In Re Forming & Organizing Common School Dist.

Polley, J., dissenting. Petition to form and organize a common school district from part of the territory embraced in the Independent School District of Emery, Hanson County, South Dakota. From an order denying the petition, petitioners appeal. Affirmed. [1-3] This proceeding was commenced under the provisions of chapter 175 of the South Dakota Session Laws of 1923. The trial court, as in the case of Nold v. Onaka School District, 60 S.D. 482,245 N.W. 43, entered "findings of fact," "conclusions of law," and "judgment." As was pointed out in the Onaka Case, these so-called findings of fact and conclusions of law have no place in this proceeding. However, in this case there was no basis for the order the trial court finally made, except testimony taken upon the hearing, and the record thus made was settled under the provisions of article 2, c. 3, pt. 6. tit. 2, R.C. 1919. The record is thus sufficiently authenticated for review in this court. Schurman v. Schurman, 60 S.D. 489,245 N.W. 39. The brief of appellant sets forth that, "within the time limited by law therefor, the petitioners and appellants duly perfected their appeal to the supreme court." This statement is not in any way challenged by respondent, and we are therefore of the opinion that, so far as we are now concerned, we must consider that this appeal was taken within time, and that this court has jurisdiction to consider the matter upon its merits. In oral argument the appellant contends that the holding of this court in the case of Nold v. Onaka School District, supra, to the effect that the final determination of the matter by the trial court resulted in an order, as distinguished from a judgment, is in conflict with the case of Johnson v. Swanson, 50 S.D. 448, 210 N.W. 662. To the extent that the latter case is in conflict with the former, the former case of Johnson v. Swanson, supra, is expressly overruled.

[4] The trial court denied the relief sought by the petitioners. The appellant contends that the trial court's holding was based upon an opinion of the trial court that the said chapter 175, Laws of 1923, is unconstitutional. Nowhere did the trial court expressly hold or declare this law to be unconstitutional; but the trial court did, to the contrary, conclude as follows: "That the interests of the said independent school district of Emery, as now constituted, and the interests of the proposed common school district, require that said petition be not granted."

It thus becomes apparent that the trial court, regardless of his views on the constitutionality of the law, decided the matter upon its merits, and was of the opinion that the petition should be denied upon its merits. We are of the opinion that the trial court was justified in concluding that the petition should be denied upon its merits, and it therefore becomes unnecessary for us to consider the suggested reasons why this law should be held unconstitutional, for reasons other than those urged in the case of Larsen v. Seneca Independent School District of Faulk County,50 S.D. 444, 210 N.W. 661. It is a well-settled principle that constitutionality of a statute should not be determined in any case, unless such determination is absolutely necessary in order to determine the merits of the suit in which the constitutionality of such statute has been drawn in question. 12 C.J. 780, and the many cases there cited.

No useful purpose would be served in attempting to detail the evidence in this case. The case was argued orally, and we have given a careful consideration to the printed record. After listening to such argument and considering the record, we are of the opinion that the trial judge, in refusing to grant the prayer of the petition, did not abuse the discretion vested in him by the statute. See Wentz et al v. Bowdle Independent School District, 58 S.D. 538, 237 N.W. 763; Nold v. Onaka School District, supra.

The order appealed from is affirmed.

CAMPBELL, P.J., and ROBERTS and WARREN, JJ., concur.