Swope v. Adams County

Decided May 11, 1874

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1874-05-11

No. 41 May Term, 1874. 'Samuel Swope was elected Register and Recorder of Adams County in 1869, and entered upon the duties of his office. During the winters of his term he used coal from a quantity provided by the County Commissioners. The County afterward brought suit for the value thereof, and the Court instructed. the jury that the County was not bound to furnish heat for his office in the Court House. Verdict for the County for $46.

Decided 1874-05-11

¶1The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Common Pleas on May 11th, 1874, in the following opinion:

Per Curiam.

¶2'The right'of the County officers to require fuel to be furnished to their offices by the County was decided in the case of Lyon vs. Adams, 4 S. & R. 443. C. J. Tilghman held, under the Act of March 27,1790, 2 Smith’s Laws 520, that these officers were not entitled to the expenses which are simply incidental to the office and not to the building. Fuel is not within the meaning of that Act or the Act of April 15, 1834, P. Laws 539, which provides that the Commissioners of the County shall keep and maintain the public buildings in suitable and convenient order .and repair. Fuel is essential to the comfort of the officer, not to the building.

¶3Judgment affirmed. ■