62 A.2d 732 | N.H. | 1948
The defendants' motion to dismiss upon the ground of the unconstitutionality of the statutes involved assigns as reasons that no provision is made for hearing and the presentation of evidence upon the question of "feasibility" of the proposed taking, and in the case of the general statute, upon the question of public necessity; *294
and that the special act as amended provides for the transfer of title to the town of Moultonborough after taking. As the motion is interpreted, no claim is made that the taking is not for a public purpose (Cf. Shoemaker v. United States,
It is well settled under the Federal Constitution that while determination of the question of public purpose is a judicial one, that of the necessity and expediency of the taking is wholly legislative. The same principle has long since been held applicable under our own Constitution. Concord Railroad v. Greely,
In Georgia v. Chattanooga,
Furthermore the argument ignores the fact that the pending proceedings were instituted by authority conferred by special act to acquire "the northerly end of said Long Island." Laws 1939, supra. *295 This was notice to owners of the land that they might expect it to be affected by action of the Governor and Council. There is no indication that the defendants would have been denied an opportunity for hearing on the "question of feasibility," so far as it was determined by executive action. With respect to legislative action, it is not suggested that the customary notice of pending legislation was omitted when the special act was passed. As the brief for the State points out, to require special notice to interested individuals would be to "deny the basic principle of representative government." No foundation for the defendants' claim of a right to notice is to be found in the Constitution.
The defendants further urge that the legislation delegates power of eminent domain to the Governor and Council in violation of the provision of Article 12th of the Bill of Rights that "no part of a man's property shall be taken from him . . . without his own consent, or that of the representative body of the people." If this issue is open upon exception to the denial of a motion which did not raise it, it may be shortly answered. The consent of the Legislature was clearly embodied in the special act. Furthermore, under what is settled in this jurisdiction, powers of eminent domain may constitutionally be delegated by general act. Backus v. Lebanon,
The amendment by which the acquired land is required to be transferred to the town after taking (Laws 1941, c.
The defendants' offer of proof was properly rejected as prematurely *296
made. It had no relation to the issue of title. The evidence was calculated neither to establish title by prescription, nor abandonment by the owner of record. Howard v. Britton,
In support of the final motion to dismiss, it is said that the description of the land to be condemned, as contained in the 1939 act, is too vague and indefinite to permit its identification with certainty; and that the Governor and Council exceeded the authority conferred, by taking more land than was intended by the Legislature. The taking authorized was of "the northerly end of said Long Island, to include the whole of the point." The land was to be taken "for the purpose of providing a public park for bathing facilities and a recreational area." We are aware of no requirement for more precise description. Identification with certainty results from the survey caused to be filed in accordance with the general statute. R.L., c. 27, s. 24. Authority to determine the extent of the taking in the designated area might properly be delegated. Concord Railroad v. Greely, supra; Petition of the Mount Washington Road Co., supra. No basis appears for the claim that this authority was exceeded. The land taken includes "the whole of the point." Little if any land south of what may reasonably be regarded as constituting "the point" is included in what is taken. From high water at the southeasterly bound to high water at the southwesterly bound is approximately four hundred fifty feet. The tract is in fact only the "tip" end of the island. Whether the quantity taken is appropriate to the probable use is a legislative question of expediency with which the courts are not concerned. Joslin v. Providence,
Legislative specification of the names of the owners of the land to be taken was not required. The designated procedure, under the general statute, provided for notice to the owners, and for the determination of their respective titles, as well as compensation for land taken. The contention that some of these steps should have been taken by the Legislature before enactment of the special legislation cannot be sustained.
Exceptions overruled.
*297JOHNSTON and KENISON, JJ., did not sit: the others concurred.