Thornsberry v. City of Campbell

^* Headnote 1. Municipal Corporations, 28 Cyc., p. 459. Plaintiff sued to recover salary at the rate of $60 per month as marshal of the city of Campbell for a period commencing on the 5th day of April and ending on the 5th day of December, 1922. Defendant, in its answer, tendered $100 as payment in full. Plaintiff has appealed from a judgment in his favor for $100, the amount of the tender.

The petition sets forth that the city of Campbell is a city of the fourth class, organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri; that plaintiff was duly elected Marshal of said city on April 5, 1922, and was duly qualified and acted as such to the 5th day of December, 1922; that by ordinance duly passed on the 4th day of March, 1919, it was provided that the salary of the city marshal should be $60 per month and fees. Judgment is prayed for $480, being for a period of eight months.

Defendant, by its answer, sets up that the ordinance of March 4, 1919, was expressly repealed and superseded by another ordinance passed and approved August 23, 1921, which fixed the salary of city marshal at $10 per month, which ordinance was in force many months prior to election of plaintiff; that the ordinance of March 4, 1919, is null and void.

There is no controversy as to the facts in this case. Plaintiff was elected and qualified as Marshal on April 4, 1922, to fill an unexpired term of one Homer Curry. The latter's term of office commenced in April, 1921, and ended in April, 1923; Curry resigned some time prior to plaintiff's election. Plaintiff served as marshal during the eight months alleged and demanded his salary at the rate of $60 per month, which was the rate paid Curry during his period of service or until he resigned. Curry drew his salary under the provisions of the ordinance approved March 4, 1919, fixing the salary at $60 per month; this ordinance was attempted to be repealed, at least by implication, by an ordinance passed and approved August 2, 1921, changing the salary of marshal to $10 per month; that ordinance was passed, therefore, some eight months prior to plaintiff's election to fill the unexpired term of Curry, but after the commencement of Curry's term.

The principal and decisive question involved in this case relates to the power of the board of aldermen of a city of the fourth class to change the compensation of the marshal of the city so as to affect the salary of one elected to fill an unexpired term, the ordinance being passed prior to such election, but after the commencement of the term fixed by law. It is conceded by respondent that the ordinance of August 2, 1922, changing the salary from $60 to $10 per month, would have been inoperative as to Homer Curry the marshal elected in April, 1921; that results for the reason that section 8422, Revised Statutes 1919, provides that: "an officer's salary shall not be changed during the time for which he is elected or appointed." Respondent contends, however, that the ordinance is binding on appellant since it was passed before his term commenced; that the term of office of plaintiff's predecessor, Curry, ended upon his resignation and plaintiff thereafter commenced a new term (although a short term), to which the statutory inhibition would not apply. Respondent cites no authorities in support of this proposition.

The term of office of the marshal of a city of the fourth class is definitely fixed at a term of two years by the provisions of section 8402, Revised Statutes 1919. General elections for such cities are required to be held on the first Tuesday in April next after the organization of the city, and every two years thereafter. It may be taken for granted, therefore, that the election of the marshal in April 1921, was for a term ending in April, 1923. As heretofore noted, section 8422 provides that "the salary of an officer shall not be changed during the time for which he was elected or appointed." These different statutes, relating to cities of the fourth class, are in pari materia and should be construed together. [State v. Hostetter, 137 Mo. 636, 39 S.W. 270.]

The words "time for which he was elected or appointed" as used in section 8422 must refer to the term of office, for there could be no other time. The term of office, is defined in section 8402, to which section 8422 necessarily alludes. But counsel contends the terms of office is divisible and that section 8422 is personal only to the occupant of the office who was elected prior to the passage of the ordinance reducing the marshal's salary; that upon the resignation of the officer, the new ordinance would become effective as to any subsequent officer elected to fill the unexpired term. In other words, the ordinance, held in abeyance while the original officer continues in office, immediately becomes operative upon his resignation. We fail to see the logic of this argument. Such interpretation of section 8422, would destroy its object. Under that theory the city might pass an ordinance increasing the salary of an officer, who could then resign, be re-elected or appointed and thus receive the increased salary during his new or unexpired term. Likewise, under the provisions of section 8424, if the resignation occurs within six months of a general election, the mayor may appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term without calling an election; if such appointment creates a new term the appointive officer would then be entitled to an increased salary in the event an ordinance had previously been passed so authorizing. While we have considered the proposition from the standpoint of a possible increase in salary, under the Statute the same reasoning would apply to a decrease. But the term is fixed and the statute preventing a change in compensation is not, in our opinion, personal to the then occupant of the office, but applies to any subsequent holder of the office during the same term. "Each official term stands by itself. The constitutional provision forbidding an increase or decrease of compensation during a term of office has reference to the period fixed as a term by statute only, and in no wise refers to the individual who may incidentally happen to be the incumbent for more than one term." [State ex rel. v. Farmer, 271 Mo. 306, l.c. 314, 196 S.W. 1106; State ex inf. v. Williams, 222 Mo. 268, 121 S.W. 64.]

In 22 R.C.L. at page 552, we find this language: "It has been ruled that the resignation or the removal of an officer during his term and the election or appointment of a successor does not divide the term nor create a new and distinct one; and that in such a case the successor is filling out his predecessor's term." It is also held that a provision that salaries may not be changed during the term cannot be avoided by the resignation of an incumbent and his re-appointment at an increased salary. [Green v. Hudson Co., 44 N.J.L. 388.]

In Storke v. Goux, 62 P. 68, the Supreme Court of California decided that limitations which by their terms prevent a change of compensation during the terms of office of an incumbent, are effective as to one appointed to fill a vacancy. In the Storke case the party elected to the office died and between that time and the date of the appointment of plaintiff in that suit, a law was passed increasing the salary accruing to the office. In holding the new officer was not entitled to the increase, the court had for consideration a constitutional provision similar to our statute here invoked.

We are of the opinion that under the provisions of section 8422, Revised Statutes 1919, no increase or decrease of salary can become operative until the term of office fixed by statute has expired, whether the person occupying the office at the beginning of the fixed term continues in office or not. It thus becomes unnecessary to consider the validity of the various ordinances. The cause should, therefore, be reversed and remanded with directions to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff for the sum of four hundred eighty dollars as prayed. It is so ordered.

Cox, P.J., and Bradley, J., concur.