bill without detaching the evidence, and only a very little matter outside of the report of the evidence comes up in its original condition. It is much more consistent with principle, and much safer to require the entire original bill to be certified, than it is to devolve upon the clerk the duty of determining what shall be left in and what taken out. The rule we here declare enables parties to get the long-hand manuscript into the record without incurring the useless expense of having it copied, prevents.confusion in the record and gives fair and reasonable effect to the statute concerning official short-hand reporters. But the rule we declare does not have, and can not be made to have, any application to any other bills of exceptions except such as are prepared for the purpose of *423bringing into the record the long-hand manuscript of the official reporter and its necessary incidents. All other bills of exceptions must be copied by the clerk. Nor can the rule apply to a bill of exceptions wherein other matters than the long-hand report and matters legitimately connected therewith are sought to be brought into the record. In order to come within the rule stated, the bill of exceptions must be confined to the single office of exhibiting the report of the evidence and the matters directly and properly pertaining thereto.

The first question presented by the specification of error founded upon the ruling denying a new trial is as to the effect of the estimates of the engineer and the acceptance of the board of commissioners. We can not agree with counsel that the engineer’s estimate is conclusive, for we understand it to be settled by our decisions that parties can not, by an agreement in advance, oust the jurisdiction of the courts and make conclusive the estimate of an engineer or other person. Kistler v. Indianapolis, etc., R. R. Co., 88 Ind. 460; Bauer v. Samson Lodge, etc., 102 Ind. 262 (269); Louisville, etc., R. W. Co. v. Donnegan, 111 Ind. 179; Supreme Council, etc., v. Garrigus, 104 Ind. 133 (54 Am. Dec. 298); Supreme Council, etc., v. Forsinger, 125 Ind. 52 (55).

The doctrine of our court is well sustained by authority. Dugan v. Thomas, 79 Me. 221; Insurance Co. v. Morse, 20 Wall. 445; Scott v. Avery, 5 H. L. Cases, 811; Thompson v. Charnock, 8 Term R. 139; Reed v. Washington, etc., Ins. Co., 138 Mass. 572; Stephenson v. Piscataqua, etc., Co., 54 Me. 55; Starkey v. De Graff, 22 Minn. 431. But while we do not regard the estimate as conclusive, we do regard it as prima facie correct. Linville v. State, ex rel., 130 Ind. 210. Authorities cited in Elliott Roads and Streets, pp. 430, 438, notes. As the estimate of the engineer is prima facie correct, the burden was upon the appellees to show fraud or mistake. This they might have done either by direct or by circumstantial evidence. The question, therefore, is, whether the appel*424lees did show by competent evidence that there was fraud or mistake.

It is implied in our statement that only such matters as are open to controversy can be considered in such a case as this, for up to a given point the judgment of the board of commissioners is conclusive. Board, etc., v. Hall, 70 Ind. 469; Hill v. Probst, 120 Ind. 528; Reynolds v. Faris, 80 Ind. 14; Hilton v. Mason, 92 Ind. 157; Streib v. Cox, 111 Ind. 299 (305), and cases cited; Board, etc., v. Montgomery, 106 Ind. 517 (521), and cases cited. The cases to which we have' referred, and to which many more might easily be added, leave no room to doubt that,as to the nature of the contract and like matters,the decision of the board is conclusive as to persons who come in after the work has been done under the contract to the satisfaction of the board and the engineer, and seek to defeat a recovery by the contractor. The doctrine of the cases to which we refer is in harmony with the just and equitable principle which precludes a party from comiug in and assailing the validity of a contract after the work has been done. Taber v. Ferguson, 109 Ind. 227; Peters v. Griffee, 108 Ind. 121; City of Logansport v. Uhl, 99 Ind. 531; City of Evansville v. Pfisterer, 34 Ind. 36; Elliott Roads and Streets, pp. 421, 423, notes. In so far as concerns the effort to get behind the approval of the contract and incidental matters, this proceeding is in the strict sense a collateral one. To the extent that it is collateral it can not prevail, since the action of the board of commissioners is conclusive. Million v. Board, etc., 89 Ind. 5; Montgomery v. Wasem, 116 Ind. 343 (347), and authorities cited; Prezinger v. Harness, 114 Ind. 491; Adams v. Harrington, 114 Ind. 66; Hackett v. State, etc., 113 Ind. 532; Ely v. Board, etc., 112 Ind. 361. The only general question open to controversy is, as we have substantially said, as to whether there was fraud or mistake on the part of the board or the engineer. It certainly can not be adjudged that any question back of that remains open, since *425to hold that any such question' is open would be to disregard the decision of the board, and that can not be done without overturning a long line of decisions.

Filed March 9, 1892.

We have studied the evidence, and are satisfied that the case was tried on a radically erroneous theory, and that, as usually happens where a wrong theory is adopted, the trial court was led to a wrong result. Wé do not think that the evidence overcomes the prima facie case made by the estimate of the engineer and the acceptance of the board.

Judgment reversed.





Rehearing

On Petition for a Rehearing.

Elliott, C. J.

It is claimed by counsel in their argument on the petition for a rehearing, that the evidence shows that the engineer made a mistake in accepting and estimating the work done by the appellant in constructing the gravel road described in the record.

The contract submitted many things to the discretion and judgment of the engineer, and if the contract was not as definite and certain as the law requires, the appellees ought to have made that question before the work was completed. Principle and authority forbid that property-owners should be allowed to stand by, inactive and passive, until after the work has been done, and then come in and take from a contractor the value of his work and materials without compensation. For such persons the law has no very tender regard. They ought to move promptly, and not wait until the contractor has expended time and money under the directions and requirements of the board of commissioners and its engineer. As the contractor in this instance has obeyed the orders of the proper officers, has followed the construction placed upon the contract by them, and has fully completed his work, the appellees are estopped from questioning his right to compensation upon the ground that the contract did not conform to the law. City of Evansville v. Pfisterer, 34 *426Ind. 36; Jackson v. Smith, 120 Ind. 520; Montgomery v. Wasem, 116 Ind. 343; City of Logansport v. Uhl, 99 Ind. 531; Stewart v. Board, etc., 45 Kan. 708 (23 Am. St. Rep. 746). See authorities cited in Elliott Roads and Streets, p. 287, note 3; p. 420, note 1; p. 421, note 1. The only question open to contest in this case was, whether there was fraud or mistake on the part of the engineer in estimating and accepting the work, for the question whether he properly exercised his judgment or discretion is not open to investigation. It is probably true that an abuse of discretion may be some evidence of fraud, but here there is no abuse of discretion shown. The evidence does not show any mistake of fact, for a mere error of judgment or discretion, where the discretion is not transcended, is not such a mistake. Linville v. State, ex rel., 130 Ind. 210. The evidence, as it appears in the record, does not overcome the prima facie effect of the engineer’s estimate and acceptance.

Filed May 19, 1892.

Petition overruled.