Morgan v. Beloit, 74 U.S. 613 (1868)

Syllabus

U.S. Supreme Court

Morgan v. Beloit, 74 U.S. 7 Wall. 613 613 (1868)

Morgan v. Beloit

74 U.S. (7 Wall.) 613

Syllabus

Where the legislature creates a city, carving it out of a region previously a town only, and enacts that all bonds which had been previously issued by the town should be paid when the same fell due by the city and town in the same proportions as if said town and city were not dissolved, and that if either at any time pays more than its proportion, the other shall be liable therefore, a bill will lie in equity to enforce payment by the two bodies respectively in the proportion which the assessment rolls

Page 74 U. S. 614

show that the property in one bears to the property in the other. A bondholder is not confined to mandamus or other legal remedies, if such exist.


Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Morgan v. Beloit, 74 U.S. 7 Wall. 613 613 (1868) Morgan v. Beloit

74 U.S. (7 Wall.) 613

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT

COURT FOR WISCONSIN

Syllabus

Where the legislature creates a city, carving it out of a region previously a town only, and enacts that all bonds which had been previously issued by the town should be paid when the same fell due by the city and town in the same proportions as if said town and city were not dissolved, and that if either at any time pays more than its proportion, the other shall be liable therefore, a bill will lie in equity to enforce payment by the two bodies respectively in the proportion which the assessment rolls

Page 74 U. S. 614

show that the property in one bears to the property in the other. A bondholder is not confined to mandamus or other legal remedies, if such exist.

In 1853, the Legislature of Wisconsin authorized the Town of Beloit to subscribe to the stock of a railroad company, and to pay therefor in bonds of the town. The town subscribed and issued its bonds, a portion of which came to the hands of one Morgan, a bona fide purchaser.

In 1856, the legislature created the City of Beloit, this city being carved out of a portion of the territory which had constituted the Town of Beloit. The charter of the new city thus provided:

"All principal and interest upon all bonds which have heretofore been issued by the Town of Beloit, . . . shall be paid when the same or any portion thereof shall fall due by the City and Town of Beloit in the same proportions as if said town and city were not dissolved. And in case either town or city shall pay more than their just and equal portion of the same at any time, the other party shall be liable therefor."

This provision was reenacted in 1857.

After the date of this act, and between it and 1867 inclusive -- the interest on the bonds being unpaid for every year after 1854 -- Morgan brought several suits in the Circuit Court for Wisconsin against "the Town of Beloit" for the interest due for the years respectively, and on the 25th of September, 1867, got judgment against the town for it. The judgments being unpaid, he now filed a bill in the court below against the Town and City of Beloit. The bill set forth facts above stated, alleged that the "amount of said judgments ought to be paid by said defendants in the proportions respectively as provided in the said acts," that the taxable property of the city exceeded that of the town, and that though the city "ought to pay the proportion provided in the acts," yet that the complainant was remediless at law. It then showed by tabular exhibit the amount of the interest due on the bonds held by him in each year respectively from 1855

Page 74 U. S. 615

to 1867; then by like exhibit the proportion in value which, taking the rates of assessment made in each year as a basis, the taxable property of what was now the town bore to what was now the city in every year from 1855 to 1867; then showed, by similar exhibit that, taking these relative exhibits, the town would be liable on the coupons for each respective year for so much and the city for so much, the balance -- namely the whole making, with interest from the date of the judgments obtained (which the bill alleged "ought to be paid by the said town and city respectively"), the sum of $60,443 as against the city and $17,986 as against the town.

After alleging that "the city and town ought respectively to pay interest" on the respective total amounts, from the day when the judgments were obtained till the actual payment of them, and "ought each to pay one-half the costs recovered in the judgments," the bill concluded thus:

"To the end, therefore, that the said defendants may, if they can, show why your orator should not have the relief hereby prayed, and may upon oath &c. . . . and that your orator may have such other and further relief as the nature of his case may require and as shall be agreeable to equity and good conscience."

Prayer for subpoena &c.

The defendants (town and city) demurred, and the bill was dismissed. Appeal accordingly.

Page 74 U. S. 617

MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court.

The bill of the appellant presents the following case:

In the year 1853, the Legislature of Wisconsin, by an act duly passed, authorized the Town of Beloit to subscribe for $100,000 of the stock of a railroad company authorized to construct a railroad from the City of Racine to the Village of Beloit, and to make payment in its bonds to be issued for that purpose. The bonds were accordingly issued. A portion of them came into the hands of the appellant, and he recovered upon them the several judgments at law described in the bill. These judgments are all in full force and unsatisfied. By an act of the legislature passed in 1856, the City of Beloit was created. It embraces a part of the territory which before constituted the Town of Beloit. This act provides:

"That all principal and interest upon all bonds which have heretofore been issued by the Town of Beloit for railroad stock or other purposes, shall be paid, when the same or any portion thereof shall fall due, by the City and Town of Beloit in the same proportions as if the said city and town were not dissolved."

This provision was reenacted in 1857.

It is averred that the city and town ought respectively to pay the proportions set forth -- of the judgments -- with interest from their several dates. The prayer is for general relief. The appellee demurred. The court sustained the demurrer and dismissed the bill. This appeal was thereupon taken.

The two corporations are as separate and distinct as if the territories they embrace respectively had never been united. It is obvious that without a legislative provision to that effect, the city would not be answerable at law for the debts of the town incurred before the former was created. Whether,

Page 74 U. S. 618

but for the statute, the city there would have been chargeable in equity it is not necessary to consider. The statute is conclusive as to a liability, to be enforced in some form of procedure. The only question before us is whether there is a remedy in equity. It may be, as suggested by the counsel for the appellant, that an action would lie upon the statute. It is also possible that a proper case for a writ of mandamus might be made. But these inquiries are only material as bearing upon the question whether there is an adequate remedy at law. If so, a suit in equity cannot be maintained. To have this effect, the remedy at law

"must be as plain, adequate, and complete,' and 'as practical and efficient to the ends of justice, and to its prompt administration, as the remedy in equity. [Footnote 1]"

When the remedy at law is of this character, the party seeking redress must pursue it. In such cases, the adverse party has a constitutional right to a trial by jury. [Footnote 2] The objection is regarded as jurisdictional, and may be enforced by the court sua sponte, though not raised by the pleadings nor suggested by counsel. [Footnote 3] The provision upon the subject in the sixteenth section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was only declaratory of the preexisting rule.

In the case before us, the adjustment of the amount to be paid by the city will depend upon accounts and computations founded upon the proper assessment rolls. In order to bind the town, it is necessary that it should be made a party. This cannot be done in proceedings at law. If the town should be compelled to pay the entire amount, the right is given by the statute to recover back the proportion for which the city is liable. This would involve circuity of litigation. The remedy at law is therefore neither plain nor adequate.

The question whether a bill in equity will lie is disembarrassed of this objection.

The authority to tax for the payment of municipal liabilities

Page 74 U. S. 619

in cases like this is in the nature of a trust. [Footnote 4] The jurisdiction on a court of equity to interfere in all cases involving such an ingredient, is too clear to require any citation of authorities. It rests upon an elementary principle of equity jurisprudence.

"The power is reserved to a court of equity to act upon a principle often above-mentioned, namely, that whenever there is a right it ought to be made effectual. [Footnote 5]"

Where there is a right which the common law, from any imperfection, cannot enforce, it is the province and duty of a court of equity to supply the defect and furnish the remedy. [Footnote 6]

The decree is reversed. A mandate will be sent to the circuit court directing that the demurrer be overruled, and the cause proceeded in according to the principles of equity and the rules of equity practice.

[Footnote 1]

Boyce v. Grundy, 3 Pet. 215.

[Footnote 2]

Hipp v. Babin, 19 How. 278.

[Footnote 3]

Fowle v. Lawrason, 5 Pet. 496; Dade v. Irwin, 2 How. 383.

[Footnote 4]

Von Hoffman v. City of Quincy, 4 Wall. 555.

[Footnote 5]

1 Kaime's Principles of Equity 3.

[Footnote 6]

Quick v. Stuyvesant, 2 Paige 92.