152 Mo. 661 | Mo. | 1899
This is an action by plaintiff for his Salary for the months of June, July, August, September, Octo
The petition avers that Kansas Oity was at the times mentioned and is now a city of over one hundred thousand inhabitants and that the criminal court of Jackson county was, at the dates mentioned, to wit, throughout the year 1894, a court duly created by the laws of Missouri with jurisdiction to hear and determine cases of felony and by law was required to hold and did hold three terms of court each year in Kansas Oity, the defendant herein.
Plaintiff further alleged that on June 1, 1894, he was duly appointed by said criminal court stenographic reporter for said criminal court for and at the terms aforesaid by virtue of his said appointment; that he duly qualified and performed his duties as such stenographer and by virtue of the law creating his office he was entitled to receive of and from Kansas Oity a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per month during the term of his employment. That he served as such stenographer for said court during the months of June, July, August, September, October, November and December, 1894, and his salary for said months was duly certified by the clerk of said court and was by plaintiff presented to the treasurer of Kansas Oity for payment and payment was refused. .
Kansas Oity challenges and denies the constitutionality of article Y of chapter 153 of the Revised Statutes of 1889, under which plaintiff was appointed and by virtue of which his salary is fixed, and asked the circuit court to instruct that said law was unconstitutional and void as to Kansas Oity, which declaration the court refused and gave judgment for plaintiff.
In State ex rel. Martin v. The Hon. John W. Wofford, Judge of the Oriminal Court of Jackson County (121 Mo. 61), this court held that the Act of March 19, 1881, after-wards incorporated into the Revised Statutes of 1889 under
In that case it was urged that it would do violence to the ordinary signification of language to speak of said court as “a court in a city of one hundred thousand inhabitants;” but we answered then, as we answer now, that all courts in this State which have jurisdiction to try felonies of whatever grade are State courts. “They are not the creatures of municipal government or control, and when one of these courts is appointed by law to hold, and does hold, its regular sessions in a city of one hundred thousand inhabitants, it meets every requirement, verbal or substantial, to bring it within the terms of section 8252, as ca court having jurisdiction in cases of felony,’ In cities of one hundred thousand inhabitants.’ In no other way can it be in such a city, nor are we at liberty to interpolate into the statute a meaning which would render it obnoxious to a constitutional prohibition.”
"We have then a court of the State created by law to hear and punish crime in Kansas City. That it was and is entirely competent for the Legislature to require the salary of an official of that court to be paid out of the treasury of Kansas City and be a charge upon the revenues of said city we have no sort of doubt.
In so doing it will not disturb the chartered rights of Kansas City as to her municipal affairs. She is still a part of the State and subject to its Constitution and laws and liable as other subdivisions of the State to support its laws and bear the burdens of government, and on the other hand the State' owes her people the same protection that it guarantees every other city and portion of the State. Courts are held by judges and officers of the State for the State and it is incumbent upon the legislature to provide for their maintenance. This power has never been delegated to Kansas City or any other city.
This Act does not seek to amend the charter of Kansas City or interfere in its municipal affairs. The adoption of the
The duty of providing courts of justice is a governmental function of the State alone, and she can require a given locality to provide funds for the support of those courts created for such locality. [State ex rel. v. Mason, 153 Mo. 23.]
This was held long ago in Hamilton v. St. Louis County Court, 15 Mo. 20, and re-affirmed in State ex rel. v. Field, 119 Mo. loc. cit. 614, in which last case it was said, “We deem it within the power of the Legislature to impose a tax upon a particular subdivision or municipality of the State, when, in its judgment, it is for the benefit of that locality as well as the State at large.”
It does not admit of argument that a great city like Kansas City imperatively requires a criminal court. As to the complaint that it imposes a burden that the county should bear in part our answer is that we are dealing with the constitutional power of the Legislature now to pass this law. It is not our province to inquire into its expediency.
However, it does seem that the Legislature recognized that the burden was unequal and in 1895 (Laws 1895, p. 272), amended the law so that since March 18, 1895, the stenographer in Jackson county, by section 8253 as amended, receives his salary from the county treasury.
It follows that article Y, chapter 153, Revised Statutes 1889, is not unconstitutional and the circuit court properly held the city liable' for plaintiff’s salary for the months sued for and its judgment is affirmed.