Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/228/14/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 15:56:43+00:00

Document:
Quaere whether the Criminal Appeals Act of March 2, 1907, does not require an explicit declaration of the law upon which the indictment is based and a ruling on its validity and construction, and whether, on an appeal taken under that act. the government can seek to sustain the indictment as valid under other statutes than those relied upon in the trial court.
An indictment for perjury under § 5392, Rev.Stat., cannot be based on an affidavit not authorized or required by any law of the United States.
Sections 161, 441, 453, 2246 and 2478, Rev.Stat., confer administrative power only on the Secretary of the Interior and the officers of the Land Department. They do not confer legislative power.
There is a distinction between legislative and administrative functions, and under a statutory power to make regulations, an administrative officer cannot abridge or enlarge the conditions imposed by statute.
Section 2291, Rev.Stat., prescribes what a homestead claimant and the witnesses are required to make oath to and the Secretary of the Interior has no power to enlarge these requirements.
A charge of crime against the United States must have clear legislative basis.
A homestead claimant making an affidavit not required by § 2291, Rev.Stat., is not guilty of perjury under § 5392, Rev.Stat., although the affidavit was demanded by the Land Office in pursuance of a regulation made by the Secretary of the Interior.
The facts, which involve the construction of § 5392, Rev.Stat., and the validity of an indictment thereunder for perjury, are stated in the opinion.
Indictment for perjury [Footnote 1] by which defendant in error (herein referred to as defendant) is charged with falsely and corruptly taking his solemn oath in a proceeding wherein a law of the United States authorized an oath to be administered before the register of the United States land office at North Platte, Nebraska, the proceeding being the making of proof and final entry of a homestead claim of certain described lands.
resided on the land after he had established his residence thereon, and his family, after his marriage, in 1902, with the exception of certain absences which were stated.
"was not acting in good faith in making said entry and final proof as a home for himself, but in fact to defraud the United States out of the use, title, and possession of said land."
Defendant demurred to the indictment and stated as grounds thereof (1) that it failed to state or charge any crime under the laws of the United States; (2) that there was no law of the United States which required defendant, as claimant, in making his homestead proof, to testify with reference to the matters and things set forth in the indictment, the law of the United States requiring that the facts be proved by two credible witnesses other than the claimant, and did not authorize the claimant to testify in his own behalf with reference thereto.
The demurrer was sustained, and the case was them brought here under the Criminal Appeals Act.
It will be observed that the indictment charges that the oath was taken in a proceeding wherein a law of the United States authorized an oath to be administered. Whether it was is the question in the case, and we are brought to the inquiry as to what law of the United States authorized the oath. To this inquiry the record discloses divergent answers on the part of the government. In the district court, it was the view and contention of the government that the indictment was founded on § 5392 of the Revised Statutes and § 2291, as amended by the Act of March 3, 1877, 19 Stat. 403, c. 122. The record not disclosing this, and that it might appear, a bill of exceptions was tendered to and authenticated by the district judge.
"and held that there is no law of the United States which required the defendant, as claimant, in making his homestead proof, to testify with reference to the matters and things set forth in the indictment, the law of the United States requiring that said facts be proved by two credible witnesses other than the claimant, and not authorizing the claimant to testify in his own behalf with reference thereto."
And, so far as the assignment of errors is specific, it states § 2291 as the applicable law, and assails its construction.
"The present indictment was not based on § 2291, for it seems probable that the 'two credible witnesses' there provided for mean two persons other than the claimant himself. Therefore, we must seek elsewhere for the authority in law for the claimant to make the oath as to his residence on, and cultivation of, the land he seeks to homestead."
And, going elsewhere, the government finds the law, as it contends, in certain regulations made by the Interior Department.
"from a decision or judgment . . . sustaining a demurrer to any indictment . . . where such decision or judgment is based upon the invalidity or construction of the statute upon which the indictment is founded."
34 Stat. 1246, c. 2564.
This statute seems to require an explicit declaration of the law upon which an indictment is based, and a ruling on its validity or construction. To contend for one law as applicable in the trial court and another law in the appellate court would seem not only to be opposed to the requirement of the statute, but to be inconsistent with orderly procedure, and to confound the relation of trial and appellate tribunals.
". . . If . . . the person making such entry . . . proves by two credible witnesses that he, she, or they have resided upon or cultivated the same for the term of five years . . . and makes affidavit that no part of such land has been alienated . . . and that he, she, or they will bear true allegiance to the government of the United States, then, in such case, he, she, or they . . . shall be entitled to a patent."
Statutes. We insert the sections in the margin. [Footnote 2] It will be seen that they confer administrative power only. This is indubitably so as to §§ 161, 441, 453, and 2478, and certainly, under the guise of regulation, legislation cannot be exercised. United States v. United Verde Copper Co., 196 U. S. 207. Especial stress, however, is put upon § 2246. By that section, the register or receiver is authorized and it is made his "duty to administer any oath required by law or the instructions of the General Land Office in connection with the entry or purchase of any tract of land." These sections, it is contended, as we have seen, were the law of the indictment.
final homestead proof by questions and answers, and provided that "the claimant will be required to testify, as a witness, in his own behalf, in the same manner." It was testimony exacted in pursuance of this regulation and in the manner directed by it which constitutes the charge of the indictment. It will be observed, therefore, that the claimant was required to testify as other witnesses. In other words, three witnesses were required; § 2291 requires two only, and, as we have said, points out what proof, in addition, the claimant himself shall give. It is manifest that the regulation adds a requirement which that section does not, and which is not justified by § 2246. To so construe the latter section is to make it confer unbounded legislative powers. What, indeed, is its limitation? If the Secretary of the Interior may add by regulation one condition, may he not add another? If he may require a witness or witnesses in addition to what § 2291 requires, why not other conditions, and the disposition of the public lands thus be taken from the legislative branch of the government and given to the discretion of the Land Department? It is not an adequate answer to say that the regulation must be reasonable. The power to make it is expressed in general terms. If given at all, it is as broad as its subject, and may vary with the occupant of the office. This is to make conditions of title, not to regulate those constituted by the statute.
"If rule 7 (the regulation involved) is valid, the Secretary of the Interior has power to abridge or enlarge the statute at will. If he can define one term, he can another. If he can abridge, he can enlarge. Such power is not regulation; it is legislation."
In that case, the power of the Secretary of the Interior was directly associated with the right conferred. Yet it was held that such power could not qualify of limit the right. In other words, a distinction between the legislative and administrative function was recognized and enforced. And, similarly, this distinction must be recognized and enforced in the case at bar. The distinction is fundamental. Where the charge is of crime, it must have clear legislative basis. In illustration, we may cite Williamson v. United States, 207 U. S. 425; United States v. Keitel, 211 U. S. 370; United States v. Eaton, 144 U. S. 677; Morrill v. Jones, 106 U. S. 466; United States v. Biggs, 211 U. S. 507; Dwyer v. United States, 170 F. 161.
"Sec. 5392. Every person who, having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath to be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true, is guilty of perjury, and shall be punished,"
"Sec. 161. The head of each department is authorized to prescribe regulations, not inconsistent with law, for the government of his department, the conduct of its officers and clerks, the distribution and performance of its business, and the custody, use, and preservation of the records, papers, and property appertaining to it."
"Sec. 441. The Secretary of the Interior is charged with the supervision of public business relating to the following subjects:"
"Second. The public lands . . ."
"Sec. 453. The Commissioner of the General Land Office shall perform, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, all executive duties appertaining to the surveying and sale of the public lands of the United States, or in any wise respecting such public lands, and also such as relate to private claims of land and the issuing of patents for all . . . [grants] of land under the authority of the government."
"Sec. 2246. The register of receiver is authorized, and it shall be their duty, to administer any oath required by law or the instructions of the General Land Office in connection with the entry or purchase of any tract of the public lands, but he shall not charge or receive, directly or indirectly, any compensation for administering such oath."
"Sec. 2478. The Commissioner of the General Land Office, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, is authorized to enforce and carry into execution, by appropriate regulations, every part of the provisions of this title not otherwise specially provided for."

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