People v. Vilas

3 Abb. Pr. 252 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1867

Grover, J.

Judgment of non-suit in the previous action was no bar. (Brintnall v. Foster, 7 Wend. 103; Audubon v. Ex. Ins. Co., 27 N. Y., 216.) Such was always the rule in actions at law. In equity suits the rule is different. A decree dismissing the complaint, unless made without prejudice, bars a second suit for the same cause.

The real question in this case is whether the addition made to the capital of the fund placed in charge of the commissioners by the act of April 10, 1850, discharged the sureties upon their official bonds. An examination of that act will show that it contains no provision effecting such a result, unless it is produced by this addition thereby made to the capital of the fund. This presents a question of vast importance to the public. It not only affects all the official bonds of all this class of commissioners holding office at the time of the passage of the act, but an examination into the matter would, I think, show that it affected a great number of official bonds in other cases. This consideration cannot change the law if settled in favor of the sureties, but the obvious inconvenience of a rule working such results requires a thorough examination of the reasons and authority upon which it is claimed to be established. As between private parties, the law is, that any alteration in the obligation or contract in respect of which a person has become surety, without the consent of the latter, extinguishes his obligations and discharges him. (Burge, Sur., 214; Theobald Sur., 132; Whiton v. Hall, 5 Barn. & Cress., 269.) And this result follows irrespective of the inquiry whether the alteration could work any injury to the surety or not (Bangs v. Strong, 4 Com., 315). The reason upon which this is founded is, that the surety has never made the contract upon which it is sought to charge him. His answer is, if it is sought to charge him upon the altered contract, that I never made any such bargain, and if upon the original contract, that such contract no longer exists, having been legally terminated by the altered or substituted contract made by the parties. In either contingency the answer furnishes a complete defence. It is claimed by the defendatits that the same rule is applicable to official bonds. In this they are right if the reasons apply, and the same answers can be given.

An official bond is a contract with the people for the faithful discharge of the official duties of the officer. In the present case it was that Jackson should faithfully discharge the duties of said commissioner, pursuant to the act entitled, “an act authorizing the loan of certain moneys belonging to the United States, deposited with the State of Hew York for safe keeping,” and should discharge his said duties without favor, malice or partiality. These duties Jackson has not performed, but the securities claim to be discharged on the ground that subsequent to the making of the bond, five hundred dollars was added to the capital of the fund. The duties of the commissioner as.to this five hundred dollars were precisely the same as required for the capital of the fund, and precisely those required by the act referred to in the bond. The position of the defendants must go to the extent that any alteration made by the legislature, in the act, affecting the duties of the commissioner, will discharge his sureties. In other words, that the bond is to be regarded as a contract, faithfully to discharge the duties of the office as then prescribed by the act, and that any alteration in these duties made by the legislature subsequently, alters the contract, and hence discharges the sureties. If this position be sound, it follows that no change can be made by the legislature, relative to the amount of money in their hands, the mode of loaning it, their compensation, or their duties in any respect, without discharging their official bonds. It may be remarked that it would not only relieve the sureties upon the bond, but the officer himself, unless it should be held that his continuance in office after the passage of the act making the change, was an assent on his part to such change. The analogy between this class of cases and the contracts of individuals fails in this respect. In the latter, no alteration can be made 'without the mutual assent of both parties. In the former, the legislature have power at any and all times to change the duties of officers; and the continued existence of this power is known to the officer and his sureties, and the officer accepts the office, and the sureties execute the . bond with this knowledge. It is, I think, the same in effect as^ though this power was recited in the bond. Had this been done, it would not be claimed that the sureties were discharged by its exercise. Had an individual given' a guaranty of the faithful performance of a contract by one party, containing a clause authorizing the other to make alterations in certain of its provisions, it would not be claimed that the surety was discharged by alterations so authorized ; and yet this is nothing more than the sureties knew the legislature was competent to do in the present case. Why has it never been claimed in behalf of officers who had given bonds for the discharge of their official duties, that a contract had been made with them in relation thereto, unchangeable by the legislature ? Simply because it is understood that all these acts are subordinate to the law-making powerj and necessarily subject to such changes as may from time to time be deemed expedient. Every official oath is so interpreted. It is not true that one taking an oath to discharge the duties of any office simply swears to discharge them as then prescribed by law, but that he swears to discharge them as they may from time to time be fixed and regulated by the law-making power. So an official bond conditioned for the discharge of the duties of the office, should in like manner be understood, not as restricted to duties hs then prescribed bylaw, but as embracing the duties of the office as from time to time fixed and regulated by the legislature.

It may be said, that although such might be the general rule, yet that the bond in the present case contains a reference to the act, and requires the duties to 'be performed in accordance therewith. To this it may be answered, that section 3 of the act, providing for giving the bonds and its requisites, requires no such reference; and that the bond in suit, in addition thereto, contains all required by it—that is, the true and faithful performance of its duties—without favor, malice or partiality. The act does not prescribe the amount of money to be placed in, or which shall remain in the hands of the commissioners. In the absence of authority determining the question otherwise, my conviction is, that any alteration, addition or diminution of the duties of a public officer, made by.the legislature, does not discharge his official bond, or the sureties thereon, so long as the duties required are the appropriate functions of the particular office.; that such alterations are within the contemplation of the parties executing the bond; that imposing duties of another description, and not appropriate to the office, would discharge the sureties, not coming within such contemplation.

The question was regarded by the supreme court as settled in favor of the sureties by a series of decisions. If this be so, it is equally binding upon this as upon any other court. No case holding any such doctrine has been decided by the courts of this State. Neither the opinion of the learned justice, nor the brief of the- counsel, contain any reference to any case in this State where the point has been involved, nor have I been able to find any such case. Bower v. McDonard (1 Eng. L. & Eq. 1), was a case between private parties, a bank and its agents, where the duties and responsibilities of the latter were increased by the bank; and has, therefore, no application to the present case. The same may be said (The North-Western Railway Co. v. Whitney) of a contract between the company and its agent. In Oswald v. Mayor, &c. (26 Eng. L. & Eq.) the question was, whether the bond embraced a new appointment to the office. Bartlett v. Att’y-General, was the case of a new deputation, new security given for the additional duty. Pyhus v. Gibbs (38 Eng. L. & Eg.) is the only case where the question presented for judgment in the present case was directly involved. In that, it was held that the sureties of a bailiff of a county court were discharged, on the ground that his powers had been enlarged, and his responsibilities increased. The court do not appear to have considered the point, whether there was not a well-grounded distinction between official bonds and contracts of private parties. There have been several cases in this country where it has been held that a subsequent change of the duties of an officer do not discharge his sureties. In White v. Fox (9 Shepley, Maine) it was held that a change in the duties of a clerk of the court did not discharge his sureties, the court saying, that the sureties were bound for the faithful discharge of the duties of the office—that is, for the faithful discharge of such duties as the laws for the time being should require to be performed by the clerks of judicial courts; and further, that there was but little similarity between such cases and those arising out of offices or trusts regulated by contracts. The People v. McHatton (2 Gilman’s Ill.), it was held that a legislative extension of the time for paying over the taxes of three weeks, did not discharge the sureties of the officer. State v. Castelon (3 Gill, Md.) is a similar case. In Kindle v. State (7 Black, 5 & 6) a similar rule was applied, when the time for payment by a county treasurer was extended. In Coulter v. Morgan, adm. (12 B. Monroe, 278) it was held that sureties were bound, although the taxes were increased after the giving of the bond. In Mooney v. State (13 Missouri, 7) it was held that sureties of a sheriff were bound for the performance of new duties created after giving the bond. Bartlett v. Governor (2 Bibb, Ky.) a similar ruling was made. Other similar cases might be cited, but those already cited I think sufficient to show that a legislative alteration of the duties of an officer do not discharge his sureties, so long as the duties remain appropriate to the office.

My conclusion is, that the judgment should be reversed, and a new trial ordered; costs to abide event.

Hunt, J.

On the 15th day of January, in the year 1850, Mahlon Jackson was appointed one of the commissioners for the county of St. Lawrence, for loaning certain' moneys belonging to the United States, deposited with the State of New York, for safe-keeping. The appointment was made in pursuance of the provisions of chapter 150 of the laws of 1837. (Laws 1837, p. 121.) The defendants became sureties for said Jackson in the bond executed by him, under the said act. The act required the bond to be in a penalty named, and to be conditioned “ that if the above bounden (Jackson) shall well and faithfully perform the duties of said commissioner, pursuant to the act, entitled ‘ an act authorizing a loan of certain moneys, belonging to the United States, deposited with the State of New York for safe-keeping,’ and shall discharge his said duties without favor, malice or partiality, then their obligation to be void, otherwise t® remain in full force and virtue ” (p. 126, § 20). The bond was executed in conformity with this statute. The statute provided for the distribution of certain moneys received by the State from the federal government, among the different counties of the State, according to their population, for the purpose of being loaned to the people of the said counties, in the manner therein specified. The duties of the commissioner, whose appointment was therein provided for, consisted, generally, in receiving the said moneys from the State, in loaning them upon bondnnd mortgage, collecting the interest thereon yearly, and the principal from time to time as it might become payable, re-investing the principal, and paying the interest to the State. The act contained much detail, but the substance of the duties of the commissioners is as I have stated. The commissioner (Jackson) and his colleagues received, under this act, the sum of about $80,000, in bonds and mortgages and cash. The State had also, in 1792 and in 1808, made certain loans to the people of the different counties, of its own moneys, and had appointed commissioners to attend to the same, whose duties were of the same general character as those appointed under the act of 1837, referred to. In April, 1850, the State determined to close up the business of the commissioners under the loans of 1792 and 1808, and provided that it should thereafter be transacted by the commissioners appointed under the act of 1837. (Laws 1850, ch. 337, p. 732.) The fifth section of this act provided that the mortgages thus transferred should “ form a part of the capital of the United States deposit fund, and the said commissioners for loaning certain moneys of the United States, shall exercise the same powers in relation to such mortgages, in the collection of principal and interest thereon, and in proceedings in case of default, and shall receive the same compensation therefor, as if said mortgages had been originally executed” under the act of 1837. Under this authority, securities or moneys to the amount of $500 were received by Jackson and colleague. Upon the termination of his office, in 1853, Jackson was in default in his accounts to the State, in the sum of $2,134 59. This action was brought to recover the same from the defendants, who were his sureties. It was proved that, of the default, $500 consisted of moneys received by virtue of the act of April, 1850, and the residue was of moneys received under; the original authority. The judge trying the cause, and the j general term of the fourth district, held that the passage of the act of 1850, and the transfer under it, vitiated and annulled the bond of the sureties of Jackson, and that no recovery of any part of the amount could be had against them. The' correctness of their decision is the question now before us.

The defendants are sureties simply, and must respond according to their bond, nor more nor less. It cannot be enlarged or extended, nor are we called upon to diminish it. The position to which Jackson was appointed, was that of a public officer. He was appointed by the governor, with the conciurence of the senate. He was required to take the usual oath of office; and, in various sections of the act, the position is in terms designated as an office. The chief duty of his office was to receive and invest certain moneys intrusted to his care by the State. When the further sum of $500 was placed in his charge by virtue of the act of 1850, it was in all respects subject to the same regulations and to be disposed of in the same way as the other moneys in .his custody. No alteration was made in the nature, character, or duties of his office. An additional amount of duty, in every particular of the same nature as that already existing, was imposed upon the office (§ 5, supra). It was expressly enacted that the new securities should form a part of the capital of the United States deposit fund, and it was a portion of the original subject, so far as legislative power could make it such. In the language of the . court in The Rochester City Bank v. Elwood (21 N. Y. R., 92), this “ was within the range of the class of duties that might properly be assigned ” to such an officer. It was not like the case of Bonar v. McDonald (1 Eng. L. & Eq. R., 1), where a clerk in a banking-house had been employed at a specific salary upon the agreement that he should embark in no kind of business or adventure, and the defendants having become sureties for the faithful discharge of his duties, the plaintiff increased his salary, upon his agreement to bear one-fourth of the losses to be incurred in the discounts obtained by bim. The new agreement, it was held, created an entire change in the character of the business to be done by the principal, and was in direct violation of a part of the original understanding. It changed entirely the character of the responsibility of his sureties, and the court held them to be discharged -altogether.

So in The N. W. Railway Company v. Whinody (10 Exch. R., 77), the defendant became surety in a bond, which recited that A. B. had been appointed clerk to a coal company, at a yearly salary of ¿£100, and conditioned for the faithful accounting for all moneys received by him for the use of the company. After a time the- company substituted for the salary a commission of 6d. per ton fpr all the coal on which he should obtain orders. On a suit against the sureties, it was held that the condition was restrained by the recital, and the liability only continued while the clerk remained at the fixed salary The present case more nearly resembles that of Pybus v. Gibb (6 Ellis & Bl., 903; 88 Eng. C. L., 903), where a bond was executed by G., and two sureties, conditioned for indemnifying the high bailiff of the county court, against liabilities from the misconduct in his office of G., who was appointed one of the bailiffs. At the time the bond was executed the duties of the office were regulated by 9 and 10 Vic., c. 95, and after the execution of the bond the jurisdiction of the county court was extended and increased by five additional statutes. It was held that these statutes so materially altered the nature of the office, that the sureties were no longer liable to indemnify the high bailiff, even though the misconduct of G. was in a matter in respect to which the duty of the bailiff had not been altered by the subsequent acts. Among other alterations were those giving bankruptcy jurisdiction, authorizing the arrest of absconding debtors, and an increase of jurisdiction from cases under £20 to cases involving £50, and by consent to any amount, and an entire change in the fees the bailiff was authorized to demand. In deciding the ease, Lord Campbell, Ch. J., says : “ It may be considered settled law, that where there is a bond of suretyship for an officer, and by the act of the parties or act of parliament, the nature of the office is so changed that the duties are materially altered, so as to affect the peril of the sureties, the bond is avoided. * * * There being an increase in the jurisdiction of the court as to amount, a change in the nature of the court by giving bankruptcy jurisdiction, and jurisdiction over absconding debtors, and the table of fees being altered, I think that the office is essentially changed, and the sureties no longer liable.” Colebidge, J., says : “ When the nature of the employment of the principal is so altered by the act either of his employer or of the legislature, that the risk of the surety is materially altered, the surety has the right to say : ‘ I did not bargain for this, I am discharged.’ ” After reciting the facts, Wightman, J., says: “ It appears to me, therefore, that in this case the effect of the increased jurisdiction was so to alter the court and the office of bailiff, as to affect the liability of the surety to his prejudice.” ment made any change in their rates or duties. If the imposition of duties on different subjects, or an alteration of rates, will produce this result, it is a waste of time and paper to execute such bonds. They are utterly worthless. But it is not certain that this is the rule of law. A public officer takes his office, with the obligation to perform all the duties incident to or connected with it then existing, or that may be added by the legislature, provided the nature and character of the duties remain the same. The obligation of his sureties is the same. The imposition of duties of the same nature and character, or the withdrawal of portions of them, pertain to the position. It is indispensable to the proper management of public affairs, and serious injury to the public interests would occur, were the rule otherwise. The obligation is for a faithful performance by the principal of all the duties of the office, during the term of his appointment, not of the duties- as they exist at any particular moment. His duties vary with the requisitions of the statute, and whatever the statute imposes or withdraws becomes or ceases to be a part of his duty. The only limitation to this rule is that the duties imposed shall be of the same general nature and character. Many cases are cited from the Western Eeports, establishing this precise principle, for which see post, and see also White v. Fox, 9 Shepley (Maine) R., 341. The additional duty imposed upon Jackson and his associate commissioner, by the act of 1850, was plainly of the same nature and character as the duties belonging to the office when the sureties executed their bond. It was simply to receive, invest, and pay the interest on an additional amount, at the same time, in the same manner, and subject to the same regulations, as were prescribed in respect to the moneys already in their hands. The additional amount- in the present case was $500.

A case is cited in the opinion of the supreme court from Parker’s Reports (Bartlett v. Attorney-General, Park. R., 277), to the effect that a person who had become surety for a collector of the customs revenue, upon his appointment in 1691, was held not liable in respect of customs, which were first imposed in 1698. This doctrine would annul the bond of every canal coEector in the State, or of every coEector of customs, or of internal revenue in the United States, whenever the govern-

The case of United States v. Kirkpatrick (9 Wheaton R., 720), is in apparent conflict with these views. It is not cited by the respondent’s counsel, or by the court below, and there may be some distinction between the cases which does not occur to me. I do not find that it has ever been recognized or affirmed. I cannot consider it sound, or practicable in the administration of the affairs of government.

If, however, this statute did alter the nature and duties of the office of commissioner, in the manner alleged by the respondent, so that the peril of the sureties was increased, did it operate to release them entirely, or only as to liabilities arising from such additional duties ? The case of the sureties of an officer is not precisely the same as if then1 principal was a party to an ordinary civil contract. ITis position is rather that of an agent or servant of the government, than a contracting party. Certain duties were imposed upon commissioners, by the laws in existence prior to 1850, when the sureties assumed their responsibility. A subsequent law, imposing additional duties, does not impair the prior laws, or the obligations under them. Herein the present case differs from the most of the authorities cited, which were cases of contract simply. The altered contract in those cases takes the place of, and entirely ends, the original contract; and if the party is not a surety upon the amended contract, he is so upon none, for none other is in existence. In the present case, the superadded duties have not affected the original duty. It remains in force, and the obligation for its performance is the same as if no new law had been passed. Why should not the obligation of the sureties for the original duty also continue ? The case of Bonar v. McDonald (1 Eng. Law & Eq., 1) was the case of a civil contract for the performance of the duties of a bank agency; and when the new contract was made, that the principal should bear one-fourth part of the losses, the original contract of employment was canceled. Not being parties to the new arrangement, there was, therefore, nothing to which the obligation of the sureties could attach. The N. W. Railway v. Whinney (10 Exch. R., 77) was a private contract of the same character. Oswald v. Mayor of Berwick-on-Tweed (3 Ell. & Bl., 652; 77 Eng. C. L., 653)—and cited in various other places—is not an authority upon this point. The liability was held, on the ground that the change in the tenure of the office was provided for in the bond itself; and that the sureties could, therefore, take no exception to it. Pybus v. Gibb (6 El, & Bl., 902; 88 Eng. C. L.) is more in point. It was, however, decided upon Bonar v. McDonald and Oswald v. Mayor of Berwick, supra; also, upon the ground that the duties of the office had been essentially altered; and the distinction between a civil contract which is' ended, and an obligation imposed by law, which still continues, is not adverted,to. So, in Miller v. Stewart (9 Wheaton, 680) there was but one instrument of appointment; and when altered in an essential part, it ceased to be the obligation of the sureties, and all liability on their part ceased. The position I have stated is sustained by the following cases. In Coulter v. Morgan (12 B. Monroe, 278), and in Mooney v. The State (13 Missouri, 7), and in Bartlett v. Governor (2 Bibb, Ky.), and in Walker v. Chapman (22 Ala., 116), and in Graham v. Washington County (9 Dana, 184), Governor v. Ridgway (2 Ill. R., 14), Compher v. People (12 Ill., 290), sureties were held to be liable in cases like the one now under discussion.

A new trial should be had.

All the judges concurred.

Judgment reversed.

Case Details

Case Name: People v. Vilas

Court Name: New York Supreme Court

Date Published: Jan 15, 1867

Citation: 3 Abb. Pr. 252

Court Abbreviation: N.Y. Sup. Ct.