Case Name: State vs. James R. Cleland
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1878-06-07
Citations: 68 Me. 258
Docket Number: 
Parties: State vs. James R. Cleland.
Judges: Barrows, Yirgin, Peters and Libbey, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Maine Reports
Volume: 68
Pages: 258–262

Head Matter:
State vs. James R. Cleland.
Washington.
Decided June 7, 1878.
Statutes, — construction of.
Where the legislature by special act grants to A the privilege or license to do a certain act, as to erect a weir in certain tide waters, and afterwards by a general act gives all others the same right under certain conditions precedent, Held, that the general act does not operate as a repeal or modifica, tion of the special act.
Thus, by a special act of the legislature, approved January 24, 1876, Matthew Cleland, his heirs and assigns, were authorized to “ erect fish weirs in tide waters below low water mark . . in front of his lands in Robbinston ; provided such weirs so erected shall not obstruct or interfere with navigation.” By a general act, approved February 11, 1876, it was enacted that “ any person intending to build . . a fish weir in tide waters, within the limits of any city or town in this state, may make application in writing to the municipal officers thereof,” etc. If, aftei: proper proceedings, “ said officers shall decide that such erection would not be an obstruction to navigation, or an injury to the rights of others, and shall determine to allow the same, they shall issue a license under their hands to the applicant, authorizing him to make said erection.” Both acts took effect upon their approval. Held, that the first act was not defeated or modified by the second.
On report.
Indictment, charging the defendant with building a fish weir in the tide waters of Passamaquoddy bay, within the limits of the town of Robbinston, contrary to the statute of 1876, c. 78, approved February 11, 1876. Plea, not guilty.
It was admitted that the defendant, without a license from the municipal officers of Robbinston, was engaged in building a fish weir at the time and place charged in the indictment, when he was arrested on the warrant in this prosecution, acting under the authority of Matthew Cleland, in Robbinston ; and offered in his justification c. 201 of the special laws of 1876, approved January 24, 1876, taking effect from the date of its approval, and of the following tenor: “Matthew Cleland, his heirs and assigns, are hereby authorized to erect and maintain wharves and fish weirs below low water mark, in tide waters, at Mill cove and Passama-quoddy or St. Andrew’s bay, in front of his land in Robbinston ; provided the wharves and fish weirs so erected shall not obstruct or interfere with navigation.”
If the right granted to Matthew Cleland was defeated by the act of February 11, 1876, the case to stand for trial, otherwise a nolle prosequi to be entered.
Jj. A. Emery, attorney general, with O. B. Bounds, county attorney, for the state.
F. A. Pike ds J. II. French,, for the defendant.

Opinion:
Daneorth, J.
By a special act of the legislature, approved January 24, 1876, " Matthew Cleland, his heirs and assigns, were authorized to erect fish weirs below low water mark, in tide waters . . in front of his land in Kobbinston; provided such weirs so erected shall not obstruct or interfere with navigation."
On the eleventh day of February of the same year, the legislature passed a general act, c. 78, providing that any person intexxding to build a fish weir in tide waters, within the limits of any city or town in this state, may make application in wilting to the municipal officers thereof, who, after proper proceedings, "shall issue a license under their hands to the applicant, authorizing him to make said erection, . . if said officers, after a hearing, shall decide that such erection would not be an obstruction to navigation, or an injury to the rights of others, and shall determine to allow the same."
The respondent is charged with a violation of the latter act. He produces no license, but, acting under the authority of Matthew Cleland, he justifies under the former. This pi'esents the question which is, by the report of the case, submitted to the court, whether the special act was defeated by the general one. Both acts took effect upon their approval. The first act, therefore, was in full force when the second was passed. The first was a specific grant, acting upon a particular thing, enuring to the benefit of a single individual, his heirs arid assigns. The second was a general act upon the same subject matter, and affecting the rights of persons generally. There is no allusion to the first act in the second, nor is there any repealing clause in the latter. The genex*al act does not in terms refer to any past acts, but relates to and provides only for the future. The right of Matthew had become complete and perfect, and without reference to the authority of the legislature to repeal such a grant, we cannot infer an intention to do so without the use of apt and sufficient words showing that purpose. As seen, no such words are used, nor is there any repugnance or inconsistency between the acts.
This right of building fish weirs is undoubtedly within the control of the legislature, and it is competent for that body to dispose of it by direct grant, or by such tribunal as may be constituted for that purpose, and upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. It is equally competent to dispose of a part of it in one way and a part in the other. The legislature has availed itself of this power in this case. To Matthew Cleland it conveyed by direct grant a special right, which became fixed and vested by the special law and which was undisturbed by the subsequent one.
As provided in the report,
A nolle prosequi is to be entered.
Barrows, Yirgin, Peters and Libbey, JJ., concurred.