Case ID: ohio-st_38/html/0555-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\"White, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The State ex rel. v. Casey.
    1. The Association of the Tobacco Trade of Cincinnati, a corporation formed under the act of April 3, 1866 (S. & S. 182), since the repeal of said act, is, under § 3232 of the Revised Statutes, required to be governed by the provisions of title 2 of said statutes.
    2. Under title 2, § 3827, the association is authorized to appoint an inspector of leaf tobacco, whose duties are to be prescribed by the by-laws and rules of the association; and the performance of his duties by such inspector, at the instance of members of the association, is not a usurpation of the duties required of the inspectors appointed under chapter 6, title 5, of the Revised Statutes, as amended April 20, 1881. 78 Ohio L. 242. The tobacco which the inspectors last named are required to inspect, is limited to such tobacco as they maybe “ called on to view, weigh and inspect.” Section 4340. ’
    Error to tbe District Court of Hamilton county.
    The original action was in quo warranto in the district court of Hamilton county. The petition contains two causes of action, the first alleging that defendant in error, Casey, on January 1, 1882, and thereafter continuously, intruded into, and unlawfully held and exercised the office of inspector of leaf tobacco, in the city of Cincinnati; the second, charging that said Casey, on January 1, 1882, and continuously thereafter, did intrude into and unlawfully usurp, hold and exercise an office in a corporation incorporated by the authority of the state of Ohio, to wit, the office of inspector of “ The Association of the Tobacco Trade of Cincinnati,” not being a citizen or resident of the state of Ohio, and said corporation not having the lawful power or authority to appoint or elect said Casey to said office.
    Defendant in error filed his answer, admitting that he was not a citizen of the state of Ohio, denying that he intruded himself into the office of inspector of leaf tobacco, in the city of Cincinnati, or that he exercised the functions of said office, or that he ever claimed to hold the same; admitting that he was the duly appointed inspector of leaf tobacco of the Association of the Tobacco Trade of Cincinnati, a private corporation, and averring that said association had full and complete power and authority to appoint him as such.
    The evidence introduced upon the trial of the cause, upon the issues thus made up, proved that there were six tobacco commission warehouses in the city of Cincinnati, connected with each of which was an inspector of leaf tobacco, duly appointed in accordance with' the provisions of the statute (78 Ohio L. 2Í2), but that' all the tobacco sold at auction at such warehouses was inspected at the request of the proprietors thereof, by said defendant, as inspector of the Association of the Tobacco Trade of Cincinnati, and in accordance with the rules of said association.
    It was further shown that defendant in error never claimed, nor held himself out to be, an inspector of leaf tobacco, save as an appointee of said association.
    On this state of facts, the judgment of the district court was for the defendant in error, and the present petition in error is prosecuted to reverse that judgment. ■
    
      G. Bambaeh, for relator.
    
      Ramsey & Matthews and RLoadVy, Johnston & Oolston, for respondent.
   "White, J.

The question in this case is, whether the corporation known as “ The Association of the Tobacco Trade of Cincinnati,” is authorized to appoint, as one of its corporate officers, an inspector of leaf tobacco. The defendant Casey was appointed tó such office, and claims the right to exercise its functions under the rules and regulations of the corporation. The association became incorporated under the act of April 3, 1866, “ To authorize the incorporation of Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce.” S. & S. 182. The objects of the association were “ to secure the better regulation of the tobacco trade of Cincinnati, to promote its interest and influence, and to collect and disseminate information concerning it.” Section 8 of the act under which the association was incorporated, provides that the board of directors shall control, manage^ and conduct the financial and business concerns of the association, and “appoint such inspectors, gaugers, weighers, measurers and other officers and employes as the by-laws may require, or as they may deem expedient and necessary.”

By section 7137 of the Revised Statutes, paragraph 500, the act of April 3, 1866, was repealed; and- by section 3232, the corporation now in question was to be thereafter governed and controlled by the provisions of title 2, of the Revised Statutes.

Section 3827 is found in title 2, and provides that “ The officers of an incorporated board-of trade or chamber of commerce shall consist of a president, two vice-presidents — first and second, and ten directors, all of whom shall be members of the •association, and be engaged in business at, or residents of, the city or town where it is established; .... and all other officers, agents, or committees, deemed necessary for the interests of the association, shall be appointed in such manner, and with such powers, as may be provided by the by-laws and rules of the association.”

Section 3829 provides that such corporations may require' from their officers, bonds to secure the faithful discharge of their duties. Section 3830 is as follows : “ Every inspector, gauger, weigher or measurer appointed by such association, shall be recognized as a legally appointed officer, for the duties pertaining to his position, in the city and county wherein the association is located, and shall be subject to all the provisions and penalties of the laws relating to such officers ; and the certificate of such appointee, as to his official acts, shall be ev-; idence, and binding upon the persons interested.”

- Under this legislation the association is authorized to appoint an inspector to perform such duties as may promote the objects for which the association was incorporated.

It is, however, claimed on behalf of the relator, that the right to inspect tobacco in the several warehouses of the members of the association, is vested excktswely in the inspectors appointed under chapter 6, title 5, of the Revised Statutes, as amended April 20,1881. -78 Ohio L. 2é2, We do not think so. The tobacco, which such inspectors are required to inspeet, is limited to such tobacco as they may be “ called on to view, weigh and inspect, at sucb warehouse, of any other public warehouse.” S.ection 4340.

' The sale of tobacco at the warehouse or elsewhere, unlike the sale of spirituous liquors, is not forbidden until subjected to inspection by the statutory inspector. With the consent of the seller and buyer, tobacco may be sold without any inspection, or upon the inspection of any person they may agree upon.

The defendant does not claim the right to insjiect tobacco, except at the instance of the warehouse-man having it in charge; and, in the absence of any showing to the contrary, the warehouseman must be presumed to represent the owner from whom he received the tobacco for sale.

We find no error in the judgment of the district court.

It is contended on behalf of the defendant, that the mode of appointing inspectors, prescribed in section 4334 (18 Ohio L. 242), is in conflict with the constitution; but the view we take of the case renders the consideration of that question unnecessary.

Judgment affirmed.