Poundstone v. Hamburger

139 Pa. 319 | Pa. | 1891

OPINION,

Mu. Justice Sterrett :

In his opinion, on the question of law reserved, the learned judge of the Common Pleas states, in substance, that at the close of plaintiff’s testimony, counsel for the parties agreed upon tbe amount for which the verdict in favor of plaintiff was rendered, and also upon the form of the question reserved, to wit:

“ Whether or not, under the agreements between Philip Hamburger and George W. Jones, bearing date September 1, 1881, March 1,1882, and September 26,1883, (marked exhibits 6, 7, and 8, copies of which are herewith filed,) the defendant was, by virtue of said agreements, in law a copartner as to creditors of said George W. Jones, deceased?”

There cannot, therefore, be any controversy as to the amount of the verdict, or the manner in which the question was reserved. If liable at all, the extent of defendant’s liability is measured by the verdict. The only errors assigned relate to the entry of judgment in favor of plaintiff, on the question of' law as stated' above.

It is unnecessary to refer, in detail, to the provisions of the agreements which constitute the basis of the reserved question. They are made part of the record, and speak for themselves. The first provides for the sale by Jones to Hamburger of the entire product of his distillery, on a sliding scale by which ninety cents per bushel for rye in Chicago fixes fifty-three cents per gallon, as the price of pure rye whiskey at the distillery. An advance or decline of four cents per bushel in the price of rye, produces a corresponding rise or fall of one cent per gallon in the price of the whiskey. By a similar sliding scale, depending on the advance or decline of both corn and rye, the price of malt whiskey is also regulated. Jones binds himself not to manufacture whiskey for any other person or persons dáring the continuance of the contract, and also to use his best endeavors to make as much whiskey as the stated capacity of the distillery will produce.

The second agreement recites indebtedness of Jones to Hamburger, and the execution of a judgment bond, in his favor, in the penal sum of $16,000, to secure the payment of $8,209.36. It also provides for a loan of $12,000 to Jones, to be used in carrying on his business as a distiller. Hamburger- “ is to receive in compensation for the use of said money and loan, in lieu of interest thereon,” one half of the profits of the business, one half of all the storage accruing from goods and spirits stored in bonded warehouses adjoining and belonging to said distillery, on and after the first of March, 1882, and one half of the profits arising from slops for feeding purposes. He is also “ to have the privilege of putting cattle and hogs in the pens annexed to said distillery, for feeding purposes, on his own separate account, and, in such event, shall be allowed interest at the rate of six per cent per annum on such investment. Monthly accounts of the business of the distillery — “ showing the same in full and in detail ” — are to be rendered to Hamburger. In default of the rendition of such accounts, or in default of payment by him of any one or more of said notes, or renewals thereof, or of said indebtedness, etc., execution may forthwith issue for the purpose of collecting the whole of said indebtedness and loan ; and, in case the distillery premises and appurtenances are sold on such execution, the sole and exclusive right of using the name of George W. Jones asa trade-mark, etc., shall pass thereby to the purchaser of the premises. It is further provided, in the second agreement, that it shall go into effect on March 1,1882, and continue in force until the loan and indebtedness therein mentioned, as well as any further indebtedness of the same nature, is fully paid and discharged. The provisions of the first agreement, entitling Hamburger to the entire product of the distillery, are extended and made part of the second agreement.

The article of September 26,1888, after referring to the provisions of the former agreement for an equal division of net profits of the distillery, sale of slops, proceeds of storage, etc., recites the fact that Jones, by deed of even date, has conveyed to Hamburger the distillery, fixtures, machinery, implements, and all the personal property therein or in any manner connected therewith, and then declares that by mutual consent the second agreement is thenceforth null and void, “ as far as the division of the net profits and of the proceeds of storage and sale of slops connected with said distillery is concerned.” It then provides that Jones shall “ devote his entire time, skill, attention, and ability to the proper running ” of the distillery, for which services he is to receive as his salary “ one half of the net profits arising from the sale of all the whiskey produced in said distillery by him, the said George W. Jones, after first deducting all expenses of every character connected with the business, the distillery and its running.” While working under this contract, Jones binds himself not to manufacture whiskey for any other person than Hamburger, and not to draw more than f1,200 per annum of his salary, etc. It is also stated in the agreement that part of the consideration of the sale to Hamburger has been appropriated to the payment of the money loaned or advanced by him under the second agreement.

In view of the foregoing and other provisions of the three agreements, but more especially those of the second, we agree with the learned judge of the court below that, as to creditors, Hamburger should be considered a partner, unless he is protected by the act of April 6,1870, P. L. 56. That act declares :

“ It shall be lawful for any person or persons to loan money to any individual, firm, association, or corporation 'doing business in this commonwealth, upon agreement to receive a share of the profits of such business, as compensation for the use of the money so loaned, in lieu of interest; and such agreement, or the reception of profits under such agreement, shall not render the person or persons making such loans liable as a copart-ner, in such business, to other creditors of such individual, firm, association, or corporation, except as to the money so loaned: Provided, that such agreement for loan shall be in writing, and that this act shall not apply to any loan made by a member of any such firm, association, or corporation, or to any one who holds himself out as such, and shall not be construed to repeal or affect any portion of the law relating to special partnerships: provided, however, that any person so loaning under this act shall not hold himself out as a general partner, so as to induce credit to be given to any party or parties, association, or corporation to whom the said loan shall be made.”

The act was evidently intended to authorize what is clearly expressed therein and nothing else, viz., the loan of “ money to any individual, firm, association, or corporation, doing business in this commonwealth, upon an agreement to receive a share of the profits of such business, as compensation for the use of the money so loaned, in lieu of interest.” It was never intended to authorize the lender to take from the borrower a covenant prohibiting him from manufacturing for others, and securing to himself an exclusive right to the entire product of the business, together with other rights and privileges connected therewith, as was done in this case, and thus acquire at least as much control of the business as if he were an active partner therein. Both the tenor of the act and the spirit of the proviso show that it was not intended that the lender, under its provisions, should control or interfere with the business of the borrower, otherwise than as a mere creditor. It is impossible to consider the provisions of the first and second agreements without being convinced that their legitimate effect was to enable Hamburger to control the business of the distillery, to an extent that would have been unwarranted in the case of an active partner, not invested with special and extraordinary powers. Special pains is taken to declare in the agreement itself : “ It is understood hereby that this agreement is not, in fact, and is not to be construed as creating a partnership.” Without this emphatic declaration to the contrary, the parties themselves might well have regarded themselves as partners, rather than borrower and lender. . In considering the claims of creditors of the business, it is the effect of the contract relation which the parties have formed, and not the name they may have seen fit to give to their contract, that must govern.

While the transaction has many of the features of a partnership, under the guise of a loan authorized by the act, it is unnecessary to decide in this case that the defendant is liable generally as a partner. We think, however, that he is clearly liable under the special provisions of the act, to the extent of the money loaned and afterwards withdrawn by him. In other words, we are of opinion that the act, properly construed, was intended to render the lender liable to the creditors of the business, to the extent of the money loaned or advanced under its provisions.

In the main, our act is copied from the English statute of 28 and 29 Vic., but there is some difference in their phraseology. Our act, as we have seen, provides that “ such agreement, or the reception of profits under such agreement, shall not render the person or persons making such loans liable as a copartner in such business to other creditors ” of the borrower, “ except as to the money so loaned.” The English statute declares that the reception of profits “ shall not of itself constitute a partnership.” The words, “except as to the money loaned,” or words equivalent thereto, are not employed in the latter. The court was therefore right in holding that if the money loaned is needed to pay other creditors it must be so applied; and, inasmuch as the money loaned and withdrawn by the defendant was needed for that purpose, he is liable to the plaintiff. Any other construction of the act would ignore the effect intended to be given by the exception above quoted. By necessary implication, the words therein employed limit the exemption from liability, and render the lender liable as a co-partner in the business, at least to the extent of the money loaned. The assignments of error are not sustained.

Judgment affirmed.