Whitaker v. City of Topeka

59 P. 668 | Kan. Ct. App. | 1900

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Wells, J. :

Prior to August 3, 1895, Frank Herald was the legally qualified and acting commissioner of elections for the city of Topeka. Upon said day the governor of the state legally issued an order removing him from said office, and R. B'. McMaster was duly appointed to fill the unexpired term. McMaster qualified and demanded possession of the office, which was refused, and an action of quo warranto was brought in the supreme court, said Herald ousted from office on December 7, 1895, and McMaster installed therein. During the period between August 3 and December 7, 1895, Herald held -said office and performed all the duties thereof, over the protest of McMaster, who was during the whole time ready and willing to take possession of the office perform its duties. Neither party has been paid by the city for the services during the interval, and the main question in this case is which, if either, was entitled to the salary.

For reasons of public policy the acts of an officer de facto are recognized in law to be valid and effectual so far, and only so far, as they affect the public and third persons. But the right to the emoluments pertaining to an office depends upon the right to the office, and an officer de jure is, as a general rule, entitled to the salary from the time he was entitled to the office and demanded it. See McCue v. The County of Wapello, 56 Iowa, 698, 10 N. W. 248; Comstock v. Grand Rapids, 40 Mich. 397, and Dolan v. Mayor, 68 N. Y. 274.

The authorities generally agree that where the salary has been paid to the officer de facto it cannot be collected from the municipality again by the officer de jure, for reasons of public policy, but the remedy of the rightful claimant is against the one who has wrongfully received the money. (Comm’rs of Saline Co. v. Anderson, 20 Kan. 298.)

This also disposes of the second contention of the plaintiff in error, that McMaster’s right of action was against Herald and that it was adjudicated in the proceedings in the supreme court. Herald had not collected the salary for the time he had unlawfully retained the office and it was due directly from the city to the rightful claimant.

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.