Normile v. R. H. Thompson

Root, J. This case involves the “Eight hour law” of 1903. Respondent, on the 30th day of July, 1903, entered into a contract with the city of Seattle t< do some street improvement work. By the terms of his contract, he agreed to obey all laws and ordinances cont-oiling or limiting those engaged on the work. While the work was progressing, it being ascertained that his emplo zees were working more than eight hours per day, the cit z notified him to cease violating his contract in this partic ular, and at length threatened to cancel his contract, if hs did not desist. He brings this action to enjoin the citj’s officers from thus interfering with his contract. Appellants interposed a demurrer to- his complaint, which was overruled by the trial court; and they electing to stand u ion their demurrer, judgment and decree was entered in favor of respondent, from which an appeal has been taken to this court. The trial court appears to have based its decis on solely upon the alleged unconstitutionality of the statute. Since said trial, and since the preparation of the princr )al briefs in the case, this court handed down an opinion ii tire case of In re Broad, 36 Wash. 449, 78 Pac. 1004, wherein an ordinance of the city of Spokane, requiring only eight hours of work per day on public works, was h ;ld to he constitutional. Appellants submit that this decision is conclusive of the questions involved in the case at bar. On the oral argument, respondent’s counsel made sime contention that the case referred to was not conclusi- e of this ease, as there were certain considerations involved here which brought respondent’s contract within the e cceptions of the statute, and took it out of the rule of the case just cited. We do not think this contention can be up held. It appears that this case was tried in the lower cor rt solely [467] upon the question of the constitutionality of the statute referred to. Where a case is tried solely upon a certain theory in the trial court, it will not ordinarily he tried upon any other in the appellate court. Besides, we are unable to see that there is anything in the complaint herein that would prevent the decision in the case of In re Broad from being applicable and controlling. The judgment and decree of the honorable superior court is reversed, and the cause remanded to that court, with instructions to dismiss the action. Mount, C. L, Crow, and Dunbar, J,J., concur. Hadley, Fullerton, and Rudkin, JJ., took no part.