Case ID: mich_97/html/0186-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "McGrath, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John Moran v. Frank E. Darby, Treasurer of Kalkaska County.
    
      Liquor traffic — Local option — Publication of resolution — Designation of newspaper.
    
    The record of the proceedings of the board of supervisors in-ordering and declaring the result of an election tinder the-local option law is fatally defective if it contains no designation by the board of the newspaper in which the publication of the resolution of prohibition is to be made.
    
    
      
      Mandamus.
    
    Argued June 13, 1893.
    Granted October 13, 1893.
    Relator applied for mandamus to compel respondent to accept relator's bond and the tax for selling intoxicating liquors, and to issue the statutory receipt and card. The-facts are stated in the opinion.
    
      Pratt & Davis, for relator.
    
      Totten & Phelps, for respondent.
    
      
       For cases bearing upon Act No. 207, Laws of 1889, known as-the “Local Option Law.” see:
      1. Feek v. Township Board, 82 Mich. 393, holding- the act constitutional.
      2. Friesner v. Common Council, 91 Mich. 504, relating- to the sufficiency of the petit on for election, and the finality of the determination by the' board of supervisors that the election has been prayed for by the requisite number of electors, and holding it constitutional for the Legislature to confer this power upon the board.
      3. Covert v. County Treasurer, 93 Midi. 603, holding that the provisions fixing- the time when the different proceedings taken by the board shall be entered on their journal, and signed by the acting chairman, are mandatory; and that the unsigned and unauthenticated proceedings of the board cannot be said to be such a record as the law requires to be made in order to give effect to its provisions, and make it operative in the county.
    
   McGrath, J.

This proceeding was instituted to test the validity of the action of the board of supervisors of Kalkaska county in ordering and declaring the result of an election by which it was determined to prohibit the-sale of liquor in the county, under. Act No.. 207, Laws of 1889.

The record of the proceedings is fatally defective, in that it contains no designation by the board of the paper in which the publication of the resolution of prohibition is to-be made. Section 14 makes it the duty of the clerk to publish in a newspaper, “ to be designated by the board/ a copy of the preamble and resolution relating to the order of prohibition, and provides that the affidavit of publication shall be filed with the clerk of the board, who shall spread the same on the records folloAving the record of the adoption of the resolution of prohibition, and- that “the said clerk shall state next on the record the date Avhen said notice and affidavit of publication Avas entered for record, and shall then sign the record officially." This section makes the record of such resolution of prohibition, and of the publication of notice, etc., eA'idence of the facts therein stated.

It is contended that inasmuch as the board of supervisors had in October, 1891, let the county printing to certain papers, that was a sufficient designation. But the statu fe requires a designation by the then present board. This .action was taken in July, 1892. The contract for county printing had been let by a board composed of other parties. N or was it contemplated by the Legislature that other proceedings of the board of supervisors should be resorted to, to sustain or support action under this law.

It is unnecessary to consider the other questions raised.' 'The mandamus will issue as prayed.

The other Justices concurred.