Case Name: Geraghty, Appellant, vs. Ashland County, Respondent
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1891-12-15
Citations: 81 Wis. 36
Docket Number: 
Parties: Geraghty, Appellant, vs. Ashland County, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 81
Pages: 36–39

Head Matter:
Geraghty, Appellant, vs. Ashland County, Respondent.
November 23
December 15, 1891.
Common schools: Salary of county superintendents: Number of inhabitants in district, how ascertained.
Sec. 708, R S., provides that eacli county having over 15,000inhabitants “ according to the census last preceding,” may be divided into two superintendent districts. Sec. 704 provides that tlie compensation oE superintendent shall be fixed within certain limits in districts containing more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 inhabitants, and within certain other limits in districts containing more than 10,000 inhabitants, excluding certain cities “ mentioned in the next preceding section.” Held, that the two sections should be construed together, and that under sec. 704 the number of inhabitants is to be determined by the census last preceding.
APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Ashland County.
It appears from the record, and is undisputed, that the plaintiff was elected in November, 1886, as superintendent of schools in tbe defendant county; that he duly qualified and served as such from January 3, 1887, to January 7, 1889; that he received on salary for the year 1887, $522.91, and for the year 1888, $407.19, making in all $930.10. Under sec. 704, E. S., the plaintiff claims a salary of $1,500 per year, or at least $800 a year; and filed his bill with the county board for $3,000, less the payments mentioned, to wit, for $2,069.90, or at least for $669.90. The board wholly disallowed the same, and the plaintiff appealed therefrom to the circuit court. Upon the trial the defendant conceded that the plaintiff was entitled to $500 per year, and that there was a balance his due of $69.90. At the close of the trial the plaintiff moved the court to direct a verdict in his favor for $669.90, which was denied by the court, and thereupon the court directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for $69.90, on motion of the defendant. From the judgment entered thereon accordingly the plaintiff appeals.
For the appellant there was a brief signed by John F. Dufur, and a supplemental brief signed also by Rubles A. Oole, of counsel; and the cause was argued orally by Mr. Dufur.
They contended, inter alia, that the history of the law shows that under sec. 704, E. S., the population of a district is not to be determined by the preceding census. Sec. 95, ch. 155, Laws of 1883, and sec. 13, ch. Ill, Laws of 1867, each contained the words “ according to the last preceding census; ” but the amendment of 1869 (sec. 1, ch. 177) omitted those words and provided for “ estimating the population.” Sec. 704 is substantially the same. The word “ estimating ” clearly shows the intention of the legislature to allow a salary according to the number of inhabitants as estimated, not as exactly counted by the preceding census. Sec. 1, ch. 177, Laws of 1869, provides that sec. 95, ch. 155, Laws of 1863, is hereby amended so as to read as follows.” Those parts of the previous act which were omitted were thereby repealed. State r. Ingersoll, 17 Wis. 631; Goodno v. Oshkosh, 31 id. 127; Sydnor v. Palmer, 32 id. 406.
. For the respondent the cause was submitted on. the brief ■of Richa/rd Sleight, District Attorney.

Opinion:
Cassoday, J.
Within certain limits, the county board were at liberty to fix the plaintiff's compensation, as county superintendent of schools, at an annual salary or a per diem. Sec. 704, E. S. They did neither. That section, in effect, declares that " they may fix such annual salary at not less than five hundred nor more than eight hundred dollars in districts containing more than five thousand and less than ten thousand inhabitants; and not less than eight hundred nor more than fifteen hundred in districts containing more than ten thousand inhabitants; and in estimating such- population the cities mentioned in the next preceding section shall be excluded." It appeared upon the trial that such population in the county, according to the census of 1885, was only 6,941. The plaintiff offered parol testimony tending to prove that at the time he was elected, and ever since, such population had exceeded 10,000, but the same was rejected by the trial court on the ground that such population, as ascertained by the last preceding census, was conclusive upon the parties.
Such ruling seems to be in accordance with the spirit and intention of the section cited. As indicated, that section expressly refers to " the next preceding section," which authorizes the county board to divide such counties as have " over fifteen thousand inhabitants according to the census last-preceding, into two superintendent districts; " and, " unless so divided, each county shall constitute a superintendent district? Sec. 703, R. S. There is no reason for determining the number of inhabitants according to the last census for the purpose of such division, that is not equally potent in determining the number of inhabitants in such districts, respectively, for tbe purpose of fixing tbe compensation of tbe superintendent therein. On the contrary, it is very obvious that since tbe compensation of tbe superintendent in each district is, to a certain extent, dependent upon tbe number of inhabitants in such district, such number should be ascertained by tbe same standard that governs in fixing tbe number of tbe districts. Otherwise there would be a want of harmony in tbe system'. Tbe two sections relate to tbe same subject, and must be construed together. So construed, tbe words, " according to tbe census last preceding," found in tbe one, may fairly be implied in tbe other. This construction is in harmony with tbe view taken by this court of a similar statute in State ex rel. Terry v. Keaough, 68 Wis. 142.
By the Gourt. — The judgment of tbe circuit court is affirmed.