State ex rel. Simpson v. Dowlan

Gtlpillan, C. J.1 Application by relator, the attorney general consenting, but not participating, for leave to file an information in the nature of a quo warranto, to determine the title to the office of aider-man in the city of St. Paul, both relator and respondent claiming to have been elected. The respondent opposes it on two grounds: First. That the charter of the city makes the common council the sole and exclusive judge of the election of its members, and therefore [537] the writ cannot issue. The charter (Laws 1874, c. 1, sube. 4, § 2) reads: “The common council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its own members, and in such case shall have power to send for persons and papers.” We are unable to agree whether this makes the council sole judge, so as to exclude the power of the courts; the four judges of this court who heard the matter oeing equally divided on the question. Second. That Gen. St. 1878, c. 1, provides a mode for determining who is elected to any city office, when the election of any one is disputed. We are agreed that section 76 of that chapter makes the provisions of section 52 applicable to elections for city officers, and that those provisions apply to the office of alderman, if it be not true that the council is the sole judge of the election of its members. We aré also agreed that the granting of leave to file an information (especially upon the application of a private person) is within the discretion of the eourt, and that leave ought not to be granted where the law furnishes another remedy, unless under special and exceptional circumstances, and none such exist in this case. So that we all agree, though for different reasons, that the leave ought not to be granted. Application denied. Footnotes [1] Mitchell, J., was absent and took no part in this case.