Case ID: minn_81/html/0359-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "START, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

EDWIN MURRAY v. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
    
    November 14, 1900.
    Nos. 12,402—(103).
    laws 1897, c. 260, Unconstitutional.
    Laws 1897, c. 260, entitled “An act to provide for the treatment of ebriates by counties and prescribing rules governing the same,” is unconstitutional, in that it is special legislation as to the affairs of counties, and is not uniform in its operation throughout the state.
    Action in the district court for Ramsey county by Edwin Murray, doing business under tbe name and style of the Murray Institute, to recover $100 for the treatment of an inebriate, committed to said institution under the provisions of Laws 1897, c. 260. From an order, Brill, J., overruling a demurrer to the complaint, defendant appealed.
    Reversed.
    
      F. W. Zollman, for appellant.
    
      M. Gallagher, for respondent.
    
      
       Reported in 84 N. W. 103.
    
   START, C. J.

The question presented by the record in this case for our decision relates to the constitutionality of Laws 1897, c. 260, entitled "An act to provide for the treatment of inebriates by counties and prescribing rules governing the same.” The defendant urges several objections to the validity of this act, but we find it necessary to consider only one of them, which is to the effect that the act violates sections 33 and 34 of article 4 of the state constitution, in that it is special legislation as to the affairs of counties, and is not uniform in its operation throughout the state.

The act provides for the commitment to, and treatment in, a private institution for the cure of inebriates, at the expense of the county of their residence, of a limited number of indigent, habitual drunkards, on their petition, or that of some friend or kin, to the probate court. Whether an indigent inebriate shall be so treated is made by the act to depend upon his voluntary election. If he elects to avail himself of the proffered bounty, and makes or consents to the making of the proper petition, the probate court may act, otherwise not; and the county must pay for his treatment if he establishes the allegations of his petition, but no more than one inebriate a year for each ten thousand population of each county can receive such aid. The act, by its terms, is limited in its operation to counties having a population of fifty thousand or more. A similar act, which applied to the whole state, was held by this court to be invalid, because it attempted to confer powers and duties upon the probate judges beyond the jurisdiction authorized by the constitution. Foreman v. Board of Co. Commrs., 64 Minn. 371, 67 N. W. 207.

By tbe act bere in question, an attempt was made to remove tbe objections to tbe prior act pointed out in tbe case cited. It may be conceded, for tbe purpose of tbis appeal only, that sucb objections were so obviated. But, tbe act being limited in its operation to a part only of tbe state, it is manifestly special legislation, and void, unless tbe attempted classification is a proper one. Wbat is a proper basis of classification for purposes of legislation bas been settled by tbis court, so far as it is practicable to lay down general rules upon tbe subject. Tbe difficulty lies in tbe application of tbe rules to particular cases. A law is general and uniform in its operation wbicb operates equally upon all subjects witbin tbe class for wbicb tbe rule is adopted, provided tbe classification be a proper one. Tbe legislature, however, cannot adopt an arbitrary classification; for it must be based on some reason suggested by sucb a difference in tbe situation and circumstances of tbe subjects placed in different classes as to disclose tbe necessity or propriety of different legislation in respect thereto. Any law based upon sucb classification must embrace all, and exclude none, whose condition and wants render sucb legislation necessary or appropriate to them as a class. Legislation limited in its relation to particular subdivisions of tbe state, to be valid, must rest on some characteristic or peculiarity plainly distinguishing tbe places included from those excluded. Nichols v. Walter, 37 Minn. 264, 33 N. W. 800; State v. Cooley, 56 Minn. 540, 58 N. W. 150; State v. Ritt, 76 Minn. 531, 79 N. W. 535.

Classification on tbe basis of population is proper for tbe purpose of legislation upon certain subjects, but not upon all, and tbe precise question bere to be determined is whether there is any apparent natural reason why the treatment of indigent inebriates at the expense of tbe public should be limited to tbe counties having a population of fifty thousand or more, and all other counties excluded. Or, in other words, is there sucb a difference between urban and rural drunkenness, and its consequences to tbe drunkard, bis family and tbe public, as to naturally suggest tbe necessity or propriety of a classification on the basis of population for tbe purpose of legislation upon the subject of the cure, at the cost of the public, of indigent inebriates? It would seem that this question must necessarily be answered in the negative.

It is claimed, however, by the plaintiff, and such was the view of the learned trial court, that drunkenness is a greater evil to the public, and that the proportion of drunkards was likely to be larger, and that their families were more likely to become a public charge, in the cities and populous communities than in more sparsely settled rural districts; hence the purpose of the law was to protect the public in such populous centers rather than to benefit the inebriate, and for these reasons the classification was proper. This assumed difference between drunkenness in the city and in the country is one of degree, not a distinguishing characteristic. The evils of intemperance are not bounded by county lines. Possibly drunkenness in the large cities of the state is more general and a greater evil, and its consequences to individuals and the public more far reaching, than it is in less populous communities; but, if so, it affords no justification for the classification in the act here in question, for it is obvious, from the mere reading of the act, that the legislature intended by it to make provision in the nature of a bounty for the inebriate poor in a limited number of the counties of the state, and to exclude from the benefit of the act all the inebriate poor outside of such counties. Foreman v. Board of Co. Commrs., supra.

The act leaves it optional with the drunkard whether or not proceedings shall be instituted to secure his treatment, and only one inebriate for each ten thousand population can be treated in any one year. If the primary purpose of the law was to protect the public from the results of drunkenness by curing the inebriate, why leave it optional with him, or limit the cure to one patient to each ten thousand of population? The purpose of the law being to provide a bounty to needy inebriates, to the end that they may be cured of their disease, and the public thereby incidentally benefited, there is and can be no reason, necessity, or propriety for discrimination against any of them. Hence the classification on the basis of population, for the purpose of legislating for the relief of such indigent inebriates, is purely arbitrary, and the act unconstitutional. It is as clearly so as would be a law providing for tbe care of insane persons or tbe poor of a limited number of counties at tbe cost of sucb counties, and excluding tbe insane and poor of all tbe other counties of tbe state from tbe operation of tbe act.

While we bold tbe law unconstitutional for tbe reason stated, we are not to be understood as bolding that if the primary purpose of this act bad been to protect tbe public from tbe consequences of drunkenness, by curing tbe inebriates of tbe disease, there is sucb a difference in the wants and needs in this respect of tbe counties included within tbe act and those excluded as to justify tbe classification attempted in this act; for we are of tbe opinion there is not. Nor are we to be understood as bolding that a general act, uniform in its operation throughout tbe state, providing for tbe treatment of inebriates at the expense of tbe public, would not be a valid law; for reclaiming tbe inebriate, who is incapable of self-respect or self-support, and restoring him to society prepared again to discharge tbe duties of citizenship, directly promotes tbe public welfare. State v. Cassidy, 22 Minn. 312, 321. Tbe act here in question being invalid, it follows that tbe complaint in this action fails to state a cause of action, and that tbe demurrer to tbe complaint should have been sustained.

Order reversed.