Source: http://courts.mrsc.org/supreme/050wn2d/050wn2d0001.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 05:10:15+00:00

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PLEADING - DEMURRER - ADMISSIONS BY DEMURRER - LEGAL CONCLUSIONS. Legal conclusions in a pleading are not admitted by a demurrer thereto.
 STATUTES - CONSTRUCTION - TIME OF TAKING EFFECT. The legal presumption is that, unless a contrary intent is specifically indicated in the legislative enactment, all bills other than emergency and appropriation measures shall become effective at the time designated in the constitution, which time is ninety days after the adjournment of the legislature.
 SAME - CONSTRUCTION - GENERAL RULES. It is the duty of the courts to give such construction to the language of a statute as will make it purposeful and effective.
 SAME. A court may not place a narrow, literal, and technical construction upon a part only of a statute and ignore other relevant parts; and the intention of the lawmakers must be extracted from a consideration of all of the provisions of the act.
 SAME. In construing a statute, the legislative intent must be gleaned from a consideration of the whole act by giving effect to the entire statute and every part thereof.
 SAME. The rule that two statutes dealing with the same subject should be construed so that the integrity of both will be maintained, applies to the construction of parts of one act; and each part must be construed in connection with every other part or section.
«1» Withheld from publication in Vol. 49 Wn. (2d) by order of Court.
«2» Reported in 297 P. (2d) 940.
 SAME. When similar words are used in different parts of a statute. the meaning is presumed to be the same throughout.
 SAME. Where the term "state census" was used in § 1 of an act without definition, and was used in § 10 of the act with the definition "as provided by Chapter 96, section 2, Laws of 1951," it will be presumed, in the absence of legislative statement to the contrary, that the legislature used the term "state census" in the same sense in § 1 as in § 10 of the act.
 SAME - EXPRESS MENTION AND IMPLIED EXCLUSION. The rule that the expression of one thing excludes others not expressed should be applied only as a means of discovering the legislative intent.
 COURTS - CREATION - MUNICIPAL COURTS - TIME OF ESTABLISHMENT. In enacting chapter 290, Laws of 1955, the legislature intended that the municipal court provided for therein should come into existence and begin functioning in the city of Seattle on June 9, 1955, the effective date of the act; it appearing that § 1 of the act created such a court in each city having a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants, as shown by the Federal or state census, whichever is the later, and it further appearing that, under the state census made in 1954 pursuant to chapter 96, Laws of 1951, which is the "state census" referred to, the population of the city of Seattle on June 9. 1955, was 548,000.
 DECLARATORY JUDGMENT - SUBJECTS OF RELIEF - VALIDITY OF STATUTES - ACTUAL CONTROVERSY. One may not, by a declaratory judgment action, challenge the constitutionality of a statute unless it appears that he will be directly damaged in person or in property by its enforcement; and the action must also be adversary in character and involve a present and actual, as distinguished from a possible or potential. controversy between the parties.
 SAME - EXISTENCE OF JUSTICIABLE CONTROVERSY. In a declaratory judgment action by an incumbent justice of the peace acting as police judge against a city and its officers to declare unconstitutional chapter 290. Laws of 1955, creating a municipal court in the city, held that the plaintiff failed to show that there exists a justiciable controversy between the parties upon such issue.
 SAME - ADVISORY OPINIONS. The court will not render a purely advisory opinion in a declaratory judgment action.
Appeal from a judgment of the superior court for King county, No. 482512, Seering, J., entered August 9, 1955, upon sustaining a demurrer to the complaint. dismissing an action for injunctive relief and for a declaratory judgment. Affirmed.
 See 12 A. L. R. 84; 16 Am. Jur. 296.
McMicken, Rupp & Schweppe, for appellant.
A. C. Van Soelen and Arthur Schramm, for respondents.
"An Act creating and establishing municipal courts in cities of the first class having more than five hundred thousand inhabitants, defining and prescribing their jurisdiction. regulating their practice and procedure; providing judges and personnel thereof; and fixing salaries."
The action was instituted by one of the police judges of the city of Seattle (who is herein referred to as appellant) against the city, its mayor, and members of its city council (referred to as respondents) to enjoin the enforcement of the statute and of ordinance No. 84122 of the city of Seattle. which was enacted to implement the statute and became effective on the same day. The prayer of the complaint was for both injunctive relief against their enforcement and for a judicial declaration that the statute and the ordinance are both unconstitutional and void in certain particulars and in their entirety.
The trial court entered a temporary injunction (which is still in effect) enjoining the enforcement of the statute and the ordinance during the pendency of this litigation. Thereafter, respondents' demurrer to the complaint, on the ground that it failed to state facts sufficient to entitle appellant to the relief prayed for, was argued and sustained in part and overruled in part. Since appellant stood on his complaint and respondents declined to plead further, the court entered a final judgment enjoining the operation of that portion of ordinance No. 84122 fixing the salary of a judge of the municipal court at eight thousand dollars for the year 1955, but denied a permanent injunction against the enforcement of chapter 290, Laws of 1955. From this latter portion of the judgment, this appeal has been prosecuted.
The city of Seattle is a city of the first class, having a population of 467,591 inhabitants, as shown by the last Federal census (made in 1950), and there has been no state census made subsequent to 1950, pursuant to Art. II, § 3 of the state constitution.
Appellant is receiving a salary as justice of the peace of $6,500 per year, plus an additional salary from the city as police judge of $1,500 per year. He has the right to practice law when not otherwise engaged in the performance of his judicial duty, and this right is extremely valuable to him. having for some years past resulted in an income of between $5,000 and $6,000 per year.
The act purports to create a new municipal court in cities with more than five hundred thousand population, and to displace the presently incumbent police justices prior to the end of the term for which they were elected. It also imposes new and higher financial obligations on such cities in the middle of the budget year, which could not be anticipated by them, all as more particularly shown by the letter of May 2, 1955, written by the corporation counsel to the city council, a copy of which is attached to the complaint.
On May 23, 1955, the city council passed ordinance No. 84122 for the purpose of making the act effective in the city of Seattle.
That said Chapter 290 of the Laws of 1955 does not apply to the City of Seattle, in that said City of Seattle does not have. as required by Section 1 of said Chapter 290, a population of more than 500,000 `as shown by the federal or state census. whichever is the later;' that by the last federal census, viz.. of 1950, the population of Seattle was 467,591, and that there has not been since 1950, nor for many years past, a state census. viz., an actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the state, as contemplated by Article II, section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Washington; that under the provisions of Chapter 5, Laws of 1947, and Chapter 96. Laws of 1951, (RCW 43.62.010 et seq.) a state census board is created which does not enumerate but estimates the population of cities and towns for the purpose of allocating to cities and towns certain state funds, particularly motor vehicle excise funds; that according to the last certificate filed by the so-called state census board with the Secretary of State in 1954, the estimated population of the City of Seattle as of April 1, 1954 was 548,000; but that such socalled census is an estimate merely of the populations of cities and towns within the state and is not a `state census', within the meaning of the State Constitution, or within the intent of the legislature."
The remainder of the complaint alleges five grounds on which the act is said to be invalid. These need be considered only in the event that we should come to the conclusion that the act is presently operative as to the city of Seattle.
The reference to chapter 96, Laws of 1951, p. 241 (RCW 43.62.030), in § 10 of the act, and the omission of any reference thereto in § 1 thereof, make it very difficult to interpret the intention of the legislature as to when chapter 290, Laws of 1955, was to become operative.
the board in the performance of its duties. The action of the board in determining the population shall be final and conclusive."
 There is nothing in this statute other than the above quoted section to indicate what method the board shall adopt in determining the population of the cities and towns. The complaint, in effect, alleges that the 1954 report of the state census board contains merely an estimate of the population of Seattle which is not based on an actual enumeration of its inhabitants and is not a state census within the meaning of the constitutional provision (Art. II, § 3) or the intent of the legislature in enacting chapter 290, Laws of 1955. These are legal conclusions of the 0leader which are not admitted by the demurrer.
We, therefore, find the same words "state census" in both § 1 and § 10 of the act, but it is only in the latter section that these two words are specifically made to refer to the report of the state census board created by chapter 96, Laws of 1951. Thus, for the purpose of determining when an additional judgeship is to be created in the municipal court, the population of the city as shown by the report of the state census board is conclusive.
"The provisions of sections 35.22.420, 35.22.430, 35.22.440,, 35.22.450, 35.22.460, 35.22.480, 35.22.490, 35.22.510, 35.22.520, 35.22.530, 35.22.540, 35.22.550, and 35.22.560, RCW, insofar as inconsistent with the provisions of this act shall apply only to cities of the first class having a population of less than five hundred thousand inhabitants."
It is to be noted that the legislature, in continuing the existing police court laws in force in cities of the first class having less than five hundred thousand population, made no reference to the method or manner of determining the number of inhabitants. Presumably, this was not necessary because § 27 applies to all cities of the first class except those having more than five hundred thousand population as shown by the most recent Federal or state census.
Section 27 makes no mention of "state census."
Did the legislature, by the omission of any reference to chapter 96, Laws of 1951, in § I of the act, intend that the act should not apply to any city in the state until either (1) the Federal census or (2) a state census made pursuant to Art. I, § 3, of the constitution shall show that such city has a population of more than five hundred thousand inhabitants?
constitutional census for which the legislature has consistently refused to make any provision. Nowhere in the act is there any reference to Art. II, § 3, of the constitution. That constitutional provision is not involved in this case, although appellant has referred to it in his complaint and in his briefs.
Since the legislature has failed to comply with the constitutional mandate seven specific times (in 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1945, and 1955), we cannot reasonably hold that the operation of this act was to be suspended either (a) until the next Federal census in 1960 or (b) until the legislature shall order a constitutional state census in 1965.
 The legal presumption is that, unless a contrary intent is specifically indicated in the particular legislative enactment, all bills (other than emergency and appropriation measures) shall become effective at the time designated in the constitution. That time is ninety days after the adjournment of the legislature (in this case June 9, 1955). Longview Co. v. Lynn, 6 Wn. (2d) 507, 108 P. (2d) 365.
1. Seattle was the only city in the state which could possibly be affected by the act, and that the latest Federal census (1950) showed Seattle's population as being less than 500,000.
2. There had been no constitutional state census since the 1950 Federal census (or at any other time), and the only state census showing the population of Seattle was the determination of the state census board as shown by its report on file with the secretary of state (made as of April 1, 1954) that Seattle had a population of 548,000.
designation of temporary judges to serve until the election and qualification of permanent judges. These provisions are strongly pursuasive that no delay in the operation of the act was contemplated by the legislature.
Appellant cites definitions of the word "census" as meaning an official enumeration of the population made from an actual count of the inhabitants of a given area. No doubt, this is the ordinary meaning of the term, but in this state the legislature had, in 1951, created a "state census board," directed it to "determine the population of all cities and towns of the state" each year, and declared its determination of population to be "final and conclusive."
There is nothing in chapter 96, Laws of 1951, which instructs the board as to the precise method to be followed in determining such population. We cannot take judicial notice of the board's procedure in arriving at its determination. Neither are we bound by the allegations of paragraph VIII of the complaint that the report of the state census board contains merely an estimate of Seattle's population.
The only clue to its procedure is found in § 3 of chapter 96, Laws of 1951 (RCW 43.62.040), quoted above, in which the legislature directed certain state and municipal officers to assist the board upon its request in the performance of its duties. The last sentence of § 3 declares that the board's determination is final and conclusive.
The words "state census" in § 1 of chapter 290, Laws of 1955, can, in view of the presumption that the act was intended to take effect on June 9, 1955, be reasonably held to refer to the 1954 report of the state census board created by the legislature in 1951, rather than to a nonexistent constitutional state census supposedly for redistricting the state as provided in Art. II, § 3. This interpretation is consistent with the presumed legislative intent that the act should become effective and operative at the usual time, to wit, ninety days after adjournment.
and effective, rather than futile and meaningless." Denning v. Quist, 172 Wash. 83, 19 P. (2d) 656.
 "It is too well-established to need citation of authority that a court may not place a narrow, literal, and technical construction upon a part only of a statute and ignore other relevant parts. In the process of construction, the intention of the lawmakers must be extracted from a consideration of all of the provisions of the act." In re Cress, 13 Wn. (2d) 7, 123 P. (2d) 767.
 In construing a statute, the legislative intent must be gleaned from a consideration of the whole act by giving effect to the entire statute and every part thereof. State v. Houck, 32 Wn. (2d) 681, 203 P. (2d) 693, and cases cited.
 "It is our duty to construe two statutes dealing with the same subject so that the integrity of both will be maintained. Buell v. McGee, 9 Wn. (2d) 84, 90, 113 P. (2d) 522 (1941). The same rule applies to the construction of parts of one act. Each part must be construed in connection with every other part or section. 2 Sutherland, Statutory Construction (3d ed.), 336, § 4703." Tacoma v. Cavanaugh, 45 Wn. (2d) 500, 275 P. (2d) 933.
 "It is a familiar canon of construction, that when similar words are used in different parts of a statute, the meaning is presumed to be the same throughout." Booma v. Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., 330 Mass. 79, 111 N. E. (2d) 742, and cases cited.
 Applying these rules to the present case, we presume, in the absence of legislative statement to the contrary, that the legislature used the term "state census" in the same sense in 1 as in § 10 of the act. Since "state census" is defined in 10 of the act, as hereinbefore stated, we must hold that the definition therein provided by the legislature applies equally to § 1. Only by so interpreting these two sections can the act be purposeful and not meaningless.
If the legislature had intended the act to be effective June 9, 1955, but not to be operative as to any city in the state until 1960 or 1965, it would hardly have provided for the appointment of temporary judges of the municipal court to perform the functions of the newly created offices until their successors were elected at the general election in November, 1958.
"'In other words, the principle is to be used only as a means of ascertaining the legislative intent where it is doubtful; and not as a means of defeating the apparent intent of the legislature.'"
In his reply brief, appellant reviews three of our prior decisions which are said to uphold his contention as to the meaning of the words "state census." They are: Rohde v. Seavey, 4 Wash 91, 29 Pac. 768; State ex rel. Williams v. Brooks, 58 Wash. 648, 109 Pac. 211; State ex rel. Elwood v. Lovering, 78 Wash. 624, 139 Pac 617.
In none of the three cited cases was there an official determination of population by a body authorized by the legislature to make a determination of population for the respective purposes involved therein. Here, the state census board has been created by the legislature and empowered and directed to determine the population of cities and towns, and its'determination thereof is made final and conclusive.
 Applying the rules of statutory construction hereinbefore cited to the statute involved in this case, it is our conclusion that the legislature intended that the municipal court provided for therein should come into existence and begin functioning in the city of Seattle, on June 9, 1955. Therefore, the trial court did not err in holding that chapter 290 of the Laws of 1955 is by its terms presently applicable to the city of Seattle.
Appellant's allegation is not admitted by the demurrer, nor is this court bound thereby, because it is not sustained by the plain and unambiguous language of the act, which gives him the first option to qualify as a municipal judge. There is no compulsion whatever.
In considering the five grounds upon which appellant contends that the act is unconstitutional, we encounter this question: May appellant maintain this declaratory judgment action, relating to the constitutionality of the act, under the circumstances above stated?
"One may not, by such action, challenge the constitutionality of a statute unless it appears that he will be directly damaged in person or in property by its enforcement. Acme Finance Co. v. Huse, 192 Wash. 96,73 P. (2d) 341,114 A. L. R. 1345. The action must also be adversary in character and involve a present and actual, as distinguished from a possible or potential, controversy between the parties. Washington Beauty College v. Huse, 195 Wash. 160, 80 P. (2d) 403; State v. Fruitland Irr. Dist., 196 Wash. 11, 81 P. (2d) 844; and Adams v. Walla Walla, 196 Wash. 268, 82 P. (2d) 584."
As stated above, under § 24 of the act, appellant has the first opportunity to qualify as a municipal judge. In the absence of an allegation that he intends to avail himself of the privilege, he has failed to show that the enforcement of the act operates as an infringement of any of his constitutional rights.
he claims exist in relation to that office. If appellant fails to qualify as a municipal judge, he retains his elective office as justice of the peace and has no standing to complain as to the validity of any of the provisions of the act creating the municipal court.
Considering all the allegations of paragraph IX of the complaint, relating to the alleged unconstitutionality of the act, we conclude that appellant has failed to show that there exists a justiciable controversy as between the parties upon those issues.
"To decide these questions on the record before us would result in rendering a purely advisory opinion, which we will not do in a declaratory judgment action. Seattle-First Nat. Bank v. Crosby, 42 Wn. (2d) 234, 254 P. (2d) 732."
The judgment of the trial court denying appellant an injunction against the enforcement of the provisions of chapter 290, Laws of 1955, is affirmed. The portion of the judgment enjoining the enforcement of a certain portion of ordinance No. 84122 of the city of Seattle is vacated because it pertains only to the year 1955, and, therefore, the matter has become moot. The temporary injunction which was granted pendente lite and continued in effect during the pendency of this appeal is dissolved.
April 17, 1957. Petition for rehearing denied.

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