Whitten v. Chapman

Pursuant to notice therefor by the commissioner of reclamation, certain water users convened on March 7, 1927, for the purpose of electing a water-master for water district No. 7-AB, and of fixing the compensation to be paid that officer. Forty-five persons were present and one hundred were represented by proxies. The meeting organized by the selection of a chairman and secretary. The report of the committee on credentials ". . . . that there were one hundred and forty-five persons and corporations owning and having the use of adjudicated rights of ten inches or more present in person or represented by proxy, and . . . . that each person present in person or represented by proxy be entitled to one vote each . . . ." was adopted. It was further determined ". . . . that the ballot of the Big Wood Canal Company (having offered to vote 30,951.76 votes) be counted as only one vote; also that the vote of Sidney Smith, . . . . attempted to vote 26 1/2 votes, be counted as one vote."

The result of the vote was announced: ". . . . for Sewell H. Chapman, one hundred forty-three votes, for R.E. Whitten, two votes."

Respondent was thereupon declared elected, and the commissioner of reclamation duly notified. Thereafter, on the assumption that respondent had not been legally elected, the commissioner of reclamation appointed appellant to the office. Respondent filed the required bond and oath, took possession of the office and refused appellant's demand for its surrender. This action was brought to oust respondent from and induct appellant into the office. At the close of appellant's case, motion for nonsuit was sustained and judgment entered for respondent.

This proceeding was instituted under C. S., sec. 7024, the last sentence of which reads:

"Any person rightfully entitled to an office or franchise may bring an action in his own name against the person who has usurped, intruded into, or who holds or exercises the same."

Even if we concede respondent's argument that a water-master is a public officer and that appellant could have contested his election under C. S., sec. 7274 et seq., it does not follow that it was improper to bring the action in the nature of a proceeding in quo warranto. (Toncray v. Budge, 14 Idaho 621,95 P. 26.)

The pertinent provisions of the statute, C. S., sec. 5609, as amended by chap. 60 of the 1925 Sess. Laws, providing for the election of water-masters, are as follows:

". . . . At such meeting each person present owning or having the use for the ensuing irrigation season of any adjudicated right equal to 10 inches of water in the stream or water supply comprising such water district, shall be entitled to one vote . . . . Provided, That a corporation shall be considered a person for the purpose of this section and shall cast its vote by some one to be designated by the corporation; Provided, That each stockholder in said corporation shall be entitled to as many votes as he shall have units of 10 inches of water, regularly adjudicated, in the stream or water supply comprising such water district; . . . ."

It is the position of appellant that the manifest meaning of C. S., sec. 5609, as amended, is that each person or corporation is entitled to vote, in the election of a water-master, as many votes as he or it has units of ten inches of adjudicated water; that the Big Wood Canal Company, with a decreed right to some 6,000 cubic feet of water, should have been permitted to vote some 30,000 votes. On the contrary, it is respondent's position that, at such an election, not more than one vote may be cast by any person or corporation irrespective of the size of the decreed rights.

That the statute is ambiguous is apparent. To give its language a literal meaning would result in confusion and inequality in voting at the election of a water-master. It is provided that ". . . . a corporation shall be considered a person . . . . and shall cast its vote. . . . ." It has been argued that the statute gives the Big Wood Canal Company, with a decreed right to some 6,000 second-feet of water, one vote, the same as that afforded an individual with a decreed right to ten inches. It does not seem possible that the statute intended such a result. We are of the opinion that the proper construction of the statute, in this respect, is that it means that each person or corporation, with a right equal to ten inches of water, is entitled to cast one vote; that such person or corporation with a right equal to twenty inches of water, is entitled to cast two votes; that the individual or the corporation has as many votes as he or it has "units of ten inches" of such water. The practical construction heretofore placed on this statute has somewhat influenced us in reaching this conclusion. According to the evidence of the commissioner of reclamation, "The universal and uniform practice throughout the state is and has been for many years past to vote adjudicated water rights at the rate of one vote for each ten miner's inches of water regularly adjudicated in the streams." In view of the frequent changes in our water laws, it is evident that the practical construction of this statute has been acceptable and satisfactory to water users generally. In the absence of a more reasonable construction, it is the part of wisdom to adhere to it.

The provision that ". . . . a corporation shall be considered a person for the purpose of this section . . . ." and shall cast its vote by someone to be designated by it is plain and certain and needs no interpretation. At a water-master's election, through some person designated by it, the corporation is allowed the same voting power as a person, one vote for each ten inches of its decreed water. The provision that each stockholder shall be entitled to as many votes as he has units of ten inches of water, taken literally, would either deprive the corporation of its vote or give the corporation and its stockholders double voting power. But, when considered in connection with the entire section and keeping in mind the ultimate purpose of the law, it would be absurd to so construe the last provision. It may have been intended, as suggested by some, for the regulation of a meeting of the stockholders, or as a limitation of the voting strength of the corporation. The fact remains, however, that the last provision has reference to the vote of the corporation, the vote the corporation has a right to cast in the election of a water-master; and, as to "its vote," the statute plainly provides that it shall be cast by some one designated by the corporation. The Big Wood Canal Company, through its designated representative, had a right to cast one vote for each ten inches of its decreed right. Any other construction would do violence to the entire section, and make it necessary to hold the statute so ambiguous and meaningless as to be unworkable.

It does not follow, however, that the judgment should be reversed. The burden was on appellant to establish his right to the office, and it was his duty to produce the necessary evidence to satisfy this burden. (22 Rawle C. L., sec. 41, p. 718.) The stipulated facts show that, of those persons present at the meeting, respondent received the votes of forty-three and appellant received the votes of two. While it is argued that it appears from the entire record that the Big Wood Canal Company offered to cast its votes for appellant, the facts stipulated by the parties do not so show. Counsel for appellant states in his briefs that the canal company attempted to cast 30,951.76 votes for appellant and Sidney Smith attempted to cast 26 1/2 votes for him. Reference in the brief is made to the stipulation (folio 32) which merely shows "That at said meeting the said Big Wood Canal Company, by and through its said vice-president, Ben Darrah, offered to and insisted upon casting 30,951.76 votes." The stipulated facts do not show for whom the canal company or Sidney Smith offered to cast their votes.

Appellant's claim to the office under the appointment of the commissioner of reclamation is also untenable. The law has not conferred on that officer the power to determine the legality of the election of a water-master. (See Evans v. Swendsen,34 Idaho 290, 200 P. 136.) The commissioner's power to appoint a water-master exists by virtue of the statute when a meeting for the election of a water-master has not been held, when a water-master has not been chosen, or his compensation has not been fixed. In this case, a water-master had been elected and his compensation fixed at a meeting held for that purpose. The appointment was, therefore, of no validity.

It is our conclusion that appellant has not shown that he was entitled to the office. It is unnecessary to determine the other questions presented.

Judgment affirmed. Costs to respondent.

Budge, Givens, Taylor and T. Bailey Lee, JJ., concur.