Case Name: THE STATE, EX REL. JASON R. HANNA, v. THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RAHWAY
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1868-06
Citations: 33 N.J.L. 110
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE STATE, EX REL. JASON R. HANNA, v. THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RAHWAY.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 33
Pages: 110–111

Head Matter:
THE STATE, EX REL. JASON R. HANNA, v. THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RAHWAY.
1. Where a vacancy occurred in the common council of the city of Bah-way, by the resignation of one of its members, and the common council refused to appoint a special election to supply such vacancy, a mandamos may issue to compel the common council to direct a special election to be held, according to the provisions of the charter of said city.
2. To authorize the issuing of the writ, there need not be a positive refusal by the common council to perform the duty; it is sufficient to show a manifest intention not to perforin it.
On application for a mandamus.
At the last charter election of the city of Rahway, one of the councilmen of the second ward of said city was elected mayor, and thereupon resigned his office of councilman. Common council having failed to proceed and order an election to fill the vacancy thus created, the present application is made by a resident of the second ward, for a mandamus to compel council to appoint a special election to fill the vacancy.
Argued before the Chief Justice, and Justices Vredenburgh, Dalrimple, and Depue.
For motion, T. Runyon.
Contra, J. H. Stone.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Dalrimple, J.
By the thirteenth section of the charter of the city of Rahway, (Laws of 1865, page 502,) it is made the duty of the common council of Rahway, whenever a vacancy shall occur in (he office of councilman, to appoint a special election, to be held in the ward in which such vacancy has taken place, to supply the same. It appears that a vacancy has existed in the office of councilman of the second ward since on or about the second Tuesday of April last, and that, as yet, common council has not taken any steps to fill such vacancy. A resolution has been introduced in council, appointing the election, and, as I gather from the proofs, is yet pending, undisposed of. It appertains to the office and duty of common council to order the special election. They having failed to perform such duty, a mandamus is the proper remedy. Moses on Mandamus 16; note to case of Fish v. Weatherwax, 2 Johns. Cases 217 — 1. The delay in the performance of a plain duty, is equivalent to a direct refusal. To authorize the issuing of the writ, there need not be a positive refusal to perform the duty. If, by any act of omission, an intention not to perform the duty is manifested, the writ should issue. Fish v. Weatherwax 217-13. As no question was made on the argument, as to the duty of council to order the election, nor any reason assigned for the failure to perform such duty, the relator is entitled to a peremptory mandamus.
Writ ordered accordingly.
Cited in State, ex rel. Kelly, v. Paterson, 6 Vr. 199; State, Gregory, pros., v. Jersey City, 5 Vr. 399; Cleveland v. Hoard of Finance, etc., 9 Vr. 263.