Perry County v. Selma, Marion & Memphis Railroad

STONE, J. — There can be no question that the railroad, .appellee in these cases, is liable to the counties prosecuting these appeals, for county taxes for each of the years 1869 to 1875, inclusive, if proper steps have been taken to ascertain and fix the amount of the liability. This results necessarily from the unconstitutionality of the act approved February 9th, 1870 (Pamph. Acts, 87), which attempted to relieve railroads from all county taxes on their “ right of way, road-bed, side track, and main track,” and on their rolling-stock. Perry County v. Railroad Co., 58 Ala. 546 ; State Auditor v. Jackson County, at the present term. That the railroad has failed to pay county taxes, for each of the years mentioned, is a fact not disputed. It defends the present suit on the alleged ground, that no county tax has been legally levied against it, for either of the years mentioned, and that none can now be levied. The foundation fact, on which a county levy of taxes on this species of property can alone rest, is an assessment for State taxation, which is made by the State auditor, assisted by the board of equalization in determining the values. It is contended for appellee, that what is relied on as an assessment in these cases is invalid, because it is not shown that the board of equalization met on the 3d Wednesday in May, as required by the statute, and because it does not appear that the members of the board kept a record of their proceedings, which was signed by all the members present. Rev. Law of 1868, § 26, page 308 of the Pamphlet Acts. In State Auditor v. Jackson County, we considered many questions which necessarily arise in these cases. Speaking of assessment for State taxes, we in that case announced, that it was our duty “ to indulge every reasonable intendment in favor of regularity, rather than paralyse this motive power of the State’s machinery.” We said, further, “We do not consider the time of the meeting of the State board of equalization as mandatory.” The duty of apportioning the assessed values between the several counties is cast on the auditor. To do so, he must know the whole length of the main track of the railroad, and the length in the several' counties, and the value of the entire rolling-stock on the whole road. This enables him to apportion the rolling-stock. He must also know the number of miles of main track and of side track in the several counties, and the value — 395 — of each, or the value per mile. This will enable him to apportion the tax on the railroad proper, between the several counties. When he has this information before him, he has the data on which to make the apportionment. These data, as we said in State Auditor v. Jackson County, must he record data ; that is, they must be recorded, as declared in that case. If the record goes farther, and shows tbe valuation assessed on the right of way, road-bed, &c., and on .the rolling-stock, in and for the several counties, then, both State assessment, and apportionment among the counties, have been made. Nothing then remains of the auditor’s duties, but to certify to the county assessor. And, as we said in the case just cited : “ While we find no authority the law confers on the auditor to assess back, or escaped taxes, and think there is a want of machinery in tbe law to enable him to do so, we hold he is not without power to certify at any time, to the county tax-assessor, the ascertained value of the track of the road in his county, and the proportion of the value of the rolling-stock, which is subject to tax in his county. And if the facts have been so ascertained, and shown by legal evidence, that by mere calculation he can determine the proportion of values that may be liable to taxation in any given county, this mere clerical function he can perform at any time. There is nothing judicial in this. It is scarcely necessary to add, that the duty the statute requires of the auditor, to notify the assessors of each county through which such railroad runs, of the number of miles of track and value thereof, and the proportionate value of personal property taxable in their respective counties, is purely ministerial, and may be performed at any time.” What we have postulated above, is, in legal effect, assessment; which is complete when it “ ascertains what persons and property are liable under the tax bill, the value of the property, and the amount of the tax to be paid by each person to the State.” Burroughs on Taxation, § 94. It is contended before us, that the State assessments of this railraad for taxes are void, because it is not shown that the State board of equalization, whose functions precede assessment and apportionment, kept a record of their proceedings, which was signed by all the members present. This duty is certainly mandatory, and if not complied with, the assessment was not legally made. But, does it appear, or must we presume this duty was not complied with ? In the condition in which we find these records, what intendments must we indulge? When these cases were submitted to the chancellor, there was a note of the testimony taken, which is made part of the records. One instrument of evi — 396 — dence, thus shown to have been offered by the petitioners, is a “ certified transcript from the auditor’s office.” IS'o objections or exceptions to that testimony are any where shown in the records; and that transcript contains the only testimony offered by either side, tending to show State assessment, or equalization by the State board. It may be that this transcript, or parts of it, are not legal evidence, and would have been ruled out, if objected to. This is not the only illegal evidence that was offered, and received without objection. The ex-parte affidavit of Mr. Eowlkes was put in evidence by the railroad company. To avoid delay and expense, and to hasten trials, admissions are frequently made, and testimony, illegal if objected to, is frequently allowed to be introduced. The court, of its own motion, does not interpose and reject evidence, merely because it is illegal in form, unless its action is invoked by an objection or motion. In submitting causes, parties have unlimited power and discretion over the instruments of evidence, pertinent to the questions in issue, upon which they invoke the determination of their controversies. They can agree on facts, which a record or writing shows, and of which the record or writing is.the highest and only evidence, if demanded; and neither the primary nor the revising court will refuse to consider such substituted evidence, or disallow it ex mero moiu. It is no ground for reversal, that the court of original jurisdiction received illegal evidence in the absence of objection to its introduction. — Thompson v. Lee, 31 Ala. 292; Thomason v. Odum, 31 Ala. 108; Townsend v. Jeffries, 24 Ala. 329; 1 Brick. Dig. 749, §1627; Ib. 776-7, §§ 36, 38, 53. In what is called “ certified transcript from the auditor’s office,” there certainly are irregularities, which, if objection had been made, would have called for its exclusion. It does not appear to be an exemplification, by copy certified, of what the record in the auditor’s office contains. It is rather a certificate by the auditor that the statements he exhibits are the resultant, established facts, of what is shown in his office. It does not assume to set forth the record of the proceedings of the State board of equalization, nor does it show that a record was made and signed by the members present. The certificate of authentication is as follows: “I hereby certify, that the statements of the assessment of the Selma, Marion, and Memphis Railroad Company, for the years 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1873, and 1874, hereunto attached, are true and correct copies of the originals on file in this department ; ” signed by the auditor. This certified transcript contains copies of the sworn annual returns to the auditor, made by the president and secretary of the railroad, each bearing — 397 — date in April of the several years. These returns set forth the whole length of the main track of the railroad, the whole length of the side track, the value of each, and the description and value of the rolling-stock. We should have stated, the transcript contains no return for 1869, but contains the return for the years 1870 to 1874, inclusive. Each of these contains a statement of number of miles and value of main and side track in each county through which the road runs. There is what purports to be the valuations placed by the board of equalization, each of the years, except 1873. If the board had a session, or made any change in the year 1873, it is not shown. Each of the other years, from 1871 to 1874, the board changed the valuations. In 1870, 1871, and 1872, the board reduced the valuations returned very materially. In 1874, the valuations were increased by the board. In 1870, the board stated the length of main and side track in each county, total length of main track, total valuation of main and side track combined, and total value of rolling-stock. In 1871, and in 1872, the board ascertained total length of main and of side track, fixed the valuation of each, and of entire rolling-stock; and ascertained the length and value, each, of the main and side track in each of the counties through which the railroad runs. In 1874, the board ascertained total length, each, of main and side track, total value of each, and the total value of the rolling-stock. In 1875, the board of equalization ascertained the length and value, each, of main and side*track, and proportioned value of rolling-stock, in Perry county. The transcript is silent as to what they did this year with Hale county, if any thing; but the report to the auditor, copied in the transcript, sets forth the total length, each, of main and side track, and of the main and side track, each, in Hale county. These ascertained facts, if sufficiently shown, furnish all the information needed, to show the values, each year, on which county taxes are. to be collected. They furnish the data, from which, by mere calculation, the values can be ascertained. Are the facts recited above sufficiently proven ? It will be borne in mind, it is State assessment by State officers we are dealing with. In State Auditor v. Jackson County, we said: “ It is our duty to indulge every reasonable intendment in favor of regularity in assessment for State taxation.” We feel it our duty to presume, in the condition in which we ijnd these records, that the State board of equalization had a meeting each year, that they kept a record of their proceedings, and that the record was signed by each member of the board who was present. It follows, that each State assess — 398 — ment, from 1869 to 1875, inclusive, was regularly made according to the evidence before us. It is urged for appellees, that there has been no valid levy of county taxes on this railroad property, for either of the years 1869 to 1875, inclusive ; and such was the view taken by the chancellor. The particular grounds of objection to the regularity of the levy are, that the auditor did not notify the county assessors “ of the number of miles of track, and value thereof, and the proportionate value of personal property, taxable in their respective counties ” ; that the assessor did not “add the value of all other real property, except,’* &g., “ together with all fixtures, machinery, tools and other property within their respective counties ” ; that this property was not entered upon an assessment-list; that it was not entered in a book of assessments ; that the county board of equalization frequently'met on days other than the 3d Monday in August, for the purpose of equalizing assessments ; that the certificate, if any was made, of the chairman of the board of equalization, upon, or appended to the assessor’s book, that the board had equalized and corrected the assessment, did not authenticate the assessment of the railroad track and rolling-stock, because their assessment was not on the book; that the Court of County Commissioners, when they levied the county tax, were not in session on any day of a regular term fixed by law; and, finally, when the county tax was levied, it was done by declaring a per-centum on the assessment shown in the book of assessments before them, and that the court did not levy a county tax on this property, because it did not appear on the assessment book. Bev. Law of 1868, sections 24, 33, 37, 97, 98, 101 and 103. The objections noted above, considered collectively, are based on the assumption, that county taxes are levied so as to realize a given sum, and no more; that this end is accomplished, by first ascertaining the aggregate sum of the State assessment, and then graduating the county levy, so as to yield the required sum; that property not shown on the book of assessments, does not enter into the computation, and to allow it to be brought in, would increase the aggregate of the county levy beyond the sum required or intended. Hence, it is contended, no county tax is in fact levied on property omitted from the book of assessments. To the Court of County Commissioners is confided the entire authority to levy county taxes. They are presumed to be cognizant of the wants of the county, and are clothed with a large discretion. It is without limit, unless one is imposed by the constitution, or by statute. Of course, they will and should consult the wants of the county, present and prospec — 399 — tive, in determining the proper rate, or per-centum. To this end, it is made the duty of the assessor to prepare, and have the books of assessments ready, to be laid before them. But this is not a condition precedent to their right to levy a valid county tax. If it were, no county tax could be demande d for property which had escaped the tax-assessor ; for neither it nor its value is before the Court of County Commissioners when the county tax is levied. As we said, the matter of the rate, or per-centum of the county levy, is within the sound direction of that court; and no tax-payer would be heard to dispute its rightful levy, on the ground that it was in excess of the county’s wants. The duties enumerated above are cast on the county assessor, and on the board of equalization, and they should be performed. Their omission the law would censure; and if the result of wilfulness or negligence, might punish as a misdemeanor. They are not of the class called mandatory, or conditions precedent to the right to levy a county tax. When the tax is levied by the Court of County Commissioners, all property liable to taxation in the county is thereby made liable to the tax so levied, whether the- court, at the time of the levy, knew of its presence in the county or not. We therefore hold, that neither the failure of the auditor to certify to the assessor the number of miles and value of the railroad track in the county, or the apportioned value of the rolling-stock, nor the failure of the assessor to enter the property on a list, or in the assessment book, nor the failure of the county board of equalization to meet on the third Monday in August, to equalize and correct the assessment, nor the failure of the chairman of the board to certify to the equalized and corrected valuations, — neither one, nor all of these omissions, will avoid the levy of county taxes. It may be that the said certificate of the chairman of the board is a necessary condition to the right of the county tax-collector to collect the taxes ; but upon that we need express no opinion. Section 103 of the act of 1868 makes it “ the duty of the Court of County Commissioners, immediately after the adjournment of the board of equalization, to proceed to levy the amount of taxes required for their county for that year, not to exceed the rate levied by the State.” It could not be known when the board of equalization would adjourn, and hence the statute does not fix the time when the court would or could meet for this service. The language of the statute forbids the inference that such session must necessarily be at a regular term of the court. It was to be immediately after the board of equalization completed its labors; and falling when it would, the statute made it a regular term — 400 — for this service. This clause is simply directory. The maximum of the levy fixed by this section is mandatory. Section 93 of the act of 1875 provides, that the levy of county taxes shall be made at the July term of the Court of County Commissioners. Section 87 of that statute had made the second Monday in July a term of the said court to examine the assessor’s returns, &c. The levy of the county tax can only be made, under this statute, at a regular term of the court, some term to which the court is adjourned from a regular term, or at a special term called according to section 744 of the Code of 1876. This, because the court can not lawfully meet for the purpose at any other time, and not because the duty is what is termed mandatory. If it were proposed to collect this tax by the agency of the county tax-collector, we would be inclined to hold the certificate of the State auditor to the county assessor, notifying him of “ the number of miles of track and value thereof, and the proportionate value of personal property taxable” in his county, is a condition precedent to the right to make such collection. These proceedings, however, are petitions to the court, for direction to the receiver to pay the taxes. In such case, the auditor’s certificate to the county assessor, can accomplish no purpose. It is sufficient for this form of relief that the amount of the taxes has been legally ascertained, or that sufficient facts are shown to render the ascertainment a matter of calculation. This being done, the taxes become an ascertained debt, or legal liability, it is the duty of the court to order the payment of. Under the foregoing principles, governed by the state of the records now before us, the railroad corporation is liable for the taxes for each of the years named, except, perhaps, the years 1873, and 1875. For the year 1873, it is not averred that the board met for the purpose of equalizing the values. For the year 1875, there is nothing shown as to Hale county, and a very imperfect showing as to Perry county. Perhaps, these omissions and irregularities, as to the year 1875, may be supplied and corrected on another hearing. As to the years 1869_, 1870, 1871,1872, and 1874, as the records now stand, the railroad is liable for the county levies, as shown by the proceedings in the several years. We will not, however, render final decrees in these causes, but will remand them for further proceedings in the court below. We do this, for the reason, that to decree otherwise, would produce an inequality we are unwilling to make. There is another reason, which operates to make this an exception to a salutary general rule. The testimony to be — 401 — adduced on another trial is record, or documentary, and the judicial policy against opening a controversy, once decided, to further parol testimony, does not apply. We therefore remand the causes, with instructions to the court below to receive further documentary or record proof from either party. — See State Auditor v. Jackson County, at the present-term. Without entering, at this time, into a discussion of the question, we decline to award interest on these back taxes. The uniform custom in this State, so far as our information extends, has been not to demand interest, as interest, on taxes in default, and we will not disturb that custom. The decree of the chancellor, in each of the causes, is reversed, and the causes are remanded.