Court Opinion

ID: 9834346
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 23:30:25.978576+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:44:13.981709
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing
Our attention is called to the fact that the appellant, Charlie Mitchell, is a signer of the petition requesting the election. This-fact is sufficient to give him an interest different from the general public in reference to the holding of the election and makes him such a person as may maintain this cause of action. 28 Tex.Jur. p. 627; Sansom v. Mercer, 68 Tex. 488, 5 S.W. 62, 2 Am.St.Rep. 505; Kimberly v. Morris, 87 Tex. 637, 31 S.W. 808; Boynton v. Brown, Tex.Civ.App., 164 S.W. 893; Miller v. State, Tex.Civ.App., 53 S.W.2d 838.
This brings us to a consideration of the case on its merits. There is but one main question in this case, which is whether or not the Commissioners’ Court properly refused to order a local option election in Wil-lacy County on the issue:
“For (against) legalizing the sale of beer that does not contain alcohol in excess of four (4%) per centum by weight”, though duly petitioned to do so, in view of the fact that there had been held in Willacy County, within the year a local option election on the issue:
“For (against) prohibiting the sale of all alcoholic beverages,”
The provision of the statute to be construed is Sec. 32 of the so-called “Liquor Control Act.” Acts 1935, 44th Leg., 2nd. C. S. p. 1795, Ch. 467, Art. 1, Sec. 32; Art. 666 — 32, Vernon’s Ann.P.C., which reads as follows: “The Commissioners Court of each county in the State upon its own motion may order an election to be held by the qualified voters in said county, to determine whether or not the sale of liquors shall be prohibited or legalized in such county, and such Court shall order a local option election whenever petitioned to do so by as many as ten (10) per cent of the qualified voters of said county, or of any justice precinct, city or town, taking the votes for Governor at the last preceding general election as the basis for determining the qualified voters in any such county, or political subdivision. After the first local option election held as provided in this Act, in any county, justice precinct, incorporated town, or city, no subsequent election upon the same issue in the same political subdivision shall be held within one (1) year from the date of the preceding local option election in said county, or said political subdivision of said county. Acts 1935, 44th Leg., 2nd C. S., p. 1795, ch. 467, Art. 1, § 32.”
It is clear that the act provides for only one local option election on the same issue in the same political subdivision per year. The question is whether the two above stated issues are one and the same issue.
Art. 666 — 40, Vernon’s Ann.P.C., provides for a number of issues which may be presented in a local option election concerning the liquor question. While this article sets out many forms of issues which may be submitted, there are really three issues upon which the people may vote, to-wit:
1. Prohibiting (legalizing) the sale of vinous and malt liquors that do not contain alcohol in excess of four (4%) per cent by weight.
2. Prohibiting (legalizing) the sale of vinous and malt liquors that do not contain alcohol in excess of fourteen (14%) per cent by volume.
3. Prohibiting (legalizing) the sale of all liquors.
All or any one of these issues may be submitted to the voters at one election. When the third issue alone is submitted to the voters they have only the choice of prohibiting or legalizing the sale of all liquors *678including beer, wine and whiskey. ■ Those who might favor the sale of beer or wine, but are opposed to the sale of whiskey, have no chance to express their desires; they must either vote to prohibit the sale of all liquors, which they do not favor, or they must vote to legalize the sale of all liquors which they do not favor, thus it will be seen they do not have an opportunity to vote on the issue of the sale of beer or the sale of wine.
We, therefore, conclude that the two issues were not one and the same issue, and that the petitioners were entitled to have an election called by the Commissioners’ Court, submitting to the voters the issue: “For (against) legalizing the sale of beer that does not contain alcohol in excess of four (4%) per centum by weight.”
The judgment heretofore entered will be set aside, and judgment now entered granting relator’s application for mandamus.