Worden-Allen Co. v. City of Milwaukee

171 Wis. 124 | Wis. | 1920

Rosenberry, J.

But two questions are presented by this appeal. First. Is the liability of the city of Mihvaukee governed by sec. 3328, Stats., or by ch.' 332, Laws 1878? Second. If the liability of the city is governed by sec. 3328, is the sewer in question within the terms of that statute?

Ch. 332, Laws 1878, provides:

. . Any person, company or corporation, that shall furnish any supplies or materials, or that may do or perform any labor or services in the execution of any contract awarded by the board of public works of the city of Milwaukee, shall have a lien for the amount due for such supplies, . . . provided, hozvever, such laborer or materialman shall have filed in the office of the city clerk of said city, within twenty days after such claim or demand shall have accrued,.a petition or statement in writing, under oath, . . .”

It is to be noticed that ch. 332 gives a lien to any person for supplies or materials in the execution of any contract awarded by the board of public zvorks. The law was subsequently amended so as to make it applicable to contracts awarded by the commissioner of public works.

The sewerage commission is empowered by sub. (i), sec. 5, ch. 608, Laws 1913, “to make arid enter in the name and on behalf of any such city any and all contracts, agreements, or stipulations germane to the scope of its duties and powers under this- act.”

Sec. 8 of the same chapter provides:

“That all work done or supplies or material purchased in carrying out the purposes of this act when involving the expenditure of two hundred dollars or more shall be by contract awarded to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with the laws of this state and ordinances then applicable to any such city having reference to the letting of public work by and through the board or commissioner of public works or other proper department in such city.”

The plaintiff has no lien under ch. 332, for the reason that the contract under which the materials were furnished was not one awarded by the board of. public works or by the commissioner of public works. The class of contracts to which it is applicable having been enumerated, it cannot, under similar rules of construction, be extended to classes other than those specified.

Does sec. 3328 apply? It provides:

“Any subcontractor who has done work or labor or furnished materials to any principal contractor for the construction, repair or removal of‘any building or machinery for any county, town, . . . may maintain an action therefor . . .”

All the provisions of Citlie statute were admittedly complied with, and the only question presented is that of its applicability to plaintiff’s claim. No reason is perceived why the two statutes cannot stand together. They are not in conflict, except as to those contracts let by the board of public works or the commissioner of public works. As to such contracts the provisions of ch. 332 are controlling. It is claimed that the material furnished, which was incorporated into a sewer, was not furnished for the construction, repair, or removal of any building or machinery. The plaintiff contends that the sewer is machinery within the meaning of that term as used in sec. 3328. That it is not a machine is clear. That the sewerage system of the city of Milzvaukee is a part of its machinery is established by the authorities. The word machinery is of a much broader application and much more comprehensive in its .meaning than the word machine. In Comm. v. Lowell G. L. Co. 12 Allen (Mass.) 75, the court said:

“The mains or pipes laid down in the streets and elsewhere to distribute the gas among those who are to consume it were clearly a part of the apparatus necessary to be used by the corporation in order to accomplish the object for which it was established. They constituted a part of the machinery by means of which the corporate business was carried on, in the same manner as pipes attached to a pump or fire-engine for the distribution of water, or wheels in a mill which communicate motion to looms and spindles, or the pipes attached to a steam-engine to convey and distribute heat and steam for manufacturing purposes, make a portion of the machinery of the mill in which they are used. Indeed, in a broad, comprehensive, and legitimate sense, the entire apparatus by which gas is manufactured and distributed for consumption throughout a city or town constitutes one great integral machine, consisting of retorts, station-meters, gas-holders, street-mains, service-pipes, and consumers’ meters, all connected and operating together, by means of which the initial, intermediate, and final processes are carried on, from its generation in the retort to its delivery for the use of the consumers.” See, also, 161 U. S. 316, 16 Sup. Ct. 564.

Under sec. 3314, Stats., it was held that a subcontractor who furnished iron pipe to be used in the construction of waterworks, the pipe being laid in the public streets and connected with the hydrants upon the streets and also with the pumping works, was entitled to the lien given by that section. See Nat. F. & P. Works v. Oconto W. Co. 52 Fed. 43, and cases cited. The construction which we give sec. 3328 fully effectuates and carries out the legislative purposes; and while the statute is to a certain extent in derogation of the common law, nevertheless it is of a remedial nature, and should be so construed as to accomplish the purpose for which it was enacted.

It is claimed because a part of the steel furnished was turned over to another subcontractor by the Construction Company that the plaintiff is entitled to a judgment for no more than $788. The steel in question was furnished by the plaintiff to the Construction Company and was used by its subcontractor in the construction of the sewer. The fact that it was put in place by another contractor, instead of by the employees of the Construction Company, is immaterial. It was intended to be used and was used for the purposes for which it was sold by the contractor, and under sec. 3328 the subcontractor is entitled to. his lien.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.