Janesville Cotton Manufacturing Co. v. Ford

LyoN, J. This action is in the nature of an action for partition, if not strictly such an action. The amended sections of the revised statutes under which it was instituted (sections 8149-53, amended by chapter 203 of 1881) are placed under the head of “ partition of water powers,” thus showing the legislative idea of the character of the proceeding. We have little doubt, in the absence of any statutory provision on the subject, a court of equity could properly entertain such an action and grant all necessary relief. But we prefer to leave that point undecided, and to consider the action as a purely statutory one. If the statute is valid, there can be no doubt, we think, that a cause of action under it is stated in the complaint; for it shows that the contingencies have arisen which are specified in the statute as grounds for bringing such an action, and that the parties thereto are the own■ers of the water power. The object of the statute is to give an action in which all -the conflicting claims of such owners to the use and enjoyment of their respective rights in the water power, and their [200] respective liabilities for the expense incident to its care and management, may be fixed and determined. The complaint contains no allegations of facts which are not subsidiary to that object. Hence it does not improperly unite several causes of action. Is the statute under which the action was brought a valid law ? Considered as a purely statutory action, this is the controlling question in the determination of the demurrer. The learned counsel for the appellants maintains the negative, and urges three principal grounds, upon either of which he claims the statute should be declared unconstitutional and void. These are: (1) That it creates a tribunal, to wit, the commissioners therein provided for, and confers judicial powers upon it in contravention of the constitution, which vests the whole judicial power of the state in the courts therein specified. Art. YII, sec. 2. (2) It infringes the constitutional right of trial by jury. (3) It authorizes the commissioners appointed by the court to take control of the mills, machinery, and appurtenances of the water power, if necessary or expedient, and to retain such control for a reasonable time, and use it in such reasonable manner “ as will enable them to ascertain the respective right of the parties, and to determine the manner of using, applying and preserving the same.” The first objection to the validity of the statute rests upon the assumption that the commissioners constitute an independent tribunal. This is incorrect. They are mere referees, and as such are only aids of the court, through whom and by whose investigations it possesses itself of the facts of the case, to the end that it may award the proper judgment. No valid reason occurs to us for holding the statute void, which would not be equally applicable to any law authorizing a cause to be referred to a referee to hear, try and determine the same, unless such reason is found in the provision which assumes to make the report of the commissioners binding upon the parties before the court acts upon it. It may [201] be doubtful whether that is a valid provision. But if it is. not, we think it may be rejected without impairing the valid portions of the statute. There is no reason to believe that the statute would not have been enacted just as readily without that provision as with it. This is the test. State v. Dousman, 28 Wis., 541, and cases cited. Eliminate that provision, and we have a statute providing for a simple reference of a cause to referees to hear, try and determine the same, with directions to report the evidence and their conclusions upon it to the court for its information, to enable it to give the proper judgment. Of the validity of such statutes there can be no doubt. The objection that the statute infringes the right of trial by jury is sufficiently answered by the following quotation from the statute itself: “ An issue of fact in any such action,, properly triable by jury, may be tried by jury with like-effect as in other cases.” This doubtless means that the verdict shall have the same effect as a verdict in a common law action. The last objection is to the provision which gives the commissioners authority to occupy the mills, etc., when necessary to enable them to perform their duties. It will be observed that this power is conferred only when it is necessary or expedient to exercise it. In this, as in all other matters pertaining to their functions, the commissioners are under the-control of the court, which will restrain them from any abuse of their powers. There may be cases in which it would be-quite impossible for the commissioners intelligently to ascertain the rights of the parties unless they were permitted to-enter the mills and to exercise some control over the machinery and appurtenances of the water power. This may be-necessary for the purposes of measurements, tests, and the like. While such temporary occupancy may cause some inconvenience to owners, yet it is one of the incidents of the ownership of property, in which, in respect to the manner of [202] its use, others have a direct interest, and a right to insist that it shall be used in a particular manner. We are aware of no valid constitutional objection to such temporary interference with the use of private property when that is necessary to fix and establish the rights of others interested in the time, manner or extent of its use. We conclude ■ that the statute under consideration is a valid enactment, and that the complaint states a cause of action under it. By the Qourt.— Order affirmed. Cassodat, J., took no part.