Moorestown & Camden Turnpike Co. v. Holman

63 N.J.L. 519 | N.J. | 1899

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Dixon, J.

This certiorari brings up an order made by a judge of the Camden Common Pleas under the amendment, approved March 23d, 1892, of an act relating to turnpike companies. Gen. Slat, p. 3696. The sole ground of objection is that, on the hearing of the parties before making the order, the judge refused to receive evidence and pass on the question whether the turnpike was out of repair in the particulars set out by the complaint.

The established practice in this state is that when, in proceedings similar to that under review, a prima fade case is presented to the judge, he shall make the order contemplated by the statute, leaving its illegality, because of matters which are in dispute, to be tested by certiorari. This is the rule laid down in Morris and Essex Railroad Co. v. Hudson Tunnel Railroad Co., 9 Vroom 548, and since uniformly followed. Thus, in proceedings to condemn land under the General Railroad law, the judge is, according to the terms of the act, authorized to appoint commissioners only in case the company cannot agree with the owner of the land for its purchase; jet, if the application allege inability to agree, the truth of the allegation is contested, not before the judge but on certiorari. Chambers v. Carteret and Sewaren Railroad Co., 25 Id. 85; Jersey City v. National Docks Railway Co., 26 Id. 194.

According to the statute now under consideration, it seems quite clear that the judge is not expected to determine whether the turnpike is in proper, condition, for the chief design of the statute is to have that matter decided, on view and examination of the road itself, by the judicious and disinterested freeholders whom the judge is to appoint. No more trustworthy method of ascertaining the truth can be devised than this. Nor does the provision that the judge is to appoint freeholders “ after hearing the parties ” at all militate against this view. The matters on which they are to be heard are not particularized by the statute, but plainly they should be heard on the sufficiency of the complaint and on the freeholders to be selected, and probably also on an averment, if made by the company, that it has amended the defects complained ■of, or has discontinued the taking of toll on that part of the road so out of repair, for such an averment would present matters arising after the complaint was formulated, and yet if proved would prevent the appointment of freeholders.

The objection made cannot prevail, and the order is affirmed, with costs. ■