Court Opinion

ID: 6689731
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:36:39.220434+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:04.522800
License: Public Domain

POLLEY, J.
, This cause is before us on application for a rehearing. The opinion of the court is reported in 168 N. W. 751. Counsel for respondents, in their petition for a rehearing, call our attention to a provision found in section 25, c. 191, Laws 1907, as amended by section 12, c. 176, Laws 1909,- and as further amended by section 1, c. 151, Laws 1915. This provision reads as follows:
“In actions prosecuted1 by the city attorney for the violation of city ordinances or of offenses arising under the city charter, if unsuccessful, the -city shall pay all costs.”
[1] Under the above provisions of the statute, respondents claim that they are entitled to, and the circuit court permitted them to, tax costs in 'both the municipal and circuit courts. In this we believe the circuit court erred. True, the language, “the city shall pay all costs,” is broad enough, if standing alone, to include the costs in all courts. But this provision of the statute must be read and construed with reference to the other. portions of the act of which it forms a part. To give this provision the interpretation contended for by respondent would change the established law relative to the taxation of costs in the .circuit court. This the Legislature did not intend to do; nor, indeed, could it have done so without going entirely beyond the scope of the act as expressed in the title. The title of the act reads as follows:
“An act entitled an act providing for municipal courts, defining the jurisdiction thereof, providing for the practice therein and fixing the terms and the salary of the judges thereof.”
[2] This title limits the scope of the act strictly to matters pertaining to municipal courts, and any attempt, had such attempt been made, to change tine rules of practice in the 'circuit court, would have been in excess of the constitutional powers of the Legislature. Section 25 of the act provides for the taxation of costs. The title to chapter 176, Laws 1909, which amends section 25, c. 191, Laws 1907, reads as follows:
“An act to amend chapter 191 of the Laws of 1907 of the state of South) -Dakota, relating to muni-oipal courts.”
■Section 12 of this act amends section 25 of chapter 191, Laws 1907, -hut makes no change relative to the right to tax costs in actions that are unsuccessfully prosecuted by the city attorney. *278The title to -chapter 151, Laws 191-5, -which also amends section 25, c. 191, Laws 1907, reads as follows:
“An act entitled 'An act amending' section 25 of chapter 19-1 of the Session Laws of 1907 as amended by section 12 of chapter 176 of the Session Law^s of 1909, relative to costs and disbursements -in municipal courts.”
This title expre-s-sly limits the provisions of section 25, as amended, to costs and 'disbursements in municipal courts. Under thlis section no circuit court costs can be taxed, and, as there is no other provision of law that entitles the defendants- to tax costs in the circuit court, the court erred to the extent of the amount of the circuit court costs that respondents were permitted to tax. But respondents are entitled to such costs as they wo-uldi have been entitled to tax had they prevailed in the municipal court.
The judgment appealed from will be modified1 as above indicated, and the rehearing will be denied.