UNITED STATES T. !!lAUNDERS.
407
and that, as the bill in this case does not show that sue received any consideration for her interest in the homestead which was the demurrer should be sustained; and it is so ordered.
UNITED STATES v. SAUNDERS. (Circuit Court of Appeals, First Circuit. No. 198L SUITS AGAINST UNITED STATES-SET' OFF.
March 23, 1891.)
Under the act of March 3, 1881 (24 Stat. 505, 506), provIding for the bringing of suits against the United States, the court has power to render judgment in favor of the United States for any balance which may be found due them upon a set-of! or counterclaim. The rule applied that the United States have the right to recover moneys pa.1d by the errors of their disbursing officers, lUI much where the elTor Is one of law lUI of fact, provided only the moneya belong to the United States ex requo et bono.
2. RECOVERY BY UNITED STATES OF MONEY PAID BY MISTAKE.
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the District of Maine. Albert W. Bradbury, U. S. Atty. Geo. E. Bird, for appellee. Before OOL'11 and PUTNAM, Circuit Judges, and ALDRIOII, District Judge. PUTNAM, Oircuit Judge. The appellee, who had been a marshal of the United States for the district of Maine, brought his petition in the district court for that district against the United States for $360, now admitted to be due him for sundry attendances before commissioners of the circuit court. Under Act March 3, 1887, c. 359, §§ 1, 6 (24 Stat. 505, 506), entitled "An act to provide for the bringing of suits against the government of the United States," the United States filed a set·off and counterclaim for sundry payments made the petitioner by their disbursing officers, amounting to $504, which payments, under the rule in U. S. v. McMahon, 164 U. S. 81, 17 Sup. Ct. 28,-decided after the judgment of the district court in this case,-were unauthorized. The record shows that there is no dispute as to the amount of these payments. The statute cited not only authorizes, by section 6, this defense, but it also, in section 1, confers jurisdiction to "hear and determine" set·offs and counterclaims; so that, although it does not expressly direct a judgment for the United States for a surplus, if one be found in their favor, yet it is to be presumed that it adopts the usual practice with reference thereto. Indeed, in McElrath v. U. S., 102 U. S. 426, a judgment of the court of claims for a balance found due the United States on a defense of set-off, under section 1061 of the Revised Statutes, and reported in 12 Ct. C1. 201, was affirmed; and the ReviEled Statutes expressly authorized such a judgment. Although the provisions of the Revised Statutes in regard to the prosecution of claims against the United States were to some extent repealed
408
79 FEDERAL REPORTER.
by the act of March 3, 1887, yet the latter statute provided as follows: "Sec. 4. That the jurisdiction of the respective courts of the United States proceeding under this act, including the right of exception and appeal, shall be governed by the law now in force, in so far as the same is applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this act; and the course of procedure shall be in accordance with the established rules of said respective courts, and of such additions and modifications thereof as said courts may adopt."
Therefore, in any view of the matter, we have no doubt of the power to render judgment in favor of the United States for any balance which may be f()IUnd due them. The validity of the provision conferring jurisdiction to hear and determine such set-offs and counterclaims was, in effect, settled in McElrath v. U. S., 102 U. S. 426, already cited. Whatever doubt may have existed under the earlier decisions of the supreme court as to the general right of the United States to recover moneys paid by the errors of their disbursing officers, as much where the error is one of law as of fact, provided only the moneys belong to the United States ex requo et bono, was removed by Wisconsin Cent. R. Co. v. U. S., 164 U. S. 190, 212, 17 Sup. Ct. 45. This decision applies fully to the claims made by the United States in the case at bar. Whether under Chase Y. U. S., 155 U. S. 489, 15 Sup. Ct. 174, and U. S. v. Ady, 22 C. C. A. 223, 76 Fed. 359, this case should have been brought up on error, instead of by appeal, we are not called on to determine. The judgment of the district court is reversed, and the case is remanded to that court, with directions to enter a judgment for the United States on jts set-off and counterclaim for the balance of $156, without costs for either party. McCLASKEY et aI. v. BARR et al. (Circuit Court, S. D. Ohio, W. D. March 27, 1897.) 1. BOI'm FOR COSTS-SUMMARY REMEDIES.
A rule of court prescribing the form 01' a bond, and providing that. when costs become due by default or otherwise, a judgment or decree may be entered therefor against the surety on motion and ten days' notice, is valid, as a surety is supposed to know the law, and consent to the proceedings for summary remedies by signing the bond. The sureties become voluntary parties to the suit, and are concluded by the decree for costs entered against their principals.
2.
SAME-SURETIES CONCI,UDED BY DECREE AGAINST PRINCIPAl,.
8. 4; 5.
SAME-LIABILITY FOR COSTS ACCRUING BEFORE DATE OF BOND.
The bond covers costs accrued before the date of the bond, as well as those accruing after its execution.
SAME-LIBERAl, CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE.
Statutes requiring security for costs, being remedial in their nature, are to be liberaily construed to effectuate that object.
SAME-LIABILITY FOR COSTS ON ApPEAl,.
A bond executed in the trlal court to secure "costs in this case" covers costs on appeal.
6.
SAME-LIABILITY FOR COSTS ACCRUING AFTER SURETY'S DEATH.
Liability upon the bond does not terminate with the surety's death, but his estate continues liable for costs accruing after his death as well as before, though the language .of the bond is, "I hereby acknowledge myself security for costs."