SOCOLA V.
GRANT.
487
ing against national banks. ,But was the law intended to apply where all bank shares, state and national, are placed on a common level? It is thought not. While the administration of the law de· pends upon human agency, there necessarily must be imperfections and unjust discriminations. , Assessments are made by men residing in different localities and entertaining opinions regarding property totally atvariance with each other. While this is so, and it must be_so always, it will be found impossible to devise a system of -taxation which is absolutely equi. table and fair,-which is entirely free from partialities and mistakes. To use the language of Mr. Justice MILLER in the State Railroad Ta:I Cases: . I' Perfect equality and perfect uniformity of taxation as regards individuals or corporations, or the different classes of property subject to taxation, isa dream unrealized. '" '" '" But the most complete system which can bedeVised, must, when we consider the immense. variety of subjects which it necessarily embraces, be imperfect; '" '" '" mnst ineVitably partake largely of the imperfection of human nature, and of the evidence on which human judgment is founded."
No authority has been cited, and it is thought none can be found, where a recovery has been had upon facts at all approximating tbose developed here. There is not proof sufficient to induce the court to say that the assessment was made pursuant to a uniform rule de. liberately adopted by the aBsessors for the purposl'l of discriminating against the shares of national banks; there is no proof which would justify a conclusion that the taxing officers habitually and intentionally, or by an obligatory and potential rule, assessed the snareR in question higher in proportion to their actual value than moneyed capital generally. It follows, therefore, that the plaintiff is entitled to judgment on the fourth count and the defendants on all the other counts.
SOOOLA, Ex'r, 1. EQUITY PLEADING.
'D.
GRANT and ·Wife.·
(Circuit Uourt, E. D. Louisiana. January, 1883.) To allege that a sale is simulaten, and if not simulated is fraudulent, mean. ing thereby that it is a sham sale, and if not a sham then a real sale, but fraudulent, may be consistent, but it is not certain; and certainty is a requisite in equity pleading as well as consistency. ·Reporled by Joseph P. Hornor, Esq., of the New Orleans tar.
488 2. EQUITY PRAOTICE.
FEDERAL REPORTER.
Where, on demurrer, exception was taken to a bill for repugnancy, and but one clause in the bill was subject to such imputation, and said clause was unnecessary, the court ordered that clause to be stricken out, and overruled the demurrer.
In Equity. On demurrer. E. Howm'd McCaleb, for complainant. John D. Rouse and William Grant, for defendant. PARDEE, J. The bill is brought in this case to annul an alleged fraudulent simulation. In the courts of the state from which it came the action was a revocatory action. See Willis v. Scott, 33 La. Ann. 1027. 'fhe demurrer to the bill is general, but the ground assigned in argument is repugnancy, in that it is- averred in the bill that the transfer in question was a simulation, and that it operated a preference, and that the price was inadequate. A careful examination of the bill shows that the complainant sought only to charge a fraudulent simulation; and there is only one clause contained in it that looks to any other view of the case, to-wit: .. That no price is stated in said agreement, and tn.e moneys advanced and to be advanced as mentioned therein were in fact, as your orator is informed and verily believes, never advanced, and if any money was advanced as claimed by Mrs. Catherine G. Grant, and which YOUI' orator denies, the sum thereof was far below the real value of said property, which was at the time fully worth $5,000."
This clause does not aver that there was a sale of the property; on the contrary, it denies it. And as the bill is complete without this clause, it had been better, perhaps, if the clause had been omitted. The charge of redundancy, however, is more appropriate than that of repugnancy. The most that can be made out against the bill, on the ground of repugnancy, is that, in effect and scope, it charges that the transfer in question is simulated, and, if not simulated, is fraudulent. If we take this as the correct view of the bill, and yet follow the Louisiana law, which gives the action, and under which the rights of the parties must be determined, there is no inconsistency in complainant's position. In the case of Johnson v. Mayer, 30 La. Ann. 1203, the supreme court of Louisiana declares: .. ·We see no inconsistency in saying that a sale is simulated, and, if not simulated, tllat it is fraudulent. * * >I< When sales are attacked by a d.irect action, there is no reason why the party may not demand relief from them by alleging simulation or fraud, or both."
LACROIX FILS V. SARRAZIN.
489
In an equity case in this court I am not prepared to hold that a pleader may take such apparently antagonistic positions. He may allege a sale to be simulated and fraudulent, for it may be both; but a sale cannot be both real and simulated. allege that a sale is simulated, and, if not simulated, is fraudulent, meaning thereby that. it is a sham sale, and, if not a sham, then a real sale, but fraudulent, may be consistent, but it is not certain; and certainty is a requisite in equity pleading as well as consistency. It seems to me that, if there is doubt as to the nature of the transaction, the creditor, who has "to strike in the dark," should charge a fraudulent simulation, and, on discovery, amend if necessary. In this case there is no uncertainty except what may arise from the clause above quoted, and as that clause was unnecessary, and add.s nothing th the force of the bill, I will direct that it be expunged from the bill, but the demurrer should be overruled.
LACROIX FILS V. SARRAZIN.-
(Oirtmit Oourt, E. D. Louisiana. January, 1883.) PUBLIC TREATIES-PLEADING.
The court takes judicial notice of the public treatIes between the UnIted States and countries, and a citizen of such a foreign country. in bringing a bill against a citizen of Louisiana, need not allege that there is Buch a treaty in force.
In Equity. On demurrer. R. King Outler, for complainants. Andrew J. Murphy, for defendant. PARDEE, J. This court takes judicial notice of the publio treaties between the United States and foreign countries. Where a citizen of France has, in compliance with the trade-mark laws of the United States. duly registered a trade-mark. he need not, in bringing an action against a citizen of Louisiana for violation of his rights in such trade-mark. allege that there is in force a treaty between the United States and France affording privileges in France to citizens of the United States similar to those given by the trade-mark laws of the United States. Let demurrer be overruled· · Reported by Joseph P. Hornor, &q., of the New Orleans bar.