State ex rel. Bogy v. Board of County Commissioners

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE BRANTLY delivered the opinion of the court. Application for mandamus. On May 22, 1911, there was presented to the board of commissioners of Chouteau county a petition asking for the creation of a new county, to be named Blaine, out of territory within the boundaries of Chouteau county described in the petition. The proceeding thus sought to be initiated is authorized by an Act of the last legislative assembly providing a uniform mode for the “creation, organization and classification of new counties, for locating the county seats, ’ ’ and for other purposes incidental and necessary to accomplish the — 536 — main purpose of tbe legislation. (Laws 1911, Chap. 112, p. 205.) The petition contained a statement of the facts necessary to confer jurisdiction upon the board and require it to proceed. It purported to bear the signatures of more than one-half of the qualified electors of the proposed new county whose names appeared on the official registry books used at the last preceding general election held therein, as required by the statute, and was properly verified by the affidavits of three qualified electors and taxpayers. By order of the board duly made, notice was published fixing the hearing for June 11. The number of signatures to the petition was 681. Prior to its formal presentation to the board, however, written requests for leave to withdraw their signatures were filed with the board by forty of the original signers. During the course of the hearing, which was adjourned from time to time until July 1, the board struck off the names of those who had requested to withdraw, the number of signatures being thus reduced to 641. None of the facts stated in the petition or attached affidavits were controverted by anyone. At the hearing it appeared that there were upon the official register used at the last preceding general election a total of 1,411 names. Counsel representing the petitioners introduced evidence showing that of this number many had either died or permanently removed from the county, or had registered in two different precincts. This evidence was in the form of sworn testimony of witnesses who had personal knowledge of the persons who bore the names in question, and was not controverted. At the conclusion of the hearing the board found all of the facts as stated in the petition; that all of the 641 signatures were of electors entitled to join in the petition; that of the total of 1,411 names on the register, 143 did not, because of deaths, permanent removal from the county, etc., represent qualified electors, and that, deducting these names from the list, 641 represented more than one-half of the remainder. It nevertheless held the petition insufficient and refused to proceed because it did not bear the signatures of at least one-half of' the total number of 1,411. Thereupon the relator, a taxpayer and resident of the proposed county of Blaine, instituted this proceeding. The district court — 537 — was of the opinion that from the facts found by the board, and stated above, the petition was sufficient, and rendered judgment directing the writ to issue. The defendants have appealed. Section 1 of the Act referred to defines the circumstances under which a new county may be created either out of territory within a county already existing, or out of territory included in two or more adjoining counties. Section 2 confers the power to create the new county upon the board of commissioners of the county out of which the territory of the proposed new county is to be taken; or, if it is the purpose to include in the proposed county, territory from two or more counties, upon the board of the county from Avhieh the greatest area of territory is to be taken. The proceeding must be initiated by petition. “Such petition shall be signed by at least one-half of the qualified electors of the proposed new county, whose names appear on the official registration books used at the general election held therein last preceding the presentation of said petition to the board of county commissioners as herein provided; * * * .” If territory is to be taken from more than one county, separate petitions must be presented by the electors from such portions of territory so to be taken. There must be attached to each petition the affidavits of three qualified electors and taxpayers of the territory from which it comes, verifying the genuineness of the signatures and also the truth of the statements recited. The course of procedure to be pursued by the board is indicated, and at the hearing, after notice, the board may take the petition as prima facie evidence of the jurisdictional facts, or it may hear evidence; or, upon proper petition by qualified electors from a definite portion of territory, may change the boundaries of the proposed county so as to exclude such portion of territory. If upon the hearing the facts are found justifying action by the board, it must by resolution make a record of them. Section 3 then makes it incumbent upon the board to divide the designated territory into townships, road and school districts, and to designate election precincts, and thereupon to proclaim and hold an election. If upon canvassing the returns it is found — 538 — that the result is in favor of the new county, as required by section 4, the board shall by resolution declare the county organized. The election must include the selection of a county seat and the necessary county and township officers. Sections 5 to 15, inclusive, embody provisions directing how the internal affairs of the county are to be adjusted by the newly elected officers. From this brief resume of the provisions of the Act, it is apparent that it was the duty of the defendant board to proceed to proclaim and hold the election, if the number of signatures to the petition was sufficient under the requirement of section 2; for, all the other jurisdictional facts having been found in favor of the petitioners, the board had no discretion but to proceed under the provisions of section 3. This is conceded by the attorney general, but he argues that it was the clear intent of the legislature, as expressed in the language, supra, from Section 2, that the number of signatures must be at least one-half of the number of names of electors as they appear upon the registration books, without regard to the number of them which might have been canceled by the registry agent under section 467, Revised [1] Codes, because of death, removal, etc. Counsel for relator contend that the requirement refers to those qualified electors only whose names are properly on the list, and hence that the board having found that 143 of the names on the list do not represent qualified electors, it should have deducted these from the total sum. With this latter contention we agree. It is clear from the language employed that the signers of such a petition shall at the time of signing possess two qualifications, viz., they must be qualified electors of the proposed new county, and their names must be found upon the registration books. Though a name is found upon the list of registered electors, it does not follow necessarily that the person who was registered under that name is therefore a qualified elector. At best, if he is living, he is only prima facie such, even if he retains his residence. Death or a disqualification then existing or thereafter wrought by change of residence or other cause, removes him from the class of electors. Therefore, to give significance to the expression — 539 — * ‘qualified electors of the proposed new county,” it must be understood as a limitation upon the number of those who only may be taken into account, notwithstanding the number of names appearing on the list. In other words’, the number of names upon the list is not the criterion, but the number of names of those who at the date of signing the petition are qualified electors. That this is the correct view is made manifest by the duties which must be discharged by the board in determining the sufficiency of the petition. While it must be accepted as prima facie evidence of the truth of everything contained in it, on final consideration of it the board must hear the petitioners and any •opponents and receive evidence offered to establish or controvert the facts set forth in it. It must thereupon determine the truth •of all jurisdictional facts, among others, whether it “contains the genuine signatures of at least one-half of the qualified electors of the proposed new county as herein required.” (Section 2.) If the facts stated, among which is the fact that the signers are qualified electors of the proposed new county, may be controverted, it may be shown that any signer is not such an elector, even though his name is on the list. Hence the petitioners may show that some of the names on the list are not those of qualified electors. It is argued by the attorney general that this conclusion recognizes, as lodged in the board, the power to cancel from the registration books the names of deceased or disqualified electors, whereas by the statute (section 476, supra) it is lodged exclusively in the registry agent, to be exercised during the period of registration only. We do not agree with this. The board does not remove any name. It merely ascertains from the list the names of those who are qualified electors, in order that it may know that the petition bears the signatures of the requisite number. A number of cases are cited by counsel in support of their respective contentions, including State ex rel. Stringfellow v. Board of Commissioners, 42 Mont. 62, 111 Pac. 144; but the provisions of the statutes examined in them differ materially — 540 — from those under consideration here. Hence they have not sub' stantially aided us in reaching a conclusion. The judgment is affirmed. Affirmed. Mr. Justice Smith and Mr. Justice Holloway concur.