Turner v. Blount , 49 Ark. 361 ( 1887 )

Smith, J.

The complaint alleged that the defendant was the County Surveyor of Phillips county and that the plaintiff had employed him to establish the division line between two estates; that the defendant charged, demanded and received five dollars per diem for two and a half days during which he was engaged in making said survey and the further sum of six dollars for marking twelve corners; that the last mentioned charge was an unlawful one, and judgment was prayed for its recovery and also for the statutory penalty of five dollars for extortion.

The answer confesses that the' defendant did charge and take the six dollars for corners and that he was not entitled to the same; but sets up in avoidance that he omitted from his account mileage and other items, which he could lawfully have charged, and which, if charged, would have exceeded six dollars. It also alleged that, before the commencement of this action, the defendant had tendered to the plaintiff the amount so overcharged, which had been refused.

To this answer a demurrer was interposed and overruled; and the plaintiff electing to stand upon his demurrer, his complaint was dismissed.

County Surveyors are public officers and the services for which they may demand and receive compensation and the amount of such compensation are fixed by law. And- it is enacted that “if any officer shall charge, demand or receive any more or greater fees for his services than are allowed by law” * * * * he “shall for.'eit to the party injured or against whom the same may be charged, the amount of fees illegally charged, and five dollars for each item illegally demanded.” Mansf. Dig., sec. 3295.

The statute is directed against wrongful charges under color of official authority. And it would defeat its object to permit an officer, when he is detected in an act of extortion, to excuse himself by showing that his bill would have amounted to as much or more, if he had included certain other legitimate fees to which he was entitled. Officers’ fees are prescribed by statute to the end .that both the officer and the citizen may readily ascertain what compensation is due for official services. And the officer must govern himself in his charges by the schedule of fees; he cannot substitute other charges, for which no provision is made, though they may be less in amount. If the defendant failed to charge mileage and other fees which the law allowed him, he either waived his right to such fees, or the plaintiff still owes them to him. But neither of these considerations can affect the right to recover in this action.

Likewise an offer of restitution of the sum illegally charged has no effect in shielding the officer from an action to recover it and the penalty.

The answer sets up no bar to a recovery. The judgment is accordingly reversed and cause remanded with directions to sustain the demurrer.