Opinion ID: 1281986
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Heading: At this point a reference to some pertinent and well settled guiding principles is deemed appropriate.

Text: It is well settled regularly enacted statutes are accorded a strong presumption of constitutionality. (Citations). Then too, where the constitutionality of a statute is merely doubtful this court will not interfere. (Citations). And legislative enactments will not be held unconstitutional unless they are shown to clearly, palpably and without doubt infringe upon constitutional rights. (Citations). Finally, a party attacking any statutory enactment must negate every reasonable basis of support for such statute. (Citations). State v. Kueny, 215 N.W.2d 215, 216-217 (Iowa 1974). As summarized in Keasling v. Thompson, 217 N.W.2d 687, 689-690 (Iowa 1974): [Plaintiff has] assumed a heavy burden as the following propositions are well established. Ordinarily, statutes, with notable exceptions not here involved, regularly enacted by the legislature will be accorded a strong presumption of constitutionality and all reasonable intendments must be indulged in favor of the validity of the legislation attacked. One who challenges legislation on constitutional grounds has the burden to negate every reasonable basis upon which the statute may be sustained. Where the constitutionality of a statute is merely doubtful or fairly debatable, the courts will not interfere. Thus a statute will not be declared unconstitutional unless it clearly, palpably and without doubt, infringes the constitution. Hearth Corporation v. C-B-R Development Co., Inc., Iowa, 210 N.W.2d 632, 636, 637; State v. Vick, Iowa, 205 N.W.2d 727, 729, and the many authorities cited in these opinions. The legislature is given wide discretion in defining the limits of classes when a statute involves classification of persons or things. If a classification is reasonable and operates equally upon all within the class, it is a valid classification. Brown Enterprises, Inc. v. Fulton, Iowa, 192 N.W.2d 773, 776 and citations. The judicial branch of the government has no power to determine whether legislative Acts are wise or unwise, nor has it the power to declare an Act void unless it is plainly and without doubt repugnant to some provision of the Constitution. Graham v. Worthington, supra, 259 Iowa 845, 850, 851, 146 N.W.2d 626, 631. See generally State v. Bahl, 242 N.W.2d 298, 300 (Iowa 1976); Iowa City v. Nolan, 239 N.W.2d 102, 103 (Iowa 1976); Catholic Char. of Arch. of Dubuque v. Zalesky, 232 N.W.2d 539, 543 (Iowa 1975); State v. Hall, 227 N.W.2d 192, 193-194 (Iowa 1975); Code § 4.4(1). Also, a law is not subject to constitutional attack because of some hardship thereby imposed. See Diamond Auto Sales, Inc. v. Erbe, 251 Iowa 1330, 1335-1336, 105 N.W.2d 650 (1960). Further in this area, because of its peculiar apposition, we note Green v. Shama, 217 N.W.2d 547 (Iowa 1974). In the cited case Code §§ 157.1 and 158.2 were challenged by Iowa cosmetologists upon the premise they violated Amendment 14, United States Constitution, and § 9, art. I, Iowa Constitution. In resolving the question adverse to the challengers, we said, 217 N.W.2d at 554-555: A citizen has a right to be free in the enjoyment of all his faculties, to be free to use them in all lawful ways, to live and work where he wishes, to earn his livelihood by any lawful calling and to pursue any livelihood or advocation. Allgeyer v. State of Louisiana, 165 U.S. 578, 589-591, 17 S.Ct. 427, 431, 41 L.Ed. 832, 836; Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 399-400, 43 S.Ct. 625, 626-627, 67 L.Ed. 1042, 1045. This right is, of course, subject to the police power of the state to enact laws essential to the public safety, health, or morals. To justify the state in exercising such authority, however, it must appear the public interest requires such interposition and that the means are reasonably necessary for accomplishing the purpose and not unduly oppressive to individuals. It is thus a fundamental precept of constitutional law that matters within the police power of the state relating to public health may be regulated by the legislature. Meyer v. Nebraska, supra; Allgeyer v. State of Louisiana, supra; New State Ice. Co. v. Liebmann, 285 U.S. 262, 273, 52 S.Ct. 371, 372, 76 L.Ed. 747, 751; Clark v. District Court, 255 Iowa 1005, 1008, 125 N.W.2d 264, 266; City of Osceola v. Blair, 231 Iowa 770, 2 N.W.2d 83. In City of Osceola v. Blair, 231 Iowa at 772, 2 N.W.2d at 84, citing Scully v. Hallihan, 365 Ill. 185, 191, 6 N.E.2d 176, 179, the court stated: `It is one of the fundamentals of our democratic form of government that every citizen has the inalienable right to follow any legitimate trade, occupation, or business which he sees fit. His labor is his property, entitled to the full and equal protection of the law under the due process clause of the Federal Constitution. It is also embraced within the constitutional provision guaranteeing to everyone liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Allgeyer v. Louisiana, 165 U.S. 578, 17 S.Ct. 427, 41 L.Ed. 832.`  Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. at 399, 43 S.Ct. at 625, 67 L.Ed. at 1045, in speaking of the state's inability to deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, stated: `   Without doubt, it denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint, but also the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the common occupations of life,   .' However, the provisions of amendment 14 prohibiting a state from depriving any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law does not prohibit the state from exercising its police power to pass and enforce laws as will benefit the health, morals, and general welfare of the people.  City of Osceola v. Blair, 231 Iowa at 772-773, 2 N.W.2d at 84, states: `  This right to pursue any trade or calling is subordinate to the right of the state to limit such freedom of action by statutory regulation where the public health, safety, or welfare of society may require. Nebbia v. New York, 291 U.S. 502, 54 S.Ct. 505, 78 L.Ed. 940, 89 A.L.R. 1459.` See also Breard v. City of Alexandria, La., 341 U.S. 622, 631-633, 71 S.Ct. 920, 927, 95 L.Ed. 1233, 1242-1243 and Cedar Mem. Park Cem. Ass'n. v. Personnel Assoc., Inc., 178 N.W.2d 343, 349 (Iowa 1970). Any use of the police power must be reasonable and not arbitrary and capricious. `It has been frequently held that the due process clauses    do not limit the exercise of the state's police power unless the legislation is an arbitrary, unreasonable, or improper use of such power.    [citing authorities].' Burlington and Summit Apts. v. Manolato, 233 Iowa 15, 20, 7 N.W.2d 26, 29. Turning again to City of Osceola v. Blair, 231 Iowa at 773, 2 N.W.2d at 84, we find this statement: `However, in those instances where the police power is invoked to regulate and supervise a legitimate occupation the restraint imposed must be reasonable.    In order for such regulations to be lawfully imposed upon the constitutional rights of the citizen to pursue his trade or business, the act passed under the guise of a measure to protect the public health, comfort, or welfare must have a definite relation to ends sought to be attained. Banghart v. Walsh, 339 Ill. 132, 171 N.E. 154.` See also Pierce v. Incorporated Town of LaPorte City, 259 Iowa 1120, 1124, 146 N.W.2d 907, 909-910 and Baker v. Daly, 15 F.2d 881, 882 (D.C.Or.1926).  State v. Thompson's School, 226 Iowa 556, 561, 285 N.W. 133, 135 has this quote: `The right thus granted is, of course, subject to the police power of the state to enact laws essential to the public safety, health, or morals; but, to justify a state in exercising such authority, it must appear that the interest of the public requires such interposition, and that the means are reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of the purpose and not unduly oppressive to individuals.` Now to the fundamental issues presently entertained. VI. As aforesaid, Chicago Title maintains the statute in question essentially denies it a property right without due process and equal protection of the law, under both federal and state constitutions. The substance of Chicago Title's argument is that because the legislatures of some states have permitted title insurance to be written, then by the same process, Chicago Title is endowed with a property right to initiate and conduct a similar business in Iowa. But no such property right exists. At cost of repetition, we must again be mindful of the fact that ours is a federal system, and the Iowa mode of barring title insurance operations simply precludes creation of the very property right which Chicago Title asserts is denied. In the same vein, we are not here concerned with property rights, if any, which Chicago Title might have had were its business operable in Iowa, then banned. See Asbury Hospital v. Cass County, N.D., supra . See also Coal Harbor Stock Farm, Inc. v. Meier, 191 N.W.2d 583, 587-588 (N.D.1971). Obviously the due process problem posed is whether the present prohibition has a definite and reasonable relationship to legitimate state goals. City of Osceola v. Blair, 231 Iowa at 773, 2 N.W.2d at 84. And the equal protection question put is whether the involved classification bears a fair and substantial relation to the same state interests. Weber v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 406 U.S. 164, 172, 92 S.Ct. 1400, 1405, 31 L.Ed.2d 768, 777 (1972); Redmond v. Carter, 247 N.W.2d 268, 271 (Iowa 1976). Thus, an equal protection vis-a-vis due process analysis may be said to here merge. People v. Taylor, 540 P.2d 320, 322 (Colo. 1975); Green v. Shama, 217 N.W.2d at 554-555.