Court Opinion

ID: 7047132
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:56:17.485767+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:11:34.814598
License: Public Domain

On Petition fob a Eeheabing.
Elliott, C. J.
In the brief of the appellees the question for our decision was thus stated: “ The only question presented by this record is, was the complaint subject to demurrer ? ” This we accepted as a correct statement, and fully considered the question presented, and we certainly gave the appellees no cause for complaint in acting upon their own .statement.
It is said in the brief on the petition for rehearing, that we were in error in stating that the complaint averred that an order of the board of commissioners was made annexing lands to the city of Terre Haute. That we were not in error is apparent from the following statement of the complaint: “'And plaintiffs say that the board of commissioners of Vigo county, pretending to act under sections 86 and 87 of the law of 1867, made an order annexing to the city of Terre Haute certain territory, in said order described, in twelve parcels,” and this is followed by a description of the lands ordered annexed. But if this extract does not sufficiently show that we were right, then the following surely does: “And plaintiffs say that said pretended annexation of land to the city of ‘Terre Haute is illegal and void, and that the acts of said city *146in assessing said lands for taxation, and the acts of said treasurer in attempting to enforce the collection of taxes; are unlawful and wholly without right; that, in truth and in fact, said lands are not within the city of Terre Haute, because plaintiffs show that no petition was ever presented to the said board of commissioners ashing for the annexation of the territory set out in the order of the board, but the petition presented at a aid time to said board included other lands, described therein, which the board refused to annex to said city, and granted only a part of said petition.” This, certainly, shows that the board ordered the lands of the appellees annexed, but refused to order the annexation of other lands.
The theory on which the pleading is founded shows clearly that we correctly read the complaint, for the theory is that because all the lands were not annexed none were, the theory is not that the lands of the parties described in the order were not ordered to be annexed, but that other -lands described were not annexed.
We find in the concluding part of the complaint this clause: “And that the defendants be perpetually enjoined from attempting further to assess the same under the order of said board,” and the context clearly shows that the word “ same ” refers to the lands of the appellees, described in the order.
Counsel are right in saying that we did not mean to hold that the lands not within a city could be taxed by the municipal authorities, but they are wrong in assuming that we did not correctly construe their complaint.
The pleading shows that a petition was presented to the board of commissioners, and that it described the lands of the appellees and other lands, and this petition was sufficient to invoke the jurisdiction of the board in the particular case, and this was all that was necessary to protect the proceed-r ings against a collateral attack. The statute gives the board general jurisdiction over the subject, and the petition called that jurisdiction into exercise in this instance. The fact that the petition may not have been sufficient in form or sub*147stance, does not affect the question of jurisdiction. The power to determine whether a petition is or is not sufficient is itself jurisdiction. In United States v. Arredondo, 8 Peters, 891, it was said s " The power to hear and determine a cause is jurisdiction j it is ceram jud-iee’ whenever a caso is presented which brings this power’ into action.” In the well considered caso of Board, etc., v. Markle, 46 Ind 96, this doctrine was applied to the commissioners’ court. If the petition is suck as shows that the court has general jurisdiction of the subject matter, them there is jurisdiction in the particular case, whether the petition is or is not sufficient to entitle the petitioners to the relief sought. The question of jurisdiction does not depend upon the sufficiency of the petition as the statement of a cause of action, but depends upon whether it does or does not state facts showing that the court in wbieb it was filed has jurisdiction over the general subject, and that it may properly exercise that jurisdiction over the particular case made by the petition. In Morrow v. Weed, 4 Iowa, 77, it was said: "If there be a petition, or the proper matter of that nature, to call into action the power or jurisdiction of the court, the sufficiency of it can not be called in question collaterally. This is for the appellate power only. If there be a notice or publication, or whatever of this nature the law requires in reference to persons or other matters, its sufficiency can not be questioned collaterally. Of course, this means a notice coming within tbe legal idea and range of such a matter. An absurdity could not be permitted to pass.” Smith v. Engle, 54 Iowa, 265. The cases cited from our own reports, in the opinion heretofore delivered, very clearly show the rule as it has long existed in this State.
Tbe petition in this case showed that the general subject was one over which the commissioners had jurisdiction, and as it described real estate it showed that the case was one in which that general power was properly called into action. The failure to accurately describe the land may have been a *148defect affecting the sufficiency of the petition as to the statement of a cause of action, but it was not such a defect as deprived the board of jurisdiction. The petition called into exercise the power of the commissioners’ court, and as that tribunal had jurisdiction, the errors or irregularities in the proceedings can not be made available otherwise than by appeal.
Filed June 6, 1884
It is now well established, although there has been some contrariety of opinion upon the subject, that in all cases where the commissioners’court has jurisdiction of the general subject, and that jurisdiction is brought into exercise in the particular instance, the judgment will be sustained as against all collateral attacks. There are strong reasons for the rule, as shown by the cases heretofore referred to. Another reason may here bo given, and that is this, the public have a right to the prompt and speedy settlement of questions affecting public interests, and by requiring one who is dissatisfied with the judgment of the board of commissioners to appeal this result is secured. Agaiu, if there are errors or irregularities, advantage should be taken of them before rights have been acquired by the public or by private individuals. It is far better in such a case as the present, that property owners should be required to appeal and avail themselves of all objections that may exist, rather than wait until the municipal authorities have laid out streets and made public improvements, and then obtain an injunction. Still another reason supports our now established rule, and that reason is that the requirement that persons aggrieved by the judgment of the inferior tribunal shall appeal gives stability to the judgments of the commissioners, represses litigation and enables those who desire to act upon the judgments of the commissioners to act with knowledge and confidence.
Petition overruled.