117 N.W. 864 | N.D. | 1908
This is an application by private relators for a writ of mandamus to compel the respondents, who are the county commissioners of Rolette county, to submit to the electors of said county, at the next general election, the question of the removal of the county seat of said county from Rolla to Rolette. The application is based upon an affidavit setting forth: '(1) That the relator is a freeholder, taxpayer, and elector of Rolette county, and that he signed a petition for the removal of the county seat of said county. (2) That on April 20, 1908, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, praying for the removal of the county seat of said county from Rolla to Rolette. (3) That said petition was verified, as required by statute, and contained all
Upon the presentation to the court of the affidavit, an order to show cause why the writ should not be granted as prayed for was issued, and such order was made returnable at Bismarck, on the 25th day of September, 1908. On said day the parties appeared, and the respondent filed a motion to quash the order to show cause, upon the expressed ground that the facts shown by the affidavit do not show facts that would authorize this court to issue the writ of mandamus, under sections 86 and 87 of the constitution, defining the jurisdiction of the supreme court to issue such writs. The question raised by the motion to quash the order to show cause presents the same question as to the jurisdiction of this court as that decided by the court in State ex rel Steele et al. v. J. W. Fabrick, 17 N. D. 532, 117 N. W. 860, in which our opinion has just been handed down. In that case the court held that the question of the division of a county upon application of qualified electors did not in any way involve any question affecting the sovereignty of the state, its franchises or prerogatives, or the liberties of the people; that it presented a question of public concern to the people of the county only, .and did not in airy way affect the people of the state generally, and was in no way publici juris so far as the state at large is concerned. The jurisdiction to issue the writ was, however, assumed, and the writ was issued in that case, for the reason that the facts showed the existence of such an emergency .and exceptional circumstances that might be followed by a denial of justice unless the writ was issued. See Russell v. Jacoway, 33 Ark. 191. Neither in the case at bar nor in the Fabrick case were the franchises or prerogatives
We do not think that the two cases present parallel facts, so far as the existence of an emergency is concerned. In this case the only prejudice to the relator that can possibly follow, if they are compelled to resort to the district court, is a delay of two years before the question may be voted on. In the other case there was added another element of prejudice likely to follow- — a change of circumstances by reason of the fact that the county lines might be changed by the formation of a new county, pursuant to a petition on which the commissioners had acted and which was ordered to be submitted to a vote at the November, 1908, election. We do not deem the consequences of our refusal to issue the writ in this case as likely to be serious, or to result in the ultimate defeat of the relator’s rights. Delay alone -will not deprive them of any permanent right. No serious complications are liable to follow if the question is not voted on at the coming election. No facts are urged or set forth to show the existence of an emergency, except delays caused by litigation and a possible appeal. We do not think that such facts show the existence of an extraordinary emergency. In State ex rel. Newell v. Purdy, 36 Wis. 213, 17 Am. St. Rep. 485, the court said: “The distinction between the election of public officers, to whom, for the time being, the exercise of the functions of sovereignty is intrusted, and the mere choice of a site for a public building, is quite apparent. The former involves, or may involve, the integrity of the government, and the preservation of the principles upon which it is founded, while the latter is only a matter of -public' convenience or pecuniary interest, involving no fundamental principle whatever.” In State v. Juneau Co., 38 Wis. 554, the court said, in speaking of a similar question: “The right
For these reasons we are satisfied that no exceptional circumstances have been shown, and that the writ should not be issued.
Application denied.