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194 Tenn. 200

Wilson v. Williams

Tennessee Supreme Court

Decided June 7, 1952

Tennessee Supreme Court · decided 1952-06-07

Relies on Continental Jewelry Co. v. Cunningham · Goetz v. Smith · House v. Creveling

Decided 1952-06-07

Mr. Justice Prewitt

¶1delivered the opinion, of the Court.

¶2This is a suit seeking to have Chapter 475, Private Acts of 1951 declared unconstitutional. The Chancellor, on demurrer, upheld the Act as valid in all respects.

¶3The Act in question is assailed for many reasons hut only two grounds are stressed.

¶4First, does the use of the 1940 census, rather than the 1950 census, invalidate this Act?

¶5'Such classification is not arbitrary, vicious or capricious. Ball v. State, 124 Tenn. 235, 137 S. W. 500.

¶6We think the Legislature need only use as a basis such a standard as would clearly indicate the county to which it refers and make such provision that other counties within the state may come within its terms. We think, therefore, that the use of the population according to the census of 1940 or any subsequent Federal census is a valid classification.

¶7Are the changes provided for in the Act in question colorable or substantial?

¶8A brief comparison of the former road law of Morgan County with the present road law shows that the entire system with respect to roads is changed. In no sense could this Act be denounced as colorable.

¶9By the Act in question, three commissioners were provided for instead of one superintendent. In the present Act, certain powers were given to the County Judge for acting as legal adviser of the Road Commission. Said new Act conferred power on the Commission to name a secretary with a salary of not to exceed $200 per month; also power was given to employ a County Supervisor of Roads at a salary of not to exceed $300 per month and power to employ a County Engineer at a maximum salary of $300 per month.

¶10*203So then, we think the new Act sets up substantial changes and ones not merely colorable.

¶11It is true that the Legislature cannot abolish a constitutional office or remove a constitutional officer who has been duly elected; however, the office of County Boad Superintendent as provided for in the former law is not a constitutional office and has no vested right in the office. In our system one cannot be legislated out of office, where he has been elected by the people, for the purpose of filling the same office with another person. This situation is distinguishable from the present case for the reason that the office itself is abolished and an entire new system of government is substituted.

¶12In Black v. Wilson, 182 Tenn. 623, 188 S. W. (2d) 609, 612, it is said:

“The applicable rule of law is now well settled. An office holder may not ‘ complain, if, in the public interest, and by way of putting into effect a new system, the Legislature repeals statutes, the effect of which is to abolish offices not protected by the Constitution. ’ Goetz v. Smith, 152 Tenn. 451 [461] 462, 278 S. W. 417, 420, citing House v. Creveling, 147 Tenn. 589, 250 S. W. 357, and other cases. Provided, however, that ‘the changes in the form, or structure of the governmental agency affected must be real and substantial, not colorable .only.’ Traywick v. Gilkey, supra, citing in addition to those before referred to in this opinion, Smith v. Sells, 156 Tenn. 539, 3 S. W. 2d 660; Haggard v. Gallien, 157 Tenn. 269, 8 S. W. (2d) 364; Loring v. McGinness, 163 Tenn. 543, 44 S. W. (2d) 314; Powers v. Wiseman, 167 Tenn. 140, 67 S. W. (2d) 142.”

¶13So then, we conclude that under the provisions of the Act now assailed, substantial and not colorable changes were made.

¶14*204It is also contended that tie body of the act is broader than the caption and for this reason the Act must fail. The Act expresses the purpose of building and constructing roads, and other matters such as providing for a legal adviser. The County Judge’s relation to the Commission is naturally connected with the main purpose of the Act.

¶15This assignment is overruled.

¶16Does the naming of the Secretary in supervising the Act violate Article XI, Section 17 of the Constitution?

¶17We do not think that it was the intention of the Legislature to create two county offices but that the intent was that the Secretary and Supervisor should be employees.

¶18We have considered all the assignments of error, find them without merit and the decree of the Chancellor is affirmed.

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