Court Opinion

ID: 7942625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:16:39.182823+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:47.365173
License: Public Domain

Montgomery, J.
The relator asks a mandamus to> compel the respondent to grant a certificate showing a homestead entry by relator of certain land in town 32 N., range 9 E. The petition avers that the lands had been open to entry as homestead lands for more than three years; that, after this time had elapsed, the auditor general received an application from one Oakes to purchase the land; that, acting under the provisions of section 131 of the general tax law, as amended by Act No. 107, Pub. Acts 1899, and Act No. 141, Pub. Acts 1901, the commissioner directed an appraisal of the land; and that pending such appraisal, and beforo the purchase by Oakes was finally consummated, the relator’s application was made. Relator contends that, by the terms of the section cited, an application to homestead lands takes precedence over *49any incompleted sale, even though a regular application to purchase has been made, and the commissioner has taken steps to determine the value by appraisement. This construction is controverted.
We find it unnecessary to decide this question. The return of the commissioner shows that he was satisfied that the application to homestead these lands was not made in good faith; that the lands are not fit for a homestead. The statute (section 131) requires the commissioner to issue the certificate only when, “in his judgment, the application is made in good faith. ” This vests in the commissioner the power to determine the question of the good faith of the application, and vests him with a discretion which will not be reviewed on mandamus. Mechem, Public Officers, § 945; The Secretary v. McGarrahan, 9 Wall. 298.
The writ is denied, with costs.
The other Justices concurred.