McNaughton v. Ticknor

BaedeeN, J. The decisions of this court have established the rule that when creditors of a corporation seek to charge stockholders on account of any liability created by law, under sec. 3223, Stats. 1898, there can be but one action, and that in equity, in which the rights of all parties interested must be determined and enforced. Foster v. Posson, [557] 105 Wis. 99; Finney v. Guy, 106 Wis. 256; Rehbein v. Rahr, 109 Wis. 136. Such is now the rule in this state,, unless it has been changed by ch. 129, Laws of 1901. That chapter amends sec. 3223 by adding at the end thereof the following: l'‘Provided that no remedy given in this chapter shall be-construed to be exclusive, so as to preclude the enforcement of any liability herein mentioned in an additional action or actions if there are parties or property that cannot be-reached by the first action or judgment.” This law is said to be void because it is an attempt to-construe an existing statute by the legislature, the construction of which is a judicial function, which belongs exclusively to the courts. This question, whenever it arises, is-always one of great importance. The constitution creates the three branches of government, — legislative, executive, and judicial, — and makes them as independent and untrammeled as it is possible for parts of a connected whole to be.' The true distinction between them is as stated by Chief Justice Maeshall in Wayman v. Southard, 10 Wheat. 46, as follows: “The difference between the departments undoubtedly is that the legislature makes, the executive executes, and the judiciary construes the laws.” When an act has been passed by the legislature, it becomes the law of the land, as interpreted and applied by the-courts. In some instances legislatures have deemed it proper to pass acts declaratory of the intent and purpose of former acts. Such acts are always, in a sense, retrospective; but where they are made to retroact on past controversies, and to reverse decisions which the courts have made, they have uniformly been held invalid. See cases cited in Cooley, Const. Lim. (6th ed.), 112, 113. Where, however, the courts have considered such acts as reasonably within the field of legitimate legislative action, they have been given [558] prospective effect only. Greenough v. Greenough, 11 Pa. St. 489; People ex rel. Mut. L. Ins. Co. v. Sup’rs of New York, 16 N. Y. 424. Considering tbis subject, Mr. Cooley ■says (Const. Lim. [6th ed.] 111) : “The decision of this question must depend, perhaps, upon the purpose which was in the mind of the legislature in passing the declaratory statute, — whether the design was .to give to the rule now declared a retrospective operation, ur, on the other hand, merely to establish a construction of the doubtful law for the determination of cases that may arise in the future. It is.always competent to change an -existing law by a declaratory statute, and, when the statute is only to operate upon future cases, it is no objection to its ■validity that it assumes the law to have been in the past what it now declared that it should be in the future. . . . But in any case the substance of the legislative action should be regarded, rather than the form; and, if it appears to be the intention to establish by declaratory statute a rule of conduct for the future, the courts should accept and act upon it without too nicely inquiring whether the mode by which the new rule is established is or is not the best, most decorous .and suitable that could have been adopted.” Page 113. The obvious purpose of chapter 129 is to give the creditors ■of the insolvent bank the right to prosecute stockholders who were out of reach of the court when the affairs of the bank were being wound up. Giving it prospective effect only, there is nothing wrong or unjust in this legislation. It might have been more fortunately worded. Still, when we con.-sider the substance of the' act, it seems quite evident that there was no legislative purpose to overturn former adjudications under the statute, but to provide a remedy for future cases. The defendant had no vested right in the former situation. He did not discharge his obligation to contribute .as a stockholder by absenting himself from the state. Judgment had not been obtained in the former action when this .•act became a law. He was liable on his stock absolutely when it went into force, and his obligation is not enlarged [559] by its terms. Tbe legal effect of the enactment was to continue the remedy of the creditors beyond the entry of judgment in the first action, and to permit their rights to be worked out when jurisdiction of the delinquent stockholder •could be obtained. Applying it only in a prospective sense, we see no reason why it may not be upheld as a valid exercise of legislative power. By the Court. — The order is affirmed.