287 N.W. 180 | Neb. | 1939
This is an action for a declaratory judgment construing section 2-1113, Comp. St. Supp. 1937. The matter was submitted upon an agreed statement of facts. The plaintiff herein is a duly organized farm bureau. The defendants are the county of Thurston, its three commissioners, and one resident taxpayer. Prior to September 1, 1938, a proper petition was filed with the county clerk of defendant county, asking for the submission to the voters of the question whether there should be county funds appropriated for the support of agricultural extension work in the defendant county beginning January 1, 1939. Pursuant to law, the county clerk placed upon the ballots for the general election of November, 1938, the following question: “Shall an appropriation be made annually from the general fund of the county for the support of agricultural extension work? Yes No | |” There were 1,119 ballots cast against, and 1,465 cast for the proposition, a total of 2,584. The highest number of votes cast for any office or proposition was 4,003. The plaintiff, contending that a majority of all the votes cast on the proposition being favorable thereto, filed its estimate and asked the county board of defendant county to set aside in the annual budget the amount authorized to be appropriated for agricultural work. The defendant commissioners refused, contending that before the appropriation could be made the proposition must be carried by a majority of all votes cast at the election, and that the proposition failed to receive the necessary favorable votes.
Plaintiff brought this action for a declaratory judgment, to determine its rights and status, and to secure a construction of the statute on the one proposition of law.
The trial court found that “the results of the election held on November 8, 1938, do not entitle plaintiff to any appropriation of funds from the county of Thurston for the year 1939.” Plaintiff appeals.
The record presents the single question of law: Does the
The provision of the act to be construed is set out hereafter in this opinion. The rules of construction require this court to discover, if possible, from the language of the act, the legislative intent and give effect thereto. Hansen v. Dakota County, 135 Neb. 582, 283 N. W. 217. The wisdom of the act or the merits of the present proposal cannot be considered in determining the question here presented.
“ The legislature must be presumed to have had in mind all previous legislation upon the subject, so that in the construction of a statute we must consider the preexisting law and any other acts relating to the same subject.’ Nebraska District of Evangelical Lutheran Synod v. McKelvie, 104 Neb. 93, 175 N. W. 531.” Chicago & N. W. R. Co. v. Bauman, 132 Neb. 67, 271 N. W. 256.
“ Tn considering an amendatory or substituted statute, it is proper to consider the provisions of the law which was repealed in connection with the law which takes its place, in order to ascertain the legislative intent, and all provisions of the original statute which are not carried forward into or repeated in the new law are annulled by the repealing statute.’ Campbell v. Youngson, 80 Neb. 322, 114 N. W. 415,” Mills v. Mills, 130 Neb. 881, 266 N. W. 759.
“In order to ascertain the intention of the legislature in the amendment of a statute, the course of legislation on the subject and existing conditions created under the former statutory provisions may be considered.” Union P. R. Co. v. Heuer, 97 Neb. 436, 150 N. W. 259.
This legislation began with the enactment of House Roll 524 in 1913 (Laws 1913, ch. 227; Rev. St. 1913, secs. 70 to 72, inc.), providing for the employment of county farm demonstrators to aid in the development of agricultural methods. That act provided that upon a “petition, signed by at least ten per cent, of the farm landowners * * * the county board may set aside from the county general fund
The legislature in 1919 repealed the foregoing act (Laws 1919, ch. 203; Comp. St. 1922, secs. 69 to 73, inc.), and enacted a new act providing: “Whenever in any county not less than three hundred bona ficle residents of the county who are engaged in farming, or a smaller number, when such smaller number is not less than one-half of the bona fide farmers in any county, shall have organized themselves into a Farm Bureau, shall petition the county board to appropriate” money for the promotion of agriculture and the employment of a county agricultural agent, “the county board shall set aside annually” sums of money, as provided in the act. Under the conditions of the act, the county board were required to issue warrants to pay claims approved by the farm bureau. The amount that could be appropriated should not exceed an amount equal to a one-mill levy on the assessed valuation of the property of the county, and in no instance more than $5,000.
The legislature in 1923 repealed the foregoing act (Laws 1923, ch. 1) and enacted Senate File No. 9, providing that the county board shall set aside money for the purpose of improving agriculture and the employment of an agricultural agent upon the petition of the required number of persons. The act required the petitions to be filed not later than September 1, 1924, and every second year thereafter. The petitioners had to be persons “actually and actively engaged in farming.” The number of signers required increased from 100 in counties having a population of 3,000 or less, to 600 in counties having a population of more than 17,000. The act further provided that, if within twenty days after the filing of the petition, there was a remonstrance filed against the allowance of the farm bureau budget, signed by residents actually and actively engaged in farming, numbering one-eighth more than signed the
By House Roll No. 36 (Laws 1925, ch. 2) and by Senate File No. 283 (Laws 1927, ch. 55) amendments were made to a part of the act not important to be noted here. The act as so amended became sections 2-1101 to 2-1109, inc., Comp. St. 1929.
In 1933, by Senate File No. 309 (Laws 1933, ch. 3), the last named sections were repealed, and a new act passed which is now sections 2-1110 to 2-1117, inc , Comp. St. Supp. 1937. This last act enlarged the scope of the previous acts, but all the acts had the same general purpose. By this act “a farm operator who is a legal voter” could be a petitioner. The provisions of this act with reference to the petitions, the election, etc., which is to be construed, are as follows:
“If on or before September 1 of any even numbered year, a petition is filed with the County Clerk containing the names of twenty per cent. (20%) or more of the ‘farm operators’ of any county or counties, as determined by the last available Federal Census comprising a district under this act, asking the submission to the voters of the question of whether there shall be county funds appropriated for the continuance or support of County Agricultural Extension Work in said county or district beginning on January 1st after the filing of said petition, it shall be the duty of the clerk of said county to have placed upon the ballot at the election following the filing of said petition the question, ‘Shall an appropriation be made annually from the*580 general fund of the county for the support of Agricultural Extension Work?
Yes □ No □
“If a majority of the votes cast are opposed to such appropriation then the county board shall deny the appropriation. If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the appropriation then the county board shall annually set aside in the general fund of the county an amount equal to the county farm bureau budget provided such sum shall not exceed an amount- equal to a one-fifth mill levy on the assessed valuation nor more than $2,000 in counties having a population of less than 10,000; $2,400 in counties having a population of less than 17,000 and more than 10,000; and $2,800 in counties having a population of 17,000 or over and, as claims are approved by the Board of Directors of the Farm Bureau and filed with the County Clerk, the county board shall order warrants to be drawn upon the general fund of the county in payment of such claims.
“It is further provided that in counties where Extension Work is being conducted in accordance with sections repealed by this Act the county board shall continue to appropriate funds for the continuance of extension work until such support is denied by vote as provided for in this section: Provided further that if before January 1st, 1934, there is filed with the county board, a petition containing the names of 51 per cent., or more, of the qualified voters voting for Governor at the last general election in any county where a county farm bureau exists, said petition praying that the county appropriation for extension work in such county be discontinued, it shall- be the duty of the county board to discontinue the appropriation of county funds for the support of extension work in said county.” (Italics ours.)
It is noted that by the last act the number of petitioners has again been changed, that remonstrance petitions are not provided for, and that elections by “the voters” are necessary.
It is also noted that the various acts clearly demonstrate a progressive intent on the part of the legislature to restrict
It will also be noted that by the provisions of the 1923 act the appropriation of the money could be made when “a majority of the electors voting on the question” were favorable. By the provisions of the 1933 act, that qualification was removed and “a majority of the votes cast” was required. The fact that each of these acts, while repealing preceding ones, actually was an amendment (see First Trust Co. v. Smith, 134 Neb. 84, 277 N. W. 762, second syllabus), and the similarity of the language used in section 2-1107, Comp. St. 1929, and that used in section 2-1113, Comp. St. Supp. 1937, as to the majorities required, indicate that the legislature in drafting the latter act followed the language of the former act and intentionally omitted the qualification “voting on the question,” and intended thereby to increase the required majority to one of “all votes cast” at the election. Had the legislature desired to limit the required majority to those voting on the question, they could have done so by the simple method of not omitting the language. Such an intent is in accord with the demonstrated progressive purpose of the legislature to require approval of the voters before the expenditure of public moneys for the purposes of the act.
“Statutes are to be construed in the light of a clearly apparent legislative policy.” School District of Omaha v. Gass, 131 Neb. 312, 267 N. W. 528.
It is also noted that the 1933 act contained a provision authorizing the discontinuance of county assistance to farm bureaus upon petition, where that assistance had been previously authorized. No such provision existed in the prior acts. The provision in section 4 is that, if before January 1, 1934, a petition is filed signed by 51 per cent, or more of the qualified voters, voting for governor in the last general election, in counties where a farm bureau exists, praying for the discontinuance of the appropriation for extension work, the county board shall discontinue the same. This
This court has long had the following rule of construction:
“When the legislature, in a statute, employs language which has elsewhere received a fairly well settled construction, it will be presumed that such construction was in the contemplation of the legislature, and expresses the true meaning. * * *
“If the words used had at the time received a settled construction, we must presume that the legislature adopted them in that sense.” Kendall v. Garneau, 55 Neb. 403, 75 N.W. 852. See 59 C. J. 1063.
In order to determine the proper rule of construction to be applied to the language being construed herein, it is necessary to point out that in the 1923 act it was provided that where petition and remonstrance were filed, the question of the appropriation should be submitted “to a vote of the people of the county at the next general election.” That
The rule is stated in 20 C. J. 207, as follows: “The authorities also diverge in their construction of the constitutional and statutory provisions where the proposition is submitted at a general election. One construction is that the proposition is carried if it receives the specified majority of the votes actually cast on the proposition.” (The cases cited by the plaintiff herein are cited by the above text on that proposition.) “Another construction is that, in order to carry, the proposition must receive the required majority of the votes of the persons who participate in the election and vote for any candidate or on any proposition, regardless of whether or not they vote on the particular proposition.” Among the decisions cited sustaining the latter proposition are nine decisions of this court. We have ex
An earlier text, 10 Am. &'Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) p. 754, states the rule as follows:
“When the law requires, for the election of an officer or the carrying of a measure, a vote of a majority, or a specified proportion of the legal or qualified voters, it is generally considered sufficient if the required proportion of the votes actually cast is in favor of the candidate or measure, and there is no necessity for any inquiry as to the actual number of voters in the district; for it is presumed that all legal electors voted, or, if they did not, that they acquiesced in the action of those who did. It would seem that an application of the same principle would lead to the conclusion that where a measure is submitted to the voters at a general election, or at the same time as other measures, it should be considered carried if a majority, or the required proportion, of the votes actually cast for or against such measure are in the affirmative; and there are cases supporting this view. But the great weight of authority is otherwise, and supports the view that in order to pass such a measure it must have the actual affirmative vote of a majority or the required proportion of those who participate in the election.”
Here again decisions of this court are cited among those supporting the rule announced in the last sentence above quoted.
It should also be pointed out that many of the courts make a distinction between propositions which may be submitted at general elections and those which are required to be submitted at general elections, holding that the rule, that the majority vote must be a majority of all those cast at the election, applies only where the proposition must be submitted at a general election.
It should also be noted that some of the decisions refer to a majority vote or a majority of those voting at the election. Section 4 of the 1933 act specifically says that, if a majority of the votes cast are opposed, or are in favor of the appropriation, it shall be denied or granted. The words “at the election” are not used in that sentence. However, in the preceding sentence, section 4 requires the submission of the proposition to the voters at the election. Quite obviously, the legislature must have intended the language to read: “If a majority of the votes cast at the election are opposed, or are in favor of the appropriation,” etc. It is perfectly obvious that the votes could not be legally cast under any other conditions than at the election. So, the words “votes cast” must be construed in connection with the words “at the election” used in the préceding sentence.
In State v. Lancaster County, 6 Neb. 474, 482, this court had for construction a constitutional provision authorizing township organization in counties “whenever a majority of the legal voters of such county, voting at any general election, shall so determine.” The question was, did it require a majority of all votes cast at the election, or a majority of the votes cast on the proposition. This court held that the “plain meaning of the words used” required a majority
State v. Babcock, 17 Neb. 188, 22 N. W. 372, involved the question as to whether or not a constitutional amendmént had been adopted. The proposal received a majority of the votes cast on the proposition, but failed to receive a majority of all votes cast at the election. The Constitution required that amendments be submitted “to the electors” (after certain preliminaries) at “the next election of senators and representatives * * * and if a majority of the electors voting at such election adopt such amendments, the same shall become a part of this Constitution.” Obviously, an election where senators and representatives are elected is a general election. This court held that a majority of all votes cast in the state at the election for senators and representatives was necessary to adopt the amendment.
State v. Bechel, 22 Neb. 158, 34 N. W. 342, involved the sufficiency of a vote on a proposition to authorize a street railway company to construct lines on the streets of Omaha. The proposition was submitted at a general city election. It was not required that it be so submitted, but it was so done for convenience. Separate ballots and separate ballot boxes were used. Separate poll lists were not kept. The statute required “a majority of the votes cast at such election” to authorize the construction. The proposition received a majority of the votes on the proposition, but not a majority of the votes cast at the election. This court held that there was but one election, and that the proposition required a majority of all votes cast at that election.
State v. Anderson, 26 Neb. 517, 42 N. W. 421, is severely criticized by plaintiff. It involved the question of whether or not a proposal to sell county real estate had received the required vote. The statute there construed is now section
The federal case cited in the North Dakota case is Armour Bros. Banking Co. v. Board of County Commissioners, 41 Fed. 321. The court in that decision cited the two Kansas cases and the two Wisconsin cases herein referred to, and stated that the decision of this court in State v. Lancaster County, supra, was “in conflict, to some extent,” with the cases it had previously cited. The only other case cited in 41 Fed. 321 on this proposition is County of Cass v. Johnston, 5 Otto (U. S.) 360. This court referred to
In commenting upon the decision in State v. Anderson, supra, plaintiff quotes the following part of a sentence from the opinion of Judge Cobb with reference to State v. Babcock, supra: “It is hardly worth while to remark that the writer did not at the time concur in that opinion.” The remainder of the sentence is not quoted by the plaintiff, and is as follows: “But it followed in principle an earlier decision of the court, and probably is supported by the weight of authority, and may be regarded as expressing the settled doctrine in this state.” (Italics ours.)
It is now interesting to review the decision written by Chief Justice Cobb in State v. Benton, 29 Neb. 460, 45 N. W. 794. In that case, the statute required the proposition of the issuance of bonds to be submitted “at an election called for that purpose, or at any regular election * * * to the qualified voters * * * and if a majority of the ballots polled at such an election” shall favor the bonds they might be issued. The proposition was submitted at the city election, and did not receive a majority of the total ballots polled in the city election, although it received a majority of the votes cast on the proposition. Judge Cobb cited State v. Lancaster County, supra, State v. Bechel, supra, and State v. Babcock, supra, and, with reference to the last case, said: “The writer concurred in that opinion, not that he assented to its conclusions as an original proposition, but because it had become the settled rule of construction of the court, and toas, therefore, no longer to be disputed.” The holding was that the issuance of the bonds had not been sanctioned by
We need not pay further attention to the criticism of State v. Anderson, supra, in the cases cited by the plaintiff.
In State v. Van Camp, 36 Neb. 91, 54 N. W. 113, this court construed a statute which required “a majority of the legal voters of Holt county to give their assent” to a boundary change “at the next general election” before certain territory could be added to that county. The proposition did not receive a majority of the votes cast in the county, and this court held that it was defeated.
State v. Roper, 46 Neb. 724, 61 N. W. 753, involved a special election for the relocation of a county seat. The statute provided: “Any place receiving three-fifths of all the votes cast shall become and remain * * * the county seat of said county.” This court said: “The meaning of the law is that a county seat of a county shall not be relocated at any place unless three-fifths of all the electors of the county shall express their will to that effect by their votes at an election held for that purpose; and the law presumes that when such an election is held that all the electors of the county vote at such election.” Upon a rehearing (47 Neb. 417, 66 N. W. 539) the question considered was whether or not certain ballots should be counted as votes cast. However, in arriving at that proposition, this court reviewed State v. Lancaster County, supra, and then said: “It is unnecessary to consider other authorities cited in the aforesaid opinion in this case, for they clearly support the same general principle, and that is, that when a proposition of the nature of that under consideration is submitted at a general election, the highest number of votes cast on any proposition or for any candidate is assumed to be the total number of which the requisite majority must be obtained.” Later in the same opinion, this court said: “Where there occurs at the same time a general and a special election, there is given an exact basis from which to ascertain the number of electors, and that is the greatest number of votes cast for any candidate or proposition.”
Because of the importance of and public interest in the question, we have thus reviewed a large number of the decisions of this court. The rule announced in these decisions is too firmly established to be further questioned in this state. To the student of the problem we cite the additional cases of Douglas County v. Keller, 43 Neb. 635, 62 N. W. 60; Tecumseh Nat. Bank v. Saunders, 51 Neb. 801, 71 N. W. 779; State v. Clark, 59 Neb. 702, 82 N. W. 8.
We will now consider in paragraphs numbered 1 to 6 the cases upon which plaintiff relied in its brief and at the bar of this court.
(1) Walker v. Oswald, 68 Md. 146, 11 Atl. 711. Here the
(2) Cashman v. City Clerk, 213 Mass. 153, 100 N. E. 58, was decided in keeping with “an unvarying policy of the legislature to make the acceptance of a city charter turn upon the affirmative votes of a majority of those voting on the question.” In the footnotes it cites as “in consonance” County of Cass v. Johnston, supra; Gillespie v. Palmer, supra; Walker v. Oswald, supra; which decisions this court has refused to follow.
(3) City of South Bend v. Lewis, 138 Ind. 512, 37 N. E. 986, requires more attention. First, it should be pointed out that in that case the law authorizing the submission of the proposition of city consolidation did not require that it be submitted at a general election, but it was- so submitted. The act provided in detail for a return of the election results not involved in the statute we are now construing. The court on the general proposition of what majority was required cited, among other cases, Gillespie v. Palmer, supra, and County of Cass v. Johnston, supra. The court then said that in every case the decision rested upon the construction of the statute under which the election was held. The court also said: “It is equally well settled that where a question is required to be submitted at a general election, and a ‘majority of the voters’ at ‘such election’ is required to adopt the measure, a majority of those voting at the election is required, and not merely a majority of those voting on the proposition.” The court cited, among other cases, State v. Lancaster County, supra.
The court then stated:
“It appears from an examination of these cases, that*593 when an act of the legislative body provides that the votes of a majority of the voters of any subordinate corporation shall be requisite to the adoption of any measure, then the only question is, did the measure receive a majority of the votes of the electors voting on the proposed measure; but when the act requires that the question shall be voted on at some general election and receive a majority of the votes cast at such election, then it must be voted for by a majority of all the electors taking part in such general election.
“In the case under consideration there was no requirement that the question of annexation should be submitted at a general election, but it was left to the officers of the city and town to determine when the election shall be held. The forms of ballots to be used are prescribed and provision made for casting and counting the votes cast on the question of annexation alone. No votes, except those upon the subject, are mentioned or contemplated in the act, and the only election named is the one which is to be agreed upon between the city and town authorities.”
The court then discussed the statute and reached the conclusion that the legislature contemplated no other election than the one on the proposition and pointed out the distinction between the Indiana statute and that under consideration in State v. Babcock, supra. The court then asked the question as to whether the fact that the proposition, while not required to be so submitted, was submitted at a general election would change the result and have the effect of counting against the proposition those who voted at the general election but who failed to vote on the proposition. The court there discussed a number of cases, which, as we have heretofore pointed out, have not been followed by this court. The court then said:
“From what we have said, we think it clearly appears that four leading principles may be considered as fully established, namely: First. Where a measure is proposed to .the people, and its adoption is made to depend on a vote of the majority, those who do not vote are considered as*594 acquiescing in the result declared by those who do vote, even though these voting- constitute a minority of those entitled to vote. Second. Where a question is required to be submitted at a certain regular election, and is made to depend upon a majority of the votes cast at ‘such election,’ a majority of all the votes east at the election is meant, and not merely a, majority of the votes cast on that particular question. Third. Where, at a general election, a proposition is submitted to the voters, the result of the vote on the proposition will be determined by the votes cast for and against it, in the absence of a provision in the law, under which it is submitted, to the contrary. Fourth. Where a legislative body provides that a proposition shall be submitted to the voters, that those in favor of the proposition shall cast an affirmative vote, and that those electors opposed to the proposition shall cast a negative vote, and that a ‘majority of the votes given’ shall be requisite to the adoption of the proposed measure, then the only votes to be counted and considered in determining whether the measure is adopted or not are those which are given on the particular question involved. Of the correctness of these four principles we think there can be no dispute. The only doubts which can arise are those occasioned by a confusion of the second and third.”
The court held that under the facts of the South Bend case, applying the principles announced, it required only a majority of those voting on the proposition to give it the required vote.
Plaintiff cites the “Fourth” rule in its brief. Clearly, the “Second” rule applies to the statute which we are now construing. The decision in City of South Bend v. Lewis, supra, sustains the position of the defendants in the instant case.
(4) In re Todd, 208 Ind. 168, 193 N. E. 865. This case involved the question of the majority necessary for the adoption of a constitutional amendment. The court reviewed the decision of Judge Dailey in City of South Bend v. Lewis, supra, and quoted that part which we have quoted herein;
“The foregoing does not require a proposed amendment to be submitted to the electors at a general election. Consequently Judge Dailey’s second principle does not govern. We find a perfect example for the application of the second principle in paragraph 15 of the Schedule of the Constitution (supra, p. 184) which authorizes the submission of a proposal to ‘the voters of said county, at a general election’ and further provides that ‘a majority of all the votes given at said election’ shall be required to carry the proposal. Another example is found in art. VIII of the Constitution of 1816. This article authorized the General Assembly to submit a proposal for a constitutional convention to the ‘electors’ of the state at a general election, and, for the approval of such proposal, specifically required a ‘majority of all the votes given at such election.’ * * * In short, the effect of omitting any reference to a general election is to treat a submission of a proposed amendment as a separate and distinct election, even though the submission be on the day of a general election and even though the machinery at the general election be used to poll, canvass and return the votes cast in the election on the amendment.”
The court further stated: “And since there is an absence of any language which requires a majority of all ‘persons possessed of the legal qualifications entitling them to vote’ or a majority of all votes cast at a general election we believe the submission clause falls within the first and third propositions of Judge Dailey.”
(5) Territory of Oklahoma v. Board of Trustees, 13 Okla. 605, 76 Pac. 165. We have already discussed this case. Only one added comment is needed. There the statute did not require, but permitted, submission of the proposition at a regular election, and it was so submitted. There the statute provided: “The votes on said question shall be canvassed, * * * and if a majority of all the votes cast shall be in favor of,” etc. The court clearly placed its decision upon the provision of “votes on said question.”
Section 2-1113, Comp. St. Supp. 1937, is the only act which was before the trial court and which is before this court for construction. This proceeding was started in the district court March 4, 1939; decree was rendered April 1, 1939; the transcript filed in this court April 24, 1939; and oral argument made June 7, 1939. By act of the legislature,
There remains one further proposition to be considered. Plaintiff contends that, if the statute is construed as we construe it, then we must reject as meaningless or superfluous the sentence in section 4, “If a majority of the votes cast are opposed to such appropriation then the county board shall deny the appropriation;” that to hold there was not a majority of votes cast as opposed and to hold there was not a majority of votes cast in favor of the proposition would be an absurd result; and that, upon no theory, can it be claimed that a majority of the votes cast were opposed to the appropriation. This contention fades out in the light of an analysis of the statute. In the act of 1923, the legislature recognized that there were counties where farm bureau maintenance was being allowed under the previous law, and it was provided that, in those counties, the county board should continue to appropriate funds to maintain the county agent until January 1, 1925. Between the date of enactment and January 1, 1925, the question of continuing aid to those counties could be determined under the provisions of the new act of 1923. The same situation was recognized in the act of 1933, and it was provided that in
The language in the first sentence of section 4 provides for “the submission to the voters of the question of whether there shall be county funds appropriated for the continuance or support of county agricultural extension work.” The use of the alternative “or” is noted.
Two questions can be submitted. First: Shall aid be continued ? Second: Shall the farm bureau be supported ? The question to be submitted depends upon the status of county aid in the county when the act was passed. The same language is to be used in submitting either proposition. It is next provided: “If a majority of the votes cast are opposed to such appropriation” then it shall be denied “as-provided for in this section.” So interpreted, the language just quoted is in entire harmony with the provision, herein-before discussed, providing for the discontinuance of the appropriation upon the petition of 51 per cent, of the voters. If the question of “support,” where aid has not been previously granted, is submitted, then a majority of the votes cast must be in favor of the appropriation. The language of the sentence, “If a majority of the votes are opposed to such appropriation, then the appropriation shall be denied,” indicates an appropriation already being made which shall be discontinued. The language of the sentence, “If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the appropriation then the county board shall annually set aside in the general fund of the county,” etc., indicates that an appropriation shall be made where none was being made theretofore. So construed, the language of the act is in entire harmony, and no provision need be disregarded.
Plaintiff in the oral argument before this court conceded the correctness of the three following propositions of law submitted by the defendants:
(1) “A county or any of its subdivisions has-no inherent right to make an appropriation for special purposes.”
(2) “The effect of making an appropriation by a county for agricultural purposes is to create a lien upon all property in the county for the payment of said appropriation and the right to make an appropriation is derived entirely from the statute, the terms of which must be substantially complied with.”
(3) “The provisions of statute regulating the procedure for the authorization of an appropriation should be strictly construed, and, if any doubt arises it should be resolved in the interest of the taxpayer and the appropriation should be denied.”
In order to authorize the appropriation of funds, for the purpose expressed in the act under consideration, for the support of county agricultural work in counties where appropriations for that support were not being made when the 1933 act was passed, it is necessary that the proposition receive a majority of all votes cast at the election at which the proposition is submitted.
“There is in the entire range of judicial investigation no
The action of the defendant board of county commissioners was proper in refusing to set aside, in the general fund of the county, funds for the support of agricultural extension work, and in refusing to make the appropriation.
The judgment of the trial court is
Affirmed.
