Jordan v. Peacock , 84 Ind. App. 86 ( 1926 )

At the primary election held in Delaware county, May 6, 1924, appellant and appellees Truitt and Krohn were candidates of the same political party for the office of county commissioner of the third district. By the official count of the ballots, it appeared that Truitt had received a plurality of the votes cast, and was nominated. Appellant, desiring a recount of the ballots, filed with the circuit court his petition asking that three commissioners be appointed for that purpose, the petition reciting, as was the fact, that the ballots cast at the election were all paper ballots. The commissioners were appointed and the ballots recounted as prayed. The recount, as the official count, showed Truitt to have been nominated, and the court rendered a judgment against appellant, and as a part of the judgment made an order allowing each of the recount commissioners the sum of $10 per day for fourteen days. A motion by appellant to modify the judgment was overruled, as was his motion for new trial.

It is urged by appellant that the recount commissioners were entitled to $3 per day, and no more, and that the court erred in making the per diem allowance of $10. No other question is presented by this appeal.

Appellant filed brief showing prima facie error. Appellee has filed no brief, and for this neglect has offered no excuse. The failure of appellee to controvert the error assigned might 1. by this court have been taken as a confession of error. Marion, etc., Iron Works v. Baldwin (1924),82 Ind. App. 206, 145 N.E. 559. Nevertheless, we shall decide the case on its merits.

For the recount of votes or ballots cast at an election, the statutory law of this state consists of three acts: The Act of 1881 (§ 7587 et seq. Burns 1926, § 4743 et seq. R.S. 1881) which makes no provision for the recount 2. of votes recorded by voting machines, and which authorizes an allowance of $3 per day for the services of recount commissioners; the Act of 1911 (§ 7592 et seq. Burns 1926, Acts 1911 p. 67) which provides for recount of votes when voting machine is used, but makes no specific provision for the pay of recount commissioners, except that a mechanic, if employed, shall be paid a per diem of $5; and the act of 1921 (§ 7623 et seq. Burns 1926, Acts 1921 p. 199) which makes provision for the recount of votes when machine and paper ballots are both used. It is specifically provided by § 10 of the Act of 1921, that the act is supplemental to, and does not repeal, existing laws on the subject of recount of votes.

Since only paper ballots were cast at the election, it is clear that the recount was under the act of 1881. The proceeding created by that act is not an independent judicial 3-7. proceeding, but is a special proceeding for the discovery of evidence, and in aid of one who desires to contest with another the title to an office. Williams v. Bell (1915),184 Ind. 156, 110 N.E. 753. The only duties of the court authorized by the statute are the appointment of the commissioners and the issuance of the order for the recount, which duties are ministerial and not judicial in character. Under the statute, the report of the commissioners showing the result of the recount must be filed with the clerk of the court, and by him recorded in the court order-book. The costs are specifically fixed by the act, being $3 per day for each commissioner, and the sum of $5 for the services of the clerk. In this case, the recount commissioners should each receive a per diem of $3.

It follows that the action of the court in rendering the judgment was without authority of law, and the judgment is therefore reversed.