Schneider v. Lang

Whitfield, J. An election was held in a given territory in Hillsborough County to establish a special tax school district under the constitution and Sections 399 et seq., of the General Statutes of 1906, to be known as Ruskin District No. 55, and for the election of three trustees and to determine the millage tax to be levied for such school sub-district purposes. The inspectors and clerk who conducted the election made as a return a signed statement that “a majority of the electors, resident in said territory and qualified according to law, did vote to create such special tax school district and the district is established,” and that they “do recommend as entitled to receive commissions as trustees of said special tax school district No. 55, and otherwise known as Ruskin school district,” L. L. Dickman, Chas. E. Lang, and L. W. Amlong, they “having received the highest number of votes cast for trustees at said election.” The county board of public instruction, whose duty il is under the statute, to “canvass the returns of election as made to it by the inspectors and clerks of election and declare the result,” declared on the return as made that no Ruskin District special tax school district had been established to be known as No. 55. Amended returns were offered by the inspectors, but the board declined to receive and canvass such offered amended returns; and in mandamus proceedings the Circuit Judge ordered in effect that the board do receive and canvass the same according to law. A writ of error was taken by the board to the final judgment. The contention that the board could not receive and canvass the amended returns and that the remedy is [494] by calling another election is without merit. It was and is a continuing duty of the inspectors and clerk who conducted the election to make a proper return of the result of the election. A similar continuing duty rests upon the county board of public instruction “to canvass the returns of election as made to it by the inspectors and clerks of election, and declare the results.” Sec. 403 Gen. Stats. 1906. Mandamus is an appropriate remedy to enforce the per formance of a specific official duty of a ministerial character imposed by law. See State ex rel. Bloxham v. Gibbs, 13 Fla. 55, 7 Am. Rep. 233; State ex rel. Bisbee, Jr., v. Board of State Canvassers, 17 Fla. 29; D’Alembert v. State ex rel. Mays, 56 Fla. 162, 47 South. Rep. 489. Eo fraud is alleged. It is not necessary to discuss other questions sought to be presented. The judgment is affirmed. Shackleford, O. J., and Taylor, Cockrell and Hock-er, J. J., concur.