Van Dusen v. State

11 S.D. 318 | S.D. | 1898

Haney, J.

It appear^ from an agreed statement which is adopted by the court and made its findings of fact herein, that between Janury 2 and June 20, 1893, the plaintiff furnished coal to the Agricultural College upon the request of its proper officers, of the agreed and reasonable value of $638.13; that accounts for the coal so furnished to and used by the college were audited by its trustees, approved by the board of regents, and on August 15, 1893, they were presented to the state auditor, in due form, who refused to issue warrants therefor, and subsequently this action yyas commenced.

The general appropriation act, approved March 9, 1891, contained under the head ‘‘Dakota Agricultural College, ” these items: “For fuel and lights for 1891, $2,000; for 1892, .-$2,000.” Laws 1891, Chap. 6, §11. These sums were appropriated “for the ensuing two years.” Id §1. To the end that a fiscal year might be established, the act increased each item therein pro rata to cover the period from March 8 to June 30, 1893, inclusive. Id. § 31. Hence the agents of the state were authorized to procure fuel and • light for the use of the college at the expense of the state to an amount not exceeding $2,( 00 during the period from March 8, 1891, to March 8, 1892, and not exceeding $2,620 during the period from March 8, 1892, to and including June 30, 1893. State Const. Article 11, § 9; Laws 1890, Chap. 108; State v. Mayhew, 10 S.D. 365, 73 N.W. 200. None of the money appropriated by the act of 1891 should have been used to pay any indebtedness contracted outside the periods mentioned, but if any-of it was thus unlawfully used, the fact does not affect the plaintiff’s right of recovery in this action. The legislature by the act of 1891 expressly authorized the agents of the state to incur indebtedness for fuel and light in the Agricultural College during the periods named; and if any portion of theindebtednesssuedupon was incurredin pursuance of the authority thus conferred, it was a valid indebtedness when so incurred, and its validity cannot be affected by any misuse of the funds intended for its payment. In other words, the legal liability of the state depends upon the question of authority in its agents when plaintiff delivered its coal to the college, and not upon the condition of this particular fund, as shown by the state auditor’s books when plaintiff’s claim was presented for payment. During the period from March 8, 1892, to June 30, 1893, coal was furnished by plaintiff to the amount of $638.13. During the same period, the agents of the state incurred indebtedness, for fuel and light for the college, to the Winona Mill Company, in the sum of $340.75, and to other persons in the sum of $1,626.56, aggregating the sum of $2,605.44. All of this indebtedness, being less than $2,620, the amount authorized by the act of 1891, was valid .when incurred, and plaintiff *has a legal claim against the state for the amount stated.

The amount thus found to be due the plaintiff does not include an item of $282.50, mentioned in thé complaint and agreed statement of facts, for coal furnished the college, for the reason that the record nowhere discloses when it was furnished. The burden was certainly upon the plaintiff to show that its alleged indebtedness was authorized; in other words, that its coal was furnished at a time when the agents of the state were authorized to purchase it.

It seems to be conceded that all of the coal involved was furnished in good faith, and actually used by the college; and plaintiff contends the state should be held liable upon its obligation to pay for benefits received. In support of this epntention, counsel cite the case of Jewell Nursery Co. v. State, 5 S. D. 623, 59 N. W. 1025. The contention is untenable. The indebtedness considered in that case was incurred prior to the adoption of the state constitution, which expressly provides that no indebtedness shall be incurred except in pursuance of an appropriation for the specific purpose first made (Article 11, § 9), and that all unauthorized agreements or contracts shall -be null and void (Article 12, §3). The doctrine therein announced has no application to the ease at bar.

It is urged by counsel for the stale that plaintiff cannot have judgment, because there is po appropriation out of ■which it can be paid. As heretofore indicated, that is not the question involved at this time. If the state authorized its agents to purchase coal for its college, and they acted within the scope of their authority, the indebtedness thus incurred constitutes a legal claim against the state, thq validity of which cannot be impaired by the failure of the legislature to provide for its payment. Whether or not it will be the duty of the state auditor to issue a warrant .in payment of the judgment rendered herein is a question to be determimed when presented in a proper proceeding predicated upon his refusal to do so. We merely determine at this time that plaintiff has a legal claim against the state, which has not been paid. Plaintiff will have judgment for $638.13, with interest thereon at 7 per cent, from August 15, 1893, when its claim was presented to the state auditor, together with the usual costs and disbursements.