Chicago & North Western Railway Co. v. City of Marshall

Hallam, J. Second and Fourth streets in the city of Marshall are crossed by the right of way and tracks of appellant railway company. The city of Marshall, by proper proceedings under chapter 65, p. 62, Laws 1919, paved these streets and included in the paving plan the portion of the streets crossed by the railway company’s tracks. The city authorities assessed against the railway company, not against its property, a proportion of the cost of the pavement, computed on a front foot basis. On appeal to the district court the assessment was affirmed and the railway company appeals. The proceedings antedate the operation of chapter 533, p. 755, Laws 1919, making railway companies subject to special assessments for local improvements, and the company contends that under [97] the law then prevailing, G. S. 1913, § 2226, it is not liable te such assessment. We sustain this contention. The statute above cited and then in force provided that the payment by a railway company of a tax upon its gross earnings shall be “in lieu of all taxes and assessments, upon all property within this state, owned or operated for railway purposes by such company.” This in plain language exempts the property of defendant from assessment. The trial court however in effect converted the proceeding into one in personam against the railway company and the assessment is against the railway company and not against its property. Under the statute cited, section 2226, the railway company was no more liable to assessment than was its property. Nor is there any authority for an assessment in personam in a local improvement assessment proceeding. There is- no doubt of the power of the municipality, in the exercise of the police power, to compel by mandamus a railway company to pave the intersection of a street with its right of way, when the safety and convenience of the public require it. State v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 130 Minn. 480, 153 N. W. 879, L. R. A. 1918D, 1153; City of St. Paul v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 145 Minn. 355, 177 N. W. 492. Perhaps the city may, without resorting to mandamus, proceed to pave such intersections if the safety and convenience of the public so require and then sue to recover the cost of such improvement. City of St. Paul v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 138 Minn. 25, 163 N. W. 788, L. R. A. 1917F, 485. But this is not a ease of either kind. There is no proof or finding that public necessity or convenience required this pavement. Nor could that issue be litigated in a proceeding of this kind. Surely the city council, in a local improvement assessment proceeding, had-no power to determine upon this exercise of the police power. On appeal to the district court from the assessment made by the council, the proceeding is still the same assessment proceeding. The court cannot transform it into a proceeding in mandamus predicated on the exercise of the poliee power nor into an action in personam for the recovery of money. Judgment reversed.