People ex rel. Madden v. Stratton

By the Court, Currey, J. This is an information in the nature of a quo warranta, having for its object—first, the exclusion of the defendant from the office of Librarian of the State Library; and second, the investiture of the relator with the rights, privileges and franchises thereof. The defendant was appointed to the office on the 16th of March, 1861, for the term of four years, and became duly qualified two days thereafter’. Since that time, until issue was joined in this proceeding, he has exercised such office and been in the enjoyment of its privileges, franchises and emoluments. On the 22d of April of the present year, the Governor of the State, assuming that the office was vacant, by reason of the failure of the Board of Trustees of the State Library to elect a successor to the defendant, appointed and commissioned — 386 — the relator to hold the office of Librarian of the State Library until the Board of Trustees should elect his successor. On the day of his appointment, the relator took the constitutional oath, filed his official bond, and thereupon demanded of the defendant a surrender of the office. The defendant refused to comply with the demand, whereupon this action was brought. The case was submitted to the District Court upon the pleadings, and on the 12th of May judgment was rendered, ousting and excluding the defendant from the office, its franchises and privileges, and it was further adjudged that the relator was entitled to said office, and to all its rights, privileges and franchises, and he was declared to be “ the legal and rightful occupant of said office of Librarian of the State Library.” This judgment the defendant, who has appealed, insists is erroneous on the following grounds: 1. Because there was no vacancy in the office of Librarian to be filled by Executive appointment. 2. Because the appellant, at the time of the relator’s appointment, was, and still is, lawfully holding said office, and is justly entitled to all its rights, privileges and franchises. The first duty which the Court has to perform is to determine as to the right of the defendant to the office under the circumstances disclosed by the pleadings of the parties. (Practice Act, Sec. 312.) By the information, it is alleged in terms that during all the time since the 18th of March last, the defendant has usurped, intruded into, and unlawfully held the office of State Librarian, and during all such time has exercised the liberties, privileges and franchises thereof against the dignity of the State and to the damage and prejudice of the relator. The information sets forth that the defendant was duly appointed on the 16th of March, 1861, to fill the office of State Librarian for the period of four years, and that he became duly qualified and entered upon the discharge of its duties on the 18th of the same month. The defendant admits in his answer this averment, and immediately thereupon avers — 387 — that ever since the last mentioned day he has “ continued to fill said office and- exercise the functions thereof, under the laws of said State, of his own proper right. That at no time has there been a vacancy in said office of Librarian since defendant so entered upon the same.” He then further answers, claiming that since the 18th of March last he has lawfully exercised the office of Librarian by virtue of his appointment to it by the Board of Trustees of the State Library, on the 8th of March, 1865. In reference to this branch of the answer, the facts stated and the position of the parties are in substance the same as, appear in the case of Stratton v. Oulton, ante 44, and therefore need not be repeated in this place. The counsel for the people and relator insist that the defendant’s right to the office can be maintained under the pleadings in this case only on the ground that he was duly elected or appointed Librarian by'the Board of Trustees in March last. In our opinion the defendant may also rely upon the facts which are admitted by the pleadings. That if he has a right in fact to exercise the office under the circumstances stated in the complaint and admitted by the answer, he is not precluded from relying on the circumstances so alleged and admitted, though he claims title to the office -by virtue of an alleged appointment thereto by the Board of Trustees, in March, 1865. In short, in pleading he was at liberty to set forth by answer as many defenses as he had. (Practice Act, Sec. 49.) In considering the case we shall dispense with any further-reference to the appointment of defendant as Librarian, assumed by him to have been made by the Trustees in March, 1865. I. The ground on which it is claimed the defendant is a usurper of and intruder into the office is, that the term for which he was appointed in March, 1861,'had expired when this action was commenced, and that under the Constitution his lawful continuance in the office and in the exercise of the functions belonging to it beyond the term of four years was and still is an impossibility. Section seven of Article XI of the Constitution is as follows: — 388 — “ When the duration of any office is not provided for by this Constitution, it may be declared by law, and if not so declared such office shall be held during the pleasure of the authority making the appointment; nor shall the duration of any office not fixed by this Constitution ever exceed four years.” In the abstract, “ office ” signifies a place of trust. In legal idea, an office is an entity, and may exist in fact, though it be without an incumbent. In this sense the word “office” is used in a number of instances in the Constitution and also in the statutes. An office is also defined to be a right to exercise a public function or employment, and to take the fees and emoluments belonging to it. (Miller v. Supervisors, etc., 25 Cal. 98.) The section of the Constitution quoted declares that the duration of any office not fixed by the Constitution shall never exceed four years. This does not mean that the office shall cease to exist after the constitutional limit declared has expired; but the word “duration” evidently means the term which may be fixed by the constituting authority as the limit beyond which the incumbent’s right by election or appointment to the office shall not extend. The constitutional inhibition operates as a total restraint to the creation of a term of office by election or appointment of longer duration than four years. So when, by an Act of the Legislature, an office is created and provision is made for filling it with a person who shall be invested with the right and authority to perform the functions belonging to it, for the period, for instance, of two years, the term thus prescribed is limited by a law of as binding obligation as the Constitution itself, provided' it is in no sense repugnant to the organic law; and the incumbent’s term is complete and at an end upon the expiration of the time prescribed for its duration. But notwithstanding the incumbent’s term in such case be at an end by lapse of time, it is not to be gainsayed that he may remain in the exercise of the duties of the office as its locum tenens until his successor is elected or appointed. " In such case he holds the position not as the incumbent by election or appointment, but because the public necessities require that the office shall not be with — 389 — out a person in its possession having authority to perform the duties appertaining to it. This continuance in office is not an extension of the term where the term is expressly limited, though it is an incumbrance by sufferance for the public convenience, subject to be determined whenever the proper authority may act effectively. Now whether the term of office be two years or four years we apprehend can make no difference. In the latter case, as well as in the former, he who was the incumbent of the term expired is permitted to remain in office, invested with it as its loam tcnens, until a successor is authorized to enter into and upon the discharge of its functions, because the public necessities demand that the duties of the office should be duly administered. (Stratton v. Oulton, ante 44, and the cases therein cited.) The views above expressed in our judgment are in no sense opposed to the letter or spirit of the seventh section of the eleventh Article of the Constitution, but in harmony with it. II. In the next place was the office of Librarian vacant to a legal intent when the relator was appointed to it by the Governor, or when this action was commenced ? And if it was so vacant was there no mode provided by the Constitution or any law of the State for filling the vacancy otherwise than by executive appointment ? Section eight of Article V of the Constitution reads as follows : “When any office shall from any cause become vacant, and no mode is provided by the Constitution and law for filling such vacancy, the Governor shall have power to fill such vacancy by granting a commission, which shall expire at the end of the next session of the Legislature, or at the next election by the people.” The defendant, as the occupant of the office of Librarian of the State Library, held the position provisionally—that is, subject to be superseded by the appointment by the proper authority of another person to the office. In a restricted and technical sense, perhaps it may be said the office was vacant—■ that is, without an incumbent whose tenure was by lawful appointment and subject to no condition or qualifications. — 390 — Then, if in the sense suggested, the office of Librarian was vacant at the time the relator was appointed to it, it must be ascertained that there was no other mode than by executive appointment provided by the Constitution or by the law for filling such vacancy before it can be admitted that the Governor had the power to grant a commission to the relator or to any other person. By the Act of 1861, entitled “ An Act prescribing rules for the government of the State Library,” (Laws 1861, p. 45,) a mode was and still is provided for appointing a successor to the defendant. The power of appointment in this instance was conferred by the statute upon the Board of Trustees of the State Library. This duty was cast upon them for the reason, we may suppose, that the library was jolaced by the law under their direction and control, and they must be deemed the best judges of the qualifications and fitness of the person to whom should be intrusted the important and delicate duties of Librarian. Thus it appears that a mode for filling the office of Librarian was provided by law otherwise than by executive appointment. The condition on which the exercise of the power of the Governor to appoint a successor to the defendant is made to depend by the Constitution did not exist, and therefore the commission granted to the relator was without authority and void. At the time of the commencement of this action the defendant was in fact holding the office of Librarian, and performing the functions appertaining to it. In Stratton v. Oulton, ante 44, we held that he was Librarian de jure, notwithstanding the term for which he was appointed had expired. The reasons for the conclusion to which we came on the subject are stated in full in the opinion of the Court, and seem to us strongly fortified by the authorities, both English and American, therein referred to. It is said in that case that “ the rule of the common law, as settled by the case cited, conserves the public good by conserving the methods aifd instrumentalities by which alone public business can be transacted; while the opposite rule, when pushed to its consequences, might result in a suspension — 391 — of business in every department of the public service.” We may say, at the risk of repeating what has been said in substance already, that the rule which continues an incumbent in office until his successor is duly elected and qualified, is to prevent any interregnum in the office, and to have some person always authorized to discharge its duties. The incumbent’s right in such case results from a rule of the common law founded on public necessity; therefore, it is the defendant’s right to hold the office until all has been done which is required by law to give another title to'it. The defendant came into the office by lawful authority, and by the terms of his appointment held the place for four years. To his appointment and incumbency, and to the failure of an election and qualification of a successor, and to the rule of the common law to which reference is made, must be referred the defendant’s .right to continue in the exercise of the office and the performance of its duties until his successor shall be appointed and qualified as provided by law. When a successor shall be thus appointed and qualified, and the defendant shall be called upon to give place to him, then his tenure de jure will cease to exist. The judgment of the District Court must be and is hereby reversed ; and, further, the District Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of the defendant, dismissing the information and the complaint of the relator, with costs, etc. Mr. Chief Justice Sanderson expressed no opinion.