70 Ga. 11 | Ga. | 1883
This case was tried in Fulton superior court under the-provisions of the act of 1874, and the jury, on the 28th of January, 1882, rendered a verdict against the defendant, the Southwestern Railroad Company, for $6,370.00 principal and $2,675.40 interest thereon for the balance of taxes for the year 1874, and for the same principal sum, and $2,229.50 interest thereon, for the balance of taxes for the-year 1875, on the defendant’s road.
The defendant moved for a new trial on the grounds set
The defendant assigns error on the refusal of the court to grant a new trial on all the grounds contained in the motion, except the two on which the motion was, on terms, granted.
The plaintiff, by cross-bill of exceptions on the same record, assigns as error the. order of the court granting a new 'trial on the terms stated. Both cases were argued together.
The Americus and Albany section is thirty-six and a half-miles long and cost to build it $435,800.00.' The Arlington branch is thirty-five and a half miles long, excluding the--extension to Blakely, which is not involved in- this controversy, and cost to build it. $460,000.00. The Cuthbei’t branch is twenty-three and a half miles long,- and cost to-build it nearly $500,000.00. On-the 2d of October, 1874,. the comptroller general issued a tax fi. fa. under the railroad tax act of 1874, against the Southwestern Railroad' Compoany, for the ad valorem tax claimed to be due by that conpany for that year, on its road bed and appurtenances- and other property for the sum of $28,203.29. On the 6th óf December, 1875, the comptroller general issued a similar f.fa. for the same sum for the taxes claimed to bo due by the company for the year 1875. These fi.fas. were based on the returns of the president of the company, made in prursuance of the act of 1874, and from which it appeared that the whole property of the company was valued at $5,640,659.99. Th % fi.fas. were levied on a portion of the-company’s property, and affidavits of illegality filed as-provided by the act of 1874, the levies suspended, the papeers returned to Fulton superior court, and the cases-tried, with the results heretofore stated.
A former case had been made by illegality to these same-f.fas. brought to this court (see 54 Ga., 401), and reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States in 92 U. S., 676. The object of that case was to determine whether the property of the company was liable to the ad.valorem tax, notwithstanding .its charter exemption beyond one-half of one per cent, on its. net annual income, by reason of the consolidation of its. road, in 1868, with the .Muscogep Railroad,, under the act of 1856. After the. decision had been rendered on,-this question by .the-Supreme Court of the, United! States, in favor of the company, the following correspond
“Atlanta, Georgia, May 25, 1876.
“General A. R. Lawton, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir — You have seen decision of Supreme Court of the United States, by this time, in Central Railroad tax case. We may have to contend further as to the Southwestern Railroad, unless we can agree upon the value of so much as is between Albany and Americus, which is taxable under act of 1859. Yours,
N. J. Hammond, Attorney General."
“ Savannah, Georgia, May 29, 1876.
“ N. J. ITamrnond, Atlanta, Ga. :
Dear Sir — Your letter of the 21st inst. is received. I will ascertain all about the Southwestern Railroad from Americus to Albany, and wh'en I know the facts, will advise a compliance with law; but don’t be impatient now. Your litigation has resulted in substantial benefit to the state, and you should feel amiable.
Yours truly, A. R. Lawton.”
“ Atlanta, Georgia, September 5, 1876.
“General A. R. Lawton, of Savannah, Ga., Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — I saw Mr. Powers, and he referred me to Mr. Boifeuillet. He wrote me as follows: This company (Southwestern Railroad Company) agreed, August 1st, 1856, to purchase the South Georgia and Florida Railroad from Americus to Albany for $400,000 (four hundred thousand dollars), payable in stock of this company at par, and payable when the road was finished in sections of thirteen miles each. The first payment was made when the road was finished to Sumter City, in December, 1856. Total cost of the road when finished to Albany, including extras, $435,800 (four hundred and thirty-five thousand and eight hundred dollars). Distance from Americus to Albany, thirty-six miles.
I find its history in compilation of the annual report of the Southwestern Railroad Company, pages 81, 236 and 237. As the stock is1 as fixed in value as the other stock, I see no difficulty in our adjust-, ingthe Southwestern Railroad tax on the basis of $435,800. Consider, and let me know your views on the subject.
Yours, N. J. Hammond, Attorney General."
“Atlanta, Georgia, November 29, 1876.’
“General A. R. Lawton, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir — In a few weeks I must make Day annual report. 'Wliaf about the new trial, Southwestern Railroad case ? If you can agree upon taxing the old Florida and Georgia stock, we can adjust the matter. Respectfully,
N. J. Hammond, Attorney General."
*18 “ Savannah, Georgia, December 11,1876.
“Hon. N. J. Hammond, Esq., Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — Since I last saw you I have been “hurrying up” the prompt settlement of the tax cases now on hand, and the returns and payments for the present year. The proper'officers of the railroad company are busily engaged in this service. The enclosed letter of Mr. McIntyre, the book-keeper, shows that the tax of 4-10 was first imposed on the return for each of the years 1874 and 1875, and then 25 per cent, added. IIow is this ? The taxes were to be at the same rate as other property, and I am not aware of any authority for this addition of one-fourth. Perhaps there is some law or authority which lias escaped me; but as we have acted in good faith and almost “ ’pon honor,” in this whole matter, I beg you to confer with the comptroller general and let it be understood. "We are now anxious to settle up.
Yours truly, A. R. Lawton.”
“Savannah, Georgia, December 24, 1876.
“Hon. N. J. Hammond, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — I return you the statement of items in settlement of the railroad tax case, with my signature to it. The “returns” have been duly made for this year’s taxes, and the treasurer will at once pay the tax to the comptroller general.
Yours truly, A. R. Lawton.”
“Atlanta, Georgia, January 18, 1877.
“General A. JR. Lawton, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir — As my official term expires by the qualification of Hon. Robert Ely as my successor, to-day, in obedience to your request I herewith return yours of 10th inst. The offer I think a good one, all things considered, and if you wish, I think I can have it accepted.
Respectfully, N. J. Hammond.”
“Savannah, Georgia, January 16, 1877.
“Hon. N. J. Hammond, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — I write hastily to say that if you will have time before you are “out of office,” I will consent to the payment of tax at estimated value of $400,000 from Americus to Albany for the two years that executions were issued, and I will see the money paid promptly to you, so that those cases can he finally disposed of at once. This is a higher value than we would now return the property at, but will settle on those terms, as that was what we paid the South Georgia and Florida Railroad Company for it. If this letter does not reach you in time to close the cases during your term of office, please do not consider the letter official and return it to me.
Yours truly, A. R. Lawton.”
“Savannah, Georgia, January 20, 1877.
(‘Hon. N. J. Hammond', Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — Your letter of the 18th inst., returning mine of the 16th,*19 is just now before me. On consideration, I send you the letter again, and beg that you see the arrangement carried out for me as you kindly offer, and have the cases finally closed.
Yery truly yours, A. R. Lawton.”
“Atlanta, Georgia, January 26, 1877.
"“Hon. A. R. Lawton, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir — Your proposition as to my settling Southwestern Railroad tax cases is being considered by Mr. Ely, and I think will get a consent to-morrow.
Yours, etc., N. J. Hammond.”
“Atlanta, Georgia, January 22, 1877.
“Hon. R. N. Ely, Attorney General’s Office, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — In 1852 the Georgia and Florida Railroad Company.was incorporated with authority “ at any time to incorporate their stock with the stock of any other company on such terms as may be virtually agreed upon by such companies.” In 1856 the Southwestern Railroad Company agreed to purchase said company’s road from Americus to Albany at $400,000, payable in stock of the Southwestern Railroad Company at par. The first payment was made in 1856, and the-last in 1858. This purchase was consummated under act of 1859. See acts of 1859, pages 229, 230. ' The actual cost of the road and extras was $435,800. During last summer Í proposed to General Lawton to settle the case of the State vs. The Southwestern Railroad Company, in which the Supreme Court of the United States had granted a new trial, because it was not taxable ad valorem for tax of 1874, and the one for tax of 1875 pending, and to abide result of former, by paying tax for each year ad valorem for 1874 and 1875 on the purchase part, which is taxable ad valorem, by putting its value at $435,000. Pending these negotiations, I received, on the last day of my official term, a proposal for payment of tax at estimated value of $400,000 from Americus to Albany, for the two years that executions were issued, 1875 and 1874. Because I was out of office, I so advised General Lawton, saying I would accept had;I then authority. He has authorized me to make the same proposal to you. If you accept, I will get the $4,000 at once and pay in settlement. I don’t think you could make more by trial. You might not make so much. Indeed, General Lawton says it would not now be given in as worth so much. To accept settles those cases, and fixes .that property for taxation in futuro. What shall I do ?
Yours, N. J. Hammond.”
“ January 31, 1877.
<!Hon. N. J. Hammond, Atlanta:
Dear Sir — I am instructed by his excellency, the Governor, to say, in reply to- yours of the 22d inst., that inasmuch as you had virtually made a settlement with Gen. A. R. Lawton, representing the Central*20 Railroad, before retiring from the office of attorney general, of the tax due by the. Southwestern -Railroad, extending from Americus to-Albany, and as no reason occurs why the same is not a good and. favorable settlement for the state, that you be authorized to conclude the same on the terms mentioned.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. N. Ely, Attorney General.”
“Atlanta, Georgia, Jammy 30, 1877.
“General A. R. Lawton, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir — After considering, Mr. Ely agrees to accept your proposition to settle the Southwestern Railroad tax cases for 1874 and 1875 at basis of $4,000. Send me the money. I will pay and take proper receipt for you. I suppose you must pay costs also, and $10'would cover unpaid costs. Yours, N. J. Hammond,'
A. W. H. & Son.”
“ Savannah, Georgia, February 5th, 1877.
“ N. J. Hammond, Esq., Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir — Mr. Cunningham has handed me your letter to him of the 3d inst. I now hand you herein a check for $4,010 to cover tax and balance of costs on the fragment of railroad from any deduction for tax paid on income, such a .receipt as will be a voucher for the-cashier. Yours truly, A, R. Lawton.”
“Atlanta, Georgia, February 8, 1877.
“Hon. A. R. Lawton, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir — Enclosed I hand you receipt for $4,000 paid by me in settlement of the Southwestern Railroad tax ft. fas. of 1874 and 1875. I have asked the clerk for his receipt for costs, which will be sent you. You paid the costs in the first. I send you my check on John H. James for balance, $7.
Cash received of you for above purposes, . . $4,010 00
Paid attorney general for f..fa. settled, $4,000 00"
Paid Clerk for cost,......•....... 3 00
Balance in my check supra,.......... 7 00-
$4,010 00’
I remain yours, etc.,
N. J. Hammond.”
In pursuance of the agreement of the attorneys set forth in these letters, Attorney General Ely, on the 7th of February, 1877,. receipted the company for the sum named $4^000.00, setting forth in the receipt that the payment was in full settlement of thefi.fas.-, that the same were to be so entered on payment of cost, and made an indorsement signed by-him to this effect on theji.fas. The cost $8.00,.
The position of counsel for the company requires us to ■say, were we to sustain it, that this agreement, so plain and unmistakable as to its subject-matter, embraces not only "the old Georgia and Florida Railroad, known as that sección of the road between Americus and Albany, but this
The Georgia and Florida Bailroad, built in 1856-7, 36H miles long, at a cost of..........$435,800.00
The Arlington branch built in-, 35)¿ miles long; at a cost of............... 460,000.0o5.
The Eufaula branch, built in 1859, 23)4 miles long, at a cost of................ 500,000.00
Three roads aggregating 95>£ miles of road, at a cost of $1,395,800.00-
Instead of one road 36h¡ miles long at a cost of . . . . 435,800.00-
The attorney general and General Lawton, the attorney of the company, did not attempt in their correspondence-to compromise a debt due the state at less than the rate of taxation or the amount due on the value of the property ; nor did they attempt to release the company by what-was done by them from the ad valorem tax charged by.the-act of 1874 on the Arlington and Eufaula branches of the-road. Had they done so, the attorney general had no power to make any such contract of compromise, or to release the company from any portion of the ad valorem tax imposed by the act on the property of the company. There is no law of this state that confers on him any such authority. The governor had no such power. He can only “ suspend the collection of taxes, or some part thereof, until, the meeting of the next general assembly, and he cannot otherwise interfere with the collection thereof. ” Code, 75.
The executions were already issued. The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, in 92 U. S., made in 1876, relieved two-thirds or more of the company’s road and property from the ad valorem tax, and the company ought then to have made a new or revised return. Having failed to do so, the comptroller general was authorized to correct the original returns and to assess that portion of the road and property subject to the tax, from the best information he could procure, and order th efi.fas. to proceed for so much of the tax as was then due and unpaid. Had he done so, it would have been the act of the state. Has he done so, either expressly or by any act of his ratifying any assessment of any part of said property made by any other person ? It is not pretended that he has made any express assessment. But it is claimed that the attorney general, by the agreement made with the •company’s attorney, hereinbefore set forth, assessed the ■company’s property subject to the tax, and that the company settled with him in full for all tax due the state, and "that the comptroller general approved and ratified said •settlement, and that the state is bound thereby.
What is the law of the case ? “ When the fact of agency is to be proved by the subsequent ratification and adoption of the act by the principal, there must be evidence of previous knowledge on the part of the principal of all the material facts. ” Hardeman & H. vs. Ford, 12 Ga., 205. If the material facts be either suppressed or unknown, the ratification is invalid. Orrings vs. Hall, 9 Peters, 608. Keeping this rule of law in view, and without deciding whether the comptroller general could under any circumstances delegate the power conferred on him by the law, •or ratify in an informal way the act of another in such a matter, let us see what the facts are.
W.- L. Goldsmith was comptroller general in 1874-5.
“Treasury of Georg-ia, Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 10, 1877.
' “This is'to certify that R. N. Ely, attorney general, has paid into the treasury the sum of thirty-five hundred dollars, tax collected on Ji. fas. vs. Southwestern Railroad 1874 and -1875, for which you are authorized to give a receipt. J. "W. Renfroe, Treasurer.”
-The comptroller general receipted Mr. Ely as follows:
“February 10, 1877.
“Received of R. N. Ely, attorney general, - $8,500, tax collected on fi. fas. vs. Southwestern Railroad 1874 and 1875.”
The comptroller general was only authorized by the treasurer to receipt for and only receipted for $3,500.00, so far as these papers show. The only information he got from the treasurer’s certificate was that $3,500.00 tax had been collected on these fi. fas. and paid into the treasury. 'The cases were stricken from the comptroller’s docket by ■cross lines drawn across the statement of the cases -thereon, and the letters “ pd. ” 'appeared opposite one of the cases. When, by whom, and under what circumstances these dines were drawn and letters made, does not appear.
The comptroller general received the return of the company for the Americus and Albany branch for the years 1876 and 1877, at a valuation of $400,000.00 for this section of the road. And from this an inference is drawn by •counsel, that he had knowledge of the settlement. These returns prove no more than they contain. Beyond the fact that the sum- is the same as that agreed on by the attorney general, through Colonel Hammond and the company’s attorney, as their valuation of this section of the ■road, there is- nothing in it to indicate -that any attempted ■settlement had been made in discharge of the company’s liability for all taxes for the years 1874 and 1875.
We cannot see that the position of counsel for the company is at all strengthened by the provision of the act of 1874, that the comptroller general shall be represented in-court by the attorney general. This provision only authorizes the attorney general to conduct the suit or litigation,, and does not delegate to him any of the duties imposed by law on the comptroller general. See 66 Ga., 403.
These cases were in court for trial on all the issues made by the pleadings or involved therein. One ground of illegality was an alleged payment of $4,000 in full satisfaction of th efi.fas. Another ground was the value of the Arlington branch, alleged to be only $120,000, and the value of the Eufaula branch, alleged to be only $270,000, and the defendant made a conditional tender of $600 tax on the Arlington branch, and of $1,350 on the Eufaula branch. To have restricted the jury to the position of counsel, would have excluded these grounds from their consideration. The condition of the illegality bonds requires the company to pay th efi.fas., if held liable thereon by the courts. How could the court enforce these bonds, in case of default, if it was not authorized to find the amount due on the fi. fas. How can the amount be ascertained without a valuation of so much of the property as is subject to the tax; and who is to find the value, the court or the jury ? Certainly the jury, under the charge of the court. The remedy provided by the act of 1874 is an affidavit of illegality, to be tried as other illegalities. The liability of the defendant to the tax is to be determined under its provisions, and the defendant is authorized by the terms of the act, on compliance with its conditions, “ to resist the collection of the tax therein provided for. ” It is not only the mere “ liability” of the defendant that is made subject to contest, but the “collection” of the taxes also. It is not the policy of the law to subject the determination of any case, by piecemeal, to two separate jurisdictions,
The company made no sepárate return of those portions of the road subject to the tax, and if sections 839 and 840 of the Code apply to returns made to the comptroller general, then there was no return at an under-valuation, and nothing therefore for revision or correction. Assessments of corporate property, for taxes accruing after the passage of the acts of the 22d of February, 1877, and the act of 1878 amendatory thereof, Code, §§826(d), 833(a), are subject to the provisions of these acts. But these cases being only a continuation of a litigation, begun before the passage of these acts, are not even subject to the objections set forth in the dissenting opinion of Warner, Chief Justice, in Goldsmith, comptroller general, vs. The S. W. R. R. Company, 62 Ga., 501.
Any evidence that would in any way aid the jury in ascertaining the market value of those portions of the road subject to the tax should be admitted, and the property should be fairly assessed as the property of private citizens of the state at its true market value. All the evidence offered by either party in this case was admitted; none was excluded. The evidence took a wide range, extending beyond actual facts, to the opinions of several expert witnesses sworn on the trial. The court, in addition to the two theories of counsel, charged the jury, “ You are to assess the unpaid taxes upon these fi.fas., for which the road is legally liable to the state. The claim in this case upon the part of the state is for the taxes due upon the property from Americus to Albany, from Albany to Arlington, from Outhbert to Eufaula; now you are to assess the ■ value of these particular portions of the road, and after you have ascertained their value from the evidence in 1874 and 1875, then you are to assess one-half of one per cent, upon the valuation that you make in 1874 and such valuation as you may make in 1875. You are to do, under this evidence and the law I have given you in charge, what, if it were not for this issue, the comptroller general would do, under the forms of law. So you must exercise your best judgment, under the evidence and the law, and say what you find the valuation of this property to be.” Judge Lyon read from a Supreme Court report, and the court continued, “All the evidence, gentlemen, is before you; you are to get at the valuation of this property from all the evidence before you. You are to look to all the evidence. I am merely stating to you the theory of the state upon the one hand and of the defendant on the other. You are to look to all
The jury found 93 miles of the road subject to the tax ■(there was really 95£ miles subject), and the value of the 93 miles to be $1,674,000.00, thus finding the average value per mile to be $18,000. ■ Keeping in view the rules and elements of value before stated, let us see what the facts are. Mr. Powers values the whole line at $5,000,000.
1 The section from Amerieus to Albany cost"......$435,800
'The Arlington branch cost........... 460,000
The Eufaula branch cost............ 500,000
Total cost...............$1,395,800
This is the original cost, and makes no allowance for subsequent improvements which increase the value of these sections of the road. The whole road is under a perpetual lease to the Central Railroad and Banking Company, with . a guaranteed dividend of 7% on the stock, which in round numbers is $5,000,000. This is the annual rental of the road. At the time this lease was made, June 24th, 1869, the bonded indebtedness of the road was $700,000. The • Cental Railroad Company, in addition to its guarantee on the stock, agreed to pay the principal and interest of this bonded indebtedness. These bonds were plain bonds, convertible into stock. There were $3,500,000 of tripartite bonds issued after the merger of this road with the Central, :and the $700,000 of Southwestern bonds were taken up with part of these tripartite bonds. Now, estimating the ¡guaranteed stock and the $700,000 of original Southwestern bonds at par, according to the rule in 92 U. S., 605, we have the value of the whole line and branches, $5,700,000. The length of the whole line is 307 miles, so this makes the average value over $18,000 per mile. If the income on thi stock and bonds, $399,000, rating it at 7%, is capitalized on a basis 6% for money, it would greatly increase
The true rule of valuation in this case seems to us ■ to be, to estimate the road and branches as a whole. Nelson Tift says: “ I would estimate all the parts asoné road, their extensions, branches, side tracks, etc. All the parts are necessary to the financial success and value of the road, and are all representatives in the value of the stock. ” The road from Macon to Eufaula which embraces a part of the old Georgia and Florida Railroad, and the Eufaula branch, is operated as a main line. How can you estimate the value of any part of this portion of the main line, except as a part of the whole; and how can you value this part of the main line without estimating with it that portion of the road to Columbus ? It cannot well be done, nor can the branches which feed the main lines be correctly valued except as a part of the whole. Mr. Raoul was unable to apportion the earnings between the main line and the branches, though pressed to do so by counsel for the state. There is no separate rolling stock for the branches. The value of the road and branches, of the rolling stock, and of the income, must all be considered in their entirety; they cannot be apportioned with any reasonable certainty. The verdict of the jury is supported by the evidence. We do not, however, intend to fix the-rule adopted by the jury as an absolute rule for the future assessment of this property. It must be assessed at all times, as the property of other people, at its actual market, value; and future returns are subject, as we have said, to Code, 826(d) and 833(a). See also 62 Ga., 501.
In the third paragraph of section 2533, Code, taxes are mentioned in connection with “ other debts,” as entitled to priority of payment out of the assets of a decedent’s estate. But this does not prove that they are debts in the ordinary sense of that term. Section 2571, which provides that the year’s support of a decedent’s family shall “ be preferred before all other debts, ” is similar in its verbiage to that above quoted. Yet, it is plain that, notwithstanding it is thus connected with the term “ other debts, ” it is not a debt. This court has so decided in Barron vs. Burney, 38 Ga., 264.
Taxes are not ordinary debts\ they are not contracts, either express or implied. They cannot be collected by suit at law in the absence of express statutory provision; they are not the subject-matter of set-off. 7 Ab. Pr., 248; 7 La. An., 192; 1 La. An., 436; 8 Met., 393; Quincy Mass., 58; 3 Met., 520; Lane vs. Oregon, 7 Wall., 80; Packard vs. Tisdale, 50 Maine, 376.
In Savings Bank vs. United States, 19 Wall., 227, an action of debt for the recovery of an internal revenue tax, due by that bank, was sustained on general principles, but more particularly on the express provisions of the statute. Mr. Justice Bradley and Field dissenting on the ground that the action would not lie for the recovery of a tax of the kind, until it had been first entered on the assessment roll. No reference whatever was made to the case in 7 Wall., 80,. before cited. The jury found a special verdict, embracing the principal sum, and $1,100.00 as interest, if the court should b.e of opinion the plaintiff, under the law, was entitled to recover it. The circuit court gave no interest, because the bank was not reprehensibly in default, and because its refusal to pay the tax was induced by the inconsistent action and the conflicting opinions of the de
In the case of Delaware Division Canal Company vs. Commonwealth, 50 Penn. St., 409, interest was allowed; but this was by reason of the act of 1811, which provided that “ all balances due the commonwealth on accounts settled agreeably to this act shall bear interest from three months after date of settlement until paid. ” See page 405.
In the City of Dubuque vs. Illinois Central Railroad Company, 39 Iowa, 56, an important case argued by quite a number of attorneys representing this and other companies interested in the decision, the main question decided was, that the general assembly had no power to release the railroad company from the payment of taxes levied by the city for the year 1871, by subsequent legislation. Beck, J., held that the tax was a debt, and that there was an implied contract on the part of the defendant to pay it, which the general assembly could not impair. The other members of the court placed their opinions on constitutional grounds. Beck, J., also held that an action at law was maintainable for the recovery of taxes under special circumstances, but not in ordinary cases; but this ruling was not concurred in by the other three judges. Cole, J., expressly dissented from it, upon the ground that the tax was not a “ debt which could be recovered by an action at law. ” The court, citing the authorities, said some of them “ hold that taxes do not bear interest unless it is so prescribed by statute. ” See pages 75, 76, 72, 90, 53. The question of interest was not decided further in this case.
“ The assessment of taxes does not create a debt that can be enforced by suit, or upon which a promise to pay interest can be implied. It is a proceeding in invitum, ” not founded upon contracts, express or implied. Shaw vs. Picket, 26 Ver., 482. “A debt universally bears interest
In Bank vs. Commonwealth, 10 Penn. St., 453, it is said, “Where the fact of non-payment is ascribable to mutual misapprehension, or to the laches of the creditor, interest is not demandable as of course. The detention must smack of injustice to make the debtor liable. ” And in 64 Ga., 800, this court suggested, but did not decide, that the payment of interest from the time the tax was claimed by the officers of the state might depend on the -question as to “ whose fault caused the delay. ” The state claims the company was first at fault, and that it owes interest from the end of the years 1874 and 1875. The state issued these fi. fas. for the taxes of these years, for over $28,000 for each year, based upon the value of the whole property of the company. The defense was successful in the Supreme Court of the United States in 1876, and after a protracted litigation, over two-thirds of the company’s property was found to be exempt from the ad valorem tax. On the 6th
The reference in the charge to the Perry branch did no harm. The jury were told it was not in the case, and they did not embrace it in their verdict.
The third and fourth grounds assume that the state was. legally a party to the alleged settlement. The eleventh ground of the motion excluded from the consideration of the jury the question of mistake, and was not authorized by the evidence. As we have seen, the comptroller general only receipted for $3,500 tax collected on the fi.fas.
The state was reasonably diligent in proceeding with these fi.fas., under all the facts of this case.
The remaining grounds of the motion are covered by the opinion.
The case of the Southwestern Railroad Company vs. The State is affirmed.