O'Keeffe v. Dugan

¶1The primary intent of the Legislature, plainly expressed in the Liquor Tax Law,* is that if the electors of a town to the number of ten per centum of the votes cast at the next preceding general election desire local option, the question shall be submitted to a vote, and I think the statute should be liberally construed to effect such intent. The General Construction Law should be read into every statute subsequently enacted unless the wording of such later statute plainly, expresses a contrary intent. The Liquor Tax Law provides that the petition for submitting the question at the election shall be signed and acknowledged by such electors before a notary public. The General Construction Law† (§§ 10, 11) provides in effect that the word “ acknowledgment ” includes proof by a subscribing witness. I think, therefore, that the petition in the present case, in which some of the signatures were proved by a subscribing witness, is sufficient.

¶2The words “ by such electors ” in the statute prevent signatures by agents, and were evidently used for that purpose. The argument drawn from the location of these words after the word “ acknowledged ” instead of after the word “ signed ” is entirely too narrow and technical to support an argument which nullifies the primary intent of the Legislature. There is nothing in the statute requiring that the signature should be appended in the presence of the notary.

¶3The order should be reversed, without costs, and the motion denied, without costs.

¶4Kelly and Jaycox, JJ., concurred; Putnam, J., read for affirmance, with whom Jenks, P. J., concurred.

¶7The words of Judge Gray in Matter of Bronson (150 N. Y. 1), that no resort is to be had to the Statutory Construction Law (now General Construction Law) where the language of the statute under consideration is clear and unambiguous, I think control us. The precise terms of this local option provision of the Liquor Tax Law have been unchanged since they *55were introduced in the Liquor Tax Law by the enactment of section 16 of chapter 29 of the General Laws by chapter 112 of the Laws of 1896. As this court intimated in Matter of Travis (184 App. Div. 505) the practical construction of such a statute is entitled to great weight. As far as I am aware, the attempt to prove signatures to such a petition to bring into operation a vote for local option has not heretofore been authorized by the mere affidavit or acknowledgment from a witness. The elector himself has been the person who personally acknowledges the request or petition. To authorize such acknowledgment by any one except the elector would seem beyond the words and intent of the Legislature. Hence I vote to affirm the order.

¶8Jenks, P. J., concurred.

¶9Order reversed, without costs, and motion denied, without costs.