109 Tenn. 343 | Tenn. | 1902
delivered the opinion of the Court.
There is one question, however, which was presented in the court. beloAv, and is again presented here, which involves the construction of a recent statute, and requires that the court’s determination thereof should be preserved in a written opinion.
The act referred to is chapter 126, Acts 1901. The first section reads as follows: “Be it enacted,” etc., “that section 3192 of the Code of Tennessee (1858), Shannon’s compilation, sec. 4928, be so amended as to read, at the end of said section, as follows: ‘Provided that the provisions of this act shall not inure to the benefit of any person who is not a citizen or resident of the State of Tennessee.’ ” The second and last section provides that the act shall take effect from and after its passage. The act was passed April 3, 1901, and approved by the governor the next day.
The question for determination is whether the amending act applies to pending suits. The court is of the opinion that it does so apply, and that the circuit judge was in error in denying the motion. The error, however, was innocuous, and hence not ground for reversal, inasmuch as upon the trial in the court heloAv the plaintiff in error was cast in the suit upon the merits of the controversy, and became liable for all the costs, and judgment therefor was accordingly correctly entered. This being true, the plaintiff in error was not injured by the refusal of the circuit judge to require the defendant in error to give a bond for the costs.