Court Opinion

ID: 8005097
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 01:52:39.047908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:35:51.177108
License: Public Domain

Wagner, Judge,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The relators filed their petition in this court on the 6th day of July, 1871, alleging that under and by virtue of an act of the General Assembly, approved March 11,1867, they are entitled to one and three-quarters per cent, of the revenue of the State, after deducting one-fourtli thereof for the public school fund ; that they have received at different times certain sums of money as provided by said act, but of the amount collected on delinquent taxes for the years 1868-69-’70-’71-’72 and ’73 they have received nothing; that they have demanded of the respondent a warrant for the same, which he has refused to issue. They, therefore ask for a peremptory writ of mandamus to compel him to ascertain the amount due them, and draw his warrant on the Treasurer therefor.
For return, as a reason why the writ should not be made peremptory, the respondent states that the relators have failed to present their claim for the funds in controversy to him within two years after the same accrued, and he then sets up the statute of limitations as a bar to the proceeding.
*599By the second section of an act approved March 11, 1867, it is provided as follows: “ There is also set aside.and appropriated annually for the support of the State University of Missouri, out of the revenue of the State, after first deducting therefrom the one-fourth of the revenue for the public school fund, one and three-quarters per cent, of such balance of the State revenue; and this is declared to belong, to the University, and shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Board of Curators, as provided for by law for the payment of other funds of the University.” (Sess. Acts 1867, p. 9.)
In the chapter on the organization of the treasury department, it is declared that “persons having claims against the State shall exhibit the same, with the evidence in support thereof, to the Auditor, to be audited, settled and allowed,' within two years after such claims shall accrue, and not after-wards.” (Wagn. Stat., 1336, § 21.)
The only question is, whether the statute of limitations is applicable to this particular case. It is not denied, that as a general proposition the statute will run against corporations in the same manner as against natural persons. But the law here sets apart and appropriates annually, a certain fund for the University, which is declared to belong to it, and it is paid to the Treasurer of the Board of Curators in the same manner provided by law for the payment of other funds of the University. The law creating the University, and which donates to it the seminary fund, declares that all interest and profits of the bonds held in trust for the seminary fund shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Board of Curators, who shall be charged therewith by the State Auditor. (Wagn. Stat., 1290, § 12.)
As this is a permanent and continuing fund, and the law itself declares to whom it is payable, it will hardly be contended that if, through accident or neglect, the Treasurer of the Board should not get a warrant for two years, that therefore the Auditor would be entitled to withhold it entirely. The Auditor is the general accountant of the State, and he audits and settles claims against the State, and persons having *600such claims must satisfy him of their correctness. The statute requires that those claims should be presented within two years, with the evidence that proves or supports them. Rut here no evidence is required; the University -does not even know the amount to which it is entitled, till the auditor makes the apportionment on the basis of the amount of money received. Till that is done no definite amount can be demanded. This fund is placed upon the same foundation as the school fund, and if that was not .demanded, accompanied by evidence, within two years, I do not think it would be barred. By section 75 of the law relating to schools, the regular account of the public school fund is to be kept by the Auditor, who is directed, quarterly, to certify to the State Treasurer a copy of such accounts as have not before been reported by him ; and in all accounts he is required to state the amount of revenue belonging to that portion of the fund set apart for the University provided for in'the Constitution, separate and apart from that belonging to the public schools.
As the fund now in controversy is not set apart by the Constitution, no statement of it as a separate University fund is required to be reported, unless it be. brought within the provision of the act of 1867, requiring it to be paid as other funds of the University. Be this as it may, the fund is appropriated and set apart, and .exists peculiarly within the knowledge of the State Auditor, and I am clearly of the opinion that it is not of that character of claims contemplated in the statute of limitations above referred to. It is a gift or gratuity by the State, appropriated for a particular purpose, and not an adversary claim held by a party.
I think, therefore, that the relators are entitled to the fund, and that a peremptory writ should be ordered.
Judges Nap-ton and Sherwood concur; Judges Tories and Hough absent.