OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS

**AUSTIN**Hon. CharlesE. %a-, Pa&t? 2

.?%oes the Cctissloner have authorityto ;~kz lmnediatesettlement at the hands of the n Thim, In event of refusal to III&~settlement, and after Certiiioate of Inspeation

has been revoke%, and the dealer sends out nursery stooks,would he be sub&at to prosecutionunder the provlslonsoi ArtloleUOS, Penal Co& of Texas?" (parenthetloal insertionsours) Artiole 119, Revised Civil Statates,1925, reads as follows:

"The proteotlon

or fruit trees, shrubs, an6 plants Sba~ be under the **spp8rvi6ion and**  **control** of the coraalsslonor of srglculture. The commls**sioiwr shall**  **prepare and**  **enfoxoe suitable**  **,mleb** and regulations

ror the traffla aid ehlpaent of cape janmine,out 

### flowers, and such ,greenhouse and floral ~hlpaeats as w'require control,and for the lnapeetlon of mrkserIe?J,

greenhoties,

oroh**ards, farest~trees,**  **and** all produots ori&natimg fxom the same, withln the meaning of thls uhapter. He shall enforcethe ~rovis~onaof thti chavter and BE& cad enforoeeuoh other rules.aml**reRulntiom** not lnoonslstent

herewithas may be deemed accessorytooarrytheeamintoeffeot. II ebllal8 prOYi&e such rules and~egulatfon6 aoLer& al&, privateor publiaparks avmues of shade trees, shrubbery

and ornsment

abalongthestreeta of oltlw, for aity residences, and oity ~property generally,an will aeaure a proteatlonand Unity from Insectpeats and contagious dlseaees intended to be providedfor by this law." (Mts lQQQ;p.%l.II.) (Underscoring

ours) Micle 126, %evisedCiril Statutes,pr0VideS: 90 asoertaln

whether nursery~stooi%i lnf4iOted wlth diseaseser pests, the ConmissIoneraha.lIaause to be made at least onoe enah year, an ezaPfPation of each nurseryor 

### otherplaoe 

### wheremrreesy ato@k is exposed

### for **s&e.** If swh atoek mo examined la apparentlyfree In all reepeotsfrom eny BontagiOU or 3,nfeatlous

disea8e or dsnareroesly injWlou InBeet pests, the c;omarla6l~n~r~~'srnall iesw to tae ownerHon. Charles E. Bmghmin, Pa@ 3

or pxoprletoror suoh steak a oertiilcatarecitierred, It shall be v01d.~ (Undersoorlng oure) **Artlole 127,**  gevlsed **Civil Statutes,**  containsthe **romtting prwieions**  f

"~Unurserystock~~n~ignedior shipment, or shippedby freight,expreess or other msans **of transportation**  **shall** be acooapenLed**by** a eopyotaald certitiaoteattaahsdto eaohoar, box, bale, bundle or paolage. Vihen suah box, bale, bundle,or paakage,contalnanursery steak to be deliveredto mix8 than one person;partnership, or oorporation, eaah portionof such mmsery 6tOOk to be deliveredto such person,mmershlp 

### or corporation, shall also bear a 60 4 y of the certl,flcafe

of inapeotionissued as prw ded 'inthe preoedlngartlcle.w Article 129, Revised Civil Statutes, **pxovldea** for xevocatlonof taxtViaate bythe Oxnulssionerof AgrSadLtoce:

*The G3sdssioner may xewke any **aertlrhat6** Issued under this ohapterwhen he f.Znds that falne representations

have been made **by the**  **mrt~ Eo**  whom the same was **issued. or**  upon **refufsal OS**  swh **party to**  ao?iIply

wlthths law, lnatruotiona or ties ~lven by the Coarmlssloner as authorized**by this**  (Unf¶er6coxlng **ours) chapter.w**  ~~%lcle 133, Revised Ciyll Statutes, authmlsea the collectionof reasonablelnsp8atlon fees by the comai8atoneZ of iigrlaulture:

The Comlssloner shall fix and oolleot rea**aonable fees**  ror **the lnspeatlon**  herein wovided ?or. of not iess wan two do~ars and rirty aent5 nor more thau fifteendollars ior eaoh inspeetlon.* ~nderssorlng ours) Article 135, Revised Cltil statutes, 1925, prorideS:Eon. Charles 3. Baughmm, Peg6 4

suah.a.gent

Shall have proper oredeutlals rrom the dealer he represent6or eo-operatee wlth; and tailing In that, sny such agent shall be classed as a deder, and subjectto such rules as ntay **be** adoptedtielatlng

to them,and shall be amenable to the same 

### peaaltles for the riolation of any pro716lonof this law.* Art1018 1693 of the Penal Code of T&a8 reads 

### as SOllOW5l "'Alln1U'EeX'ystOakODfl6ign8d.: ~CQ' 6hipmePlt, 

### or **shfpped by**  freight,expxe6sor other mans or tren6portatlon

shall be aeoompaaled by a **copy** of said cextlilaate attaohedto eaoh oar box, bale, bantile or package. When such box, bafe, bundle or paakage arntainsnursery 8tock to be dellvexedto more them one pemon, partnershfp or dorporatlon, each portionof m8h nursery steak to be so delisered shall also bear a WDYOS.sueheemtlficate of

Rev%8wlngthe nost p8I.-t%nent oi the above quoted statutes hrtlale l26 requiresthe ConuuleslonerOil'Agrloultat8 to 

### issueto the owuer 

### or $roprletor of nurseryst#k a certlfioate

**or** lnspeotlon

where em examination, to be aade at least once a year, dl6elOS8Ssaah stook to b8 ire6 frog disease**and** lnseotpests.

Artiale 3.27

stipulates

that a oopy 

### 0r the 00drioat8 of Inspectionaooompanyall shipments**or** nursery etoek. ~tiole 1693 **or** the mxml Code makes it a penal orfense to Ship nursery stock wlthout the aertiiioate.

Artlole 129 **provides** ~fer re~aatlon of the 8ertlfiaate on certain conditions, lnclndfng refta6aX

al the Party to whom It waS iesned *to comply tit&the Ia+.Xoc. CharlesE. ??augbmn,Page 5

Artfole 133 authorizesthe CcmmlseLoner to *Six and collectreasonablefctm* for tke lnspcetlon, said fcee re&ngfromTWo DollarsanaLrirtycsnts tofirteen Dollars.

Tixmi ia no provision In the 'tarloufi artiolcsabow quoted as to the time and mtnnem of payment of the fees for the lnspeotion.

Sin00 the ocrtlflcate~oovlded Sor In lirticlc l26, ""P'",i is ncoessary**for the**  nhlpacnt**of** nursery **s,tock, it**  **has** oert n.oS the che.racterIstice o? a permit, or a lloensc which has been deiined as a Sorm oS pen&elon.Srom the authorltiee

to periorm ocrtclnaots end ocrry on a ocr tapr;oPcr businass,8nd the law rclatln& to paymmt of.&mnse. Or pernltiees appcam to **be** applleablc.

2'7 Tcx. Juris.p,iW@i *Ordlnarllythe right to a lioeneedependeupon the payment of a See * + ** 27 %Mr. amf.6. generallyprrmldc i ,892:

. &: "LiacMlag sleaBuTc8 qLLwc thepaJnsnt0raaornbythe licenseeto a&ray the exptm88 of issuingthe ll-. ocmc and cram&&q the applieautor supervfrring~ the businessto be oonduetcd. Suoh ohargesarc umally denomiactcd~fccst. A licenseice is **not** a **fox, but**  **a prioe**  **6sxactcd ior**  the exerolseor a privilege. It la levied unaer.thcpolio8 ma.mt the taring powcx',aadthe~cforcdifferccssentially

57 CoqmcJuris p.Es1: g9!hetlmeaudraanner 0s payment**of a**  liocn88

### r88 or tax arc gcimraZly governedby the provisionSOS thi statute or OZdinaaoe rcquirlngthe 1Ocense or tar, 

### th~.gcnecl.ly bclag payableannu8Uy. Vaymant in advance. ?cy5ent of a license fee map be and **generally** is rcquirred as a oondftion premdent to the issuanceof a license **and** 8ngag.lng **in** bwa888, **ma a**  **3388~8** ***sued betom**  suoh Payment is **mid.** Undersomcstatatcsand ordinanoes

payment Ln aax?anoC is clcc requtied Or license**or** oooapationtaxes, and where a tax fs 2mposed monthly,an appliea8ti w&f3 ha8 already pweued the business ror eom0 tbite dthout tddne lout a

## 306

~n.Charles !3aughutau,F~e 6

liocnseor paying the tax is not entitledto a lIceme without the payment or tender of baok taxes for the tiiac he has engaged in the business. Under 

### otlmrstatutes or 

### oraIn8a8881houever, a licenseor ocoupctlonfcx Is not payable in aavt3m3

or as a oon~tion preaedcntto engcgIng In business,partloularly~uhere the tcx Is ~a~3abg tothe aaaunt0ram~ fyos

n

. Itwill be noted thatuhcrc the itatutcprmidcs ror the time and **msnner 0t**  paylasnt **or** ices, pitymat **0f** the roe in advance Is a gcncwil rule. Ia scxe Ihctaa~~, how

### ever, the 

### nature or the tax prevents paymat in aavame, ~-whwc the tax Is graded aooordlngto the amount or annual sclca3

or Income. **37** Corpus **auriS** $251.' Wher6 the statutes 0ontai.n no expressprovIsIon as tc.tImcaud payment or rees suoh as are authctizcd by Art1016X53, Rctiscd Civil Statutcc, .1925, It la acocsocry to isoertainthe Intent **0r** the Legislaturefrom ca caalysicr hi the statute8a8 a whole In regard to the tlmc of pa-t.

BamInstloa of the aurscry stock **aa itmam3**  **of** a ocrtitiaatc **or** InspcotIcalnvclvcsa 0crtai.n amountof em**The objeot**  **or the**  **tees le**  **to** defray the expense. Ez*the lcnguagc of &rtIole lS6, Bc~Ised Civil Statutes, lWZi,Icman&atarytothc cffcatthatthe Ccaml~eionbrof igrioulture

Isauc a ocrtIrIcatcto the omwr or proprietor sfnurseryetook passingthe test still It Is equcllymanda- 'Wy 

### underArtIole X%3, RcYIsed C&L1 Statutes,lOSEi, for him ;o**rix** and oollcotreasonablereea. 

### r0r the laqmation. A ~8rtIfIoatc

of IncpeotlonIs a ocadItIonprcacdcatto ah%-t linursery**steak.** To 8hIp 'nursery **steok without**  **It is**  **a rio**  atlca or then

,eIril and orlmlnal statutesaf the Stat0 of Texas. fhe nursery 8took omcr Is not entitled to the Inspcctlon8ee iae ofthe ~~tmenf0ragrio~~anathellosPsctromrths .kt8 on a oredlt **basis.** Suuh **a oolrstraatian**  

### mwld **olromawsnt** *he pwpcsc or the kot andenable xursery **ctauk ommra**  **and pro**  **rietim to**  **take advantqc**  

### or **the** 

### ben8rit or the Aot at t&3 Wmce or the #tats.

Atticle **U9,** R8vlsca Citilstatutes,. 192s. authora3 the Com.l~sIaner or Agricultureto wenf43roe the provIlms **or** this uhaptczaud etifnwc suuh ether mlccaaa rcguatlane not InoonsIstcnt

hcri$wIth

as mcy be doeared

neccsscry

### . 307

lion. Charles 2. Raughman, Ba6e 7

to carry ths saze into effect.”

Art. 129, R. i. 5. 1925, authorizes the Comml6eioner of AgriCtitUre t0 P3YOkea oertificate “when he finds that false represcntstlons have been made by the party to whom the sane was issued” or “u,non refusal of suah party to comply with the law, instructions or rules given by the Comu&ssioner as authorized by this chapter.”

Khlle it is not advisable Sor the Repart,,mnt of A,@- culture to issue the certificate without having first collected the tispeotion Sees, still in those cases where the oertifioate has been issued with the understanding that the aertIfIoate fee be paid, the lan@x@ of Art. 129 is broad enough to authorize revocation on the ground either that the oertitioate holder obtaIned the oertitloate by representing that he wmld rexaft r0r tieme ana not havLng done so or intendl~ to do SO, thereby obtalnlnG same under a false representation. iup3.n nonment amounts to a refusal of the party to oomply with Ii *t ayc instruotlons or rulesn uhloh call for payment. law,

Art. 1693 of the Penal Code oontalns the sI,gnlSIoaht prtiIsion that whoever is %zongrullg In posscsslon or suoh oertIflcate* Is subject to Sine. Xhore the certISicat8 of inspection has been revoked under Artiole l.29, **R. C.**  **S.** 1925, by the Cozm.l.saloner

on account of rerusal to m&e the possessor thereof **sends out**  or delivers **wit** gayment, and **In** the **state, trees,**  **vines,** shrubs, plants, bud8 or cuttlngs, I. 8. t#ursery stock subject to the Act, then such nursery dealer 16 Yb~ongrully !m possession oS such certificate*’ upon the strength or which he z&es his shlprnents, and is subjeot to prO5eOUtIOn under Art. 1693 of the Penel Code.

It is our opinion that the Conmissioner 0r figrloulture has the authority to refuse issuanoe of the certljicate or inspection provided for under rrrtiole 126, Revised Civil Statutes 1923, to owners and proprietors of nursery steak unless the inspection fees provided for under Artiole 133 be paid at the time or lssuanoe* that where the certlfionte OS inspection has been issued w&hout missj.oner has authority to require f aymnt therefoar#, the cornmediate settlemmt Of the inspection Sees from the **dealer-** and furthermore, that In QBses where the certlfloate has been issued the ConmLssio~s~ has the authority under titicle 129, Revised &lril statutes to revoke any cortiSioate for whloh the owner or proprietor OS nurSerJr stock has persistently delayed or retused to pay; ahd SInalU, where the party to whomthe oertifioate OS Inspection has been issued refuses to pay~the +ospeotIon fees thereior ana oontinues to send out nursery stoukz under the authority OS saidBon. CharlesE. Bau@nWl, Fage 8

certifioate

df Inspection,

he is subject to proseoutlon and fine under Article 1693, Penal Code of Texas, for operatirrg

certificate

of Inspeotion

wrolyiullyin his possesunder a slon.

188,we Trustingthat we hare fully answeredyour in&rare

Yours very truly

ATTORNEY

GENl?XUL

OP TEXAS