Schwartz v. People , 47 Colo. 483 ( 1910 )

Mr. Justice Gabbert

dissenting:

I fully concur with the conclusion that the local option act is constitutional, but do not agree with the construction given it. It is assumed in the opinion of Mr. Justice Bailey that the object of the act was to facilitate the creation of “anti-saloon territory,” and, acting upon this assumption, it is sought to give the act a construction which will effect this purpose. The assumption is unwarranted. The premise upon which the act is construed is wrong, and necessarily an erroneous conclusion is the.result. The settled rules to be observed in the construction of a statute require that possible interpretation to be given which will render it effective, and effect the purpose of the legislative intent, if such intent can be reasonably inferred. It is also a fundamental rule of interpretation that every law is adopted as a whole, and while a section, standing alone, might seem of doubtful import, yet it may be made plain by comparison with other clauses or portions of the same law, and finally, the purpose of a law is to be considered in its interpretation, and to this end, we may take into consideration the object which prompted its enactment.

The act defines what certain political subdivisions mentioned shall include, and'defines the lowest to be a “precinct,”'which means “any voting precinct or election precinct in an election district or ward. ’ ’ It then provides that in the clause — ‘ ‘ Shall this..........become ‘Anti-Saloon Territory?’ — the proper word shall be inserted in the blank space so as to designate the political division or subdivision intended to be designated as ‘ anti-saloon territory. ’ ’ ’

Sec. 2 of the act provides: “Upon the filing in the office of the clerk at least thirty days before an election of a petition as in this act provided, directed to such clerk, containing the signatures of qualified electors of any political subdivision in number not less than forty per cent, of the total vote cast in such political subdivision at the last general election therein, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of such political subdivision the proposition; ‘Shall this........become “Anti-Saloon Territory”?’ said proposition shall be submitted at such election, as in this act provided, to the voters of such political subdivision, and if a majority of qualified electors voting upon said proposition shall Vote ‘Yes,’ such political subdivision shall become ‘anti-saloon territory.’ ” Impliedly it follows, that if a majority vote “No,” it shall not.

It is thus apparent that the purpose of the act was to confer upon the qualified voters of each of the political subdivisions named the right to determine for themselves whether or not saloons eonld be maintained within such subdivision. Each subdivision is recognized as an independent entity, and necessarily, each may determine its policy with respect to saloons. In other words, the purpose of the act was to confer upon voters within specified political subdivisions, beginning with an election precinct, the option of permitting or inhibiting the maintenance of saloons' therein, and the act as designated by the compilers of the laws of 1907 and as spoken of and generally understood by the people, is a “local option” act, with respect to the sale or inhibition of intoxicating liquors. This is the important feature of the act to bear in niind when interpreting its provisions. Notwithstanding this special feature of the law, and the undoubted purpose of the legislature to confer upon voters within the prescribed political subdivisions the right of “local option” with respect to saloons, it is determined that because the vote as a -whole in ward twelve was “dry,” that the vote of precinct four, though “wet,” does not avail because the ward controls. This construction is not only antagonistic to the local feature of the act, and deprives the voters of a political subdivision included within a greater of the right of local option, or compels them to submit to the result of a vote which is in no sense local, so far as they are concerned, but renders the act inharmonious, and permits voters to vote upon a question which they cannot settle or determine for themselves.

Let us see if there is anything in the act following that to which reference has been made justifying the construction given it. Following the provision of sec. 2 above quoted, there is a provision which counsel for the people concede permits an election in a ward and a precinct therein to be held simultaneously. The propositions to be voted upon in such circumstances are entirely separate and independent, originated by different petitions, and voted upon separately. What was the purpose of this provision? It was to preserve the right of local option to the voters of the precinct.' This was so clearly the purpose when considered in connection with that portion of the act preceding, that if there was any doubt before regarding the right of the voters of a precinct to determine for themselves the question of whether saloons should be maintained within their precinct, that doubt is at once removed. But it is said that sec. 7 of the act defeats the right of the voters in a precinct, when voting simultaneously at an election in the ward embracing such precinct to have the result of their vote control, unless it is in favor of making the precinct anti-saloon territory. Courts must, if possible, so construe a statute as to avoid absurd results. To hold that when it appears that the right of local option was conferred upon a precinct the decision of the voters, as evidenced by their vote, should not control, unless registered one particular way, is unreasonable, deprives voters" of a precinct of a right conferred, and should not be so declared unless there is no escape from such construction.

But, aside from this consideration, the purpose of sec. 7 is not to declare-what shall bq “anti-saloon territory,” as evidenced by the result of an election held simultaneously in a ward and a precinct therein, but .to declare that where anti-saloon territory is created in a political subdivision, it shall remain such, notwithstanding a change in the boundaries thereof until changed by the method prescribed in the section following. Further than this — this section must be construed in connection with those preceding. Its language must be read by the light which they afford and we must still bear in mind the purpose of the act. Thus considered it is plain that the provision of see. 7, to the effect that territory within any political subdivision which has become ‘£anti-saloon territory” shall continue to be such throughout its entire extent, does not mean all the territory embraced within such political subdivision, but only means so much thereof as has become anti-saloon territory where simultaneous elections in a ward and precinct therein have been held, as determined by the independent result of the election in the respective subdivisions. This view harmonizes the act and carries out the intent of the legislature to confer upon the voters of specified political subdivisions the right of local option. We have often held that if a later section, standing alone, will admit equally of two constructions, by one of which the entire act may be harmonized and the .intent carried out, while the other will create discord between the different provisions, the former should be adopted.

It is clear, from the language of the act construed as a whole, that its prime purpose was to confer upon the voters of specified political subdivisions, beginning with an election precinct, the right to determine for themselves whether saloons might be maintained within the territory of the subdivision voting on the subject. The construction given by the majority of the court entirely destroys this feature of the act, and is contrary to the intent of the general assembly in passing it.

In my opinion, the result of the vote in precinct 4 should control, and for this reason the judgment of the district court should be reversed and the cause remanded, with directions to dismiss the proceedings against the plaintiff in error.