City of Chester v. McGeoghegan

Opinion by

Wickham, J.,

The city of Chester had the right, under the Act of May 23, 1889, P. L. 272, and an ordinance passed in accordance therewith, to sue for, and recover from the appellants, a municipal assessment of #220.55, together with interest and a penalty of five per centum, amounting in all to #308.76.

Instead of suing for the latter sum, the city threw off the penalty, amounting to $11.02, and brought suit before an aider-man for the debt and interest only, the aggregate of both being less than $300. The only question before us is whether the plaintiff could give the alderman jurisdiction by waiving its right to the penalty, and thus bringing the claim below $800, the maximum amount for which an action could be brought before the magistrate.

We have no hesitation in holding that this could legally be done. In Evans v. Hall, 45 Pa. 235, it was decided, that while one cannot by relinquishing a part of his debt give a justice of the peace jurisdiction, he may accomplish that result by refraining from claiming interest, the reason assigned being that the interest is no portion of the debt proper, but merely an incident thereof. There is much stronger reason for saying that the penalty, in the present case, is no more than an incident of the indebtedness. Interest, where it can be claimed as of right, is now popularly regarded as an outgrowth of the debt and therefore practically a part of it, whereas a penalty is something collateral and foreign tacked on to the principal thing.

The appellants argue, however, that the city, because it is a municipality having its powers and duties defined by statute, cannot legally sue for less than the principal, with the interest and penalty attached. To this we cannot assent. The proper municipal officers may compromise claims, or remit them in whole or in part, when delay and expense may be saved by so doing, being responsible at the proper time and place for any breach of duty. The appellants are not in court as citizens defending the rights of the city, but as mere debtors refusing to pay a just debt, on the sole ground that the plaintiff might have sued for more. They cannot be heard to object, in this proceeding, that the city authorities have done what any private suitor might lawfully do, to secure a standing in the alderman’s court.

Judgment affirmed.