Case ID: misc_47/html/0516-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Andrews, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Peter O’Neil, as Commissioner, etc., Appellant, v. James E. Mansfield, as Mayor, etc., Respondent. John Carroll, as Commissioner, etc., Appellant, v. James E. Mansfield, as Mayor, etc., Respondent. William Branagan, as Commissioner, etc., Appellant, v. James E. Mansfield, as Mayor, etc., Respondent. Fred M. Hart, as Commissioner, etc., Appellant, v. James E. Mansfield, as Mayor, etc., Respondent.
    (Supreme Court, Onondaga Special Term,
    June, 1905.)
    City of Oswego — Construction of charter — Removal by mayor of officers he appoints — Must be on sworn testimony after judicial investigation—“ Supreme Court ” means Special or Trial Terms — Appellate Division a separate court — Procedure — Special proceeding — Costs.
    The provision in § 63 of the charter of the city of Oswego, authorizing the mayor to remove from office any one. appointed to office by him, does not refer to an individual appointment but to those, officers who are appointed by the mayor; and the provision authorizing the accused, upon conviction of the cause or causes charged for such removal, to appeal to the Supreme Court of the State of New York from such conviction or judgment of conviction, intends such appeal to be made to the Special Term and not- to the Appellate Division.
    The Supreme Court and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court are enumerated separately' in the Constitution as courts of record, and as a general rule any reference in the Code or in statutes to the Supreme Court is to the Special or Trial terms thereof.
    On a proper petition, appealing from the mayor’s action in removing the appellants, orders - were made directing him to certify and return a record of his proceedings in relation to the removal of the petitioners, the charges,. etc., and show cause why the appeals should not prevail and his proceedings be reversed and set aside; held proper procedure, expeditious and suited to the requirements of the situation.
    It appeared from the return that, in the cases of three officers removed, who were commissioners of works of said city, charges were filed, accompanied by a notice directing them, to appear before the mayor and give reasons why they should not be removed; that they appeared and filed a paper denying the charges; that the charges were read and the commissioners were asked whether there was any specific denial; that they replied that an answer had been filed to all the charges and that they awaited further action on the. part of the mayor; that the mayor thereupon announced that the hearing was closed; that the commissioners then asked that they be presented with the evidence, proofs and testimony .against them and that they be confronted with the witnesses. This was denied and the mayor removed them. In the case of the fourth commissioner substantially the same proceedings took place except that various questions were asked of persons present and various statements were made by them, including references to certain records and documents; but, contrary to his objection, such statements were not under oath, the mayor and the city attorney, seemingly, having proceeded on the theory that the mayor had no power to administer an oath or to summon witnesses, and such statements, even if they had been made under oath, being incompetent, held:
    The removal of the commissioners is to be upon proof, as the result of a judicial investigation, not by arbitrary power, but when charges of sufficient giavity are proven to be true. The defendant may demand the production of witnesses; that their testimony be given under oath; that he be given an opportunity to cross-examine them and call other witnesses in his defense; and he has a right to be represented by counsel.
    The proceedings of the mayor should be, accordingly, reversed and the petitioners should be reinducted into office.
    This is a special proceeding and costs may be awarded, in the discretion of the court, at the rates allowed for similar services in an action.
    Certiorari to review the conviction of the appellants of the causes charged as the ground of their removal, by the mayor of the city of Oswego, from their offices ¿s commissioners of works of said city.
    H. C. & E. J. Mizen, for appellants.
    John Tiernan, for respondent.
   Andrews, J.

On May 3, 1905, Peter O’Heil, John Oar-roll, William Branagan and Ered M. Hart were the commissioners of works of the city of Oswego. On that day the Mayor of that city removed O’Ueil, Carroll and Branagan from office, and on May fifth, he removed Hart.

The charter of the city of Oswego provides that there shall be four commissioners of works who shall be appointed by the mayor. These commissioners “ may be removed by the mayor for official or other misconduct upon proof, but not otherwise. Such commissioners shall be furnished with a copy of the charges preferred and an opportunity be given for a defense thereof.” Charter, § 129. The charter also in defining the duties and powers of the mayor provides by section 63, as amended by chapter 201 of the Laws of 1902, “ The mayor shall have the power to remove for cause any one appointed to office by him, after an opportunity has been given to said appointee to be heard. Cause for removal is hereby defined to be, among other things, disobedience of lawful orders or instructions, incapacity, incompetencv, corruption in office, neglect of duty, intemperance, conviction of crime, or anything prejudicial to the best interests of the city, or any or either board or department thereof. Provided, however, that upon conviction of the cause or causes charged, the accused shall have the right to appeal to the supreme court of the state of New York from such conviction or judgment of conviction, both on the law and facts, or either, or may review such conviction or judgment of conviction, by writ of certiorari issued out of said supreme court, and whichever remedy of appeal or review may be adopted by the said accused, the proceedings in either case, shall be governed to final completion in all things by the rules and practice of said supreme court.”

The two sections are entirely consistent with each other and both are applicable to such a proceeding as the present. It should also be observed that the power given by section 63, to the mayor to remove “ any one appointed to office by him ” does not refér to an individual appointment, but to , those officers who are appointed by the mayor.

Acting under the provisions of section 63, the above-named commissioners have appealed from the action of the mayor to the Special Term of the Supreme Court; and the first question that arises is whether that court has jurisdiction to entertain such an appeal. It is claimed that the appeal to the Supreme Court referred to is an appeal to the Appellate Division of that court and not to the Special Term.

In my opinion the Special Term has jurisdiction. The writ of certiorari is heard by the Appellate Division. It is heard upon a return of all the proceedings had and brings up for review the action of the inferior body or officer both upon the law and the facts. Practically the same questions arise and the same principles govern as in case of an appeal. If the appeal, therefore, is to the Appellate Division, the Legislature has created in reality but one remedy in case of the improper removal of an officer instead of two as seems to have been its intention.

There are many analogous cases where the Legislature has provided for a prompt and summary review of the actions of officers or bodies. Jurisdiction in these cases is conferred upon the Supreme Court at Special Term for the reason that the Appellate Division is often not in session, and a reference to that court would involve considerable delay. Section 27 of the General Corporation Law, for instance, provides that any person aggrieved by any corporate election may apply to the Supreme Court in a summary manner, and it may hear and determine such election and reverse the- same and set it aside if not in accordance with law. Section 63 of the Insanity Law, provides that- a person committed pursuant to said law, if dissatisfied with the final order of the judge or justice committing him, may appeal from such order to a justice of the Supreme Court. Section 247la of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that any public officer may apply to a justice of the Supreme Court for an order citing any person to show cause why such person withholding the books and papers of any public office should -not deliver them over. Section 211 of the General Election Law provides that in addition to the remedies by mandamus and certiorari, the Supreme Court shall have summary jurisdiction to review any action or neglect of any officer or member of a political convention, or any inspector of election or any other public officer or board with regard to the right of any person to participate in a primary election, or with regard to any other right given by that statute to said person.

A reference to the Code of Civil Procedure furthermore leaves no doubt as to the meaning of the Legislature when it speaks of an appeal to the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Prior to the enactment of the new Constitution, section 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure enumerated the courts of record of the State. Among them was the Supreme Court. The General Term was not mentioned. Now the same section enumerates as a court of record, not only the Supreme Court, but the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court; and section 17 provides that each Appellate Division shall have its own seal. It may be said as a general rale that to-day any reference in the Code to the Supreme Court is to the Special or Trial Terms thereof.

Take for example section 1346. Prior to 1895, it provided that an appeal from a final judgment rendered in a County Court should be taken to the Supreme Court. If the respondent is right as to the meaning of similar words used in the charter no change in this section was necessary. The Legislature thought otherwise for the same section now provides that the appeal shall be taken to the Appellate Division.

Section 1344 provides that appeals from certain inferior courts may be heard by the Appellate Division, or by such justice or justices of the Supreme Court as may be designated for that purpose by the Appellate Division. Section 1345 also differentiates a judgment or 'order of the Appellate Division from a judgment or order of the Supreme Court. Again section 2570 of the Code prior to 1895 provided that an appeal from a decree of the Surrogate’s Court should be taken to the Supreme Court. ■ As it stands to-day the section, provides that an appeal shall be taken to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Section 3188 is important. It provides that an appeal may be taken to the Supreme Court from a judgment of the City Court of New York, where an appeal may be taken to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court from a judgment in the Supreme Court. Section 3191 provides that from such judgment of the Supreme Court made on appeal, an appeal may he taken to the Appellate Division.

Again section 3213 provides that an appeal from a judgment of the district court of New York may be taken to the Supreme Court, and shall be hoard in such manner and by such justice or justices as the Appellate Division shall direct.

The Constitution itself makes a similar distinction. Section 5 of article VI provides that appeals from certain inferior courts shall be heard in the Supreme Court in such manner and by such justice or justices as the Appellate Divisions in the respective departments, which include New York and Buffalo, shall direct.

The only instance I have been able to ■ discover where such a construction as that contended for by the respondent is given is section 517 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It allows the defendant to appeal from a judgment of conviction to the Supreme Court.. Evidently, however, the failure to amend this section in 1895 was a mere oversight which the courts have corrected, for in sections 518 and 770 where the Code-formerly spoke of appeals to the Supreme Court, it now speaks of appeals to the Appellate Division.

In view, therefore, of the evident intent of the Legislature, in view of the evil to be redressed and the provisions of other acts, finally in view of the meaning which must be given to similar words used in the Code of Procedure, in the Constitution and in the statutes, it must be held that where the Legislature speaks -of an appeal to the Supreme Court it means an appeal not to the Appellate Division but to the Special Term.

The next question is as to the practice to be adopted in cases of this character.

In the case at bar upon proper petitions appealing from his action orders were made directing the mayor of the city of Oswego to certify and return to the court at a Special Term thereof a record of his proceedings in relation to the removal of the petitioners; the charges preferred by him; the answer to the charges and all the evidence, papers, documents, records, proofs, testimony and proceedings had or taken before him in the above matters. It was further ordered that at the same time and place the mayor show cause why the appeals should not prevail and why his proceedings in relation to the removal of the jietitioners should not be reversed and set aside.

While this may not be the only proper method of bringing the question before the Special Term, it seems to be one that is expeditious and that is suited to the requirements of the situation.

Upon the return day the mayor produced a copy of the charges, a copy of the answers which were served in reply to them and a stenographic record of the proceedings before him. There should have been in addition a certificate from him that the papers so produced constituted a complete record of all proceedings before him in relation to th.e matter. It was conceded on the argument, however, that they did, in fact, constitute such a complete record, and for the purposes of this appeal that statement may be deemed sufficient.

It appears, therefore, that in the cases of O’Neil, Carroll and Branagan, charges were filed, accompanied by a notice directing them to appear before the mayor at an appointed time and give reasons why they should not be removed and dismissed from office. The commissioners did appear and filed a paper denying the charges and each of them. The charges were then read and the commissioners were asked whether there was any specific denial. In reply the mayor was told that an answer had been filed to all the charges and that the commissioners awaited further action on his part. Thereupon the mayor announced that the hearing was closed. The commissioners then asked that they be presented with the evidence, proofs and testimony against them and that they be confronted with the witnesses. This was denied and the mayor removed the commissioners.

Substantially the same proceedings took place in the case of Commissioner Hart, except that various questions were asked certain persons present and various statements were made by them, including references to certain records and documents. Against the objection of the commissioner these statements were made without the witnesses being sworn. Even if under oath the testimony given would have been incompetent.

The mayor and the city attorney seem to have proceeded upon the theory that the former had no power to administer an oath or to summon witnesses. That in this they were mistaken may be seen by reference to sections 843 and 845 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The removal of the commissioners is to be upon proof for cause and not otherwise. The commissioners are to be furnished with a copy of the charges preferred and given an opportunity to be heard. This means a judicial investigation. The power is not an arbitrary one, but can be exercised only when charges sufficient in their nature to warrant a removal have been preferred and proven to be true. The defendant has the right to demand the production of witnesses ; to demand that their testimony should be given under oath; to be given an opportunity to cross-examine them and to call other witnesses in his defense. He has the right to be represented by counsel. It is true that courts will not be astute to reverse the action of the mayor for merely formal errors as to the admission or rejection of testimony, but there must be substantially a fair trial and a fair exercise by the officer making the removal of -his judgment on the evidence taken before him. People ex rel. Ryan v. Wells, 86 App. Div. 270; People ex rel. Kasschau v. Police Commissioners, 155 N. Y. 40; People ex rel. Mayor v. Nichols, 79 id. 582.

The action of the mayor in the ease at bar entirely failed to comply with the requirements of the statute. The proceedings were wholly irregular. His action, therefore, in removing the appellants in this case from office was unauthorized and must be reversed. The appellants themselves must be reinducted into the offices from which they have been illegally removed.

These appeals are special proceedings. Costs may, therefore, be awarded in the discretion of the court at the rates allowed for similar services in an action. Code Civ. Pro., §§ 3240, 3334.

Costs to the amount of sixty dollars may be allowed to the appellants, O’Heil, Carroll and Branagan, and the same amount to the appellant Hart. Code Civ. Pro., § 3251, subd. 4.

Orders in compliance with .the foregoing opinion may be prepared, and if not agreed upon will be settled upon proper notice.

Ordered accordingly.