State ex rel. City of LaFayette v. Duncan
State ex rel. City of LaFayette v. Duncan
Opinion of the Court
The relator brought this proceeding in May, 1910, against appellee, who was treasurer of Tippecanoe county, and who was acting as city treasurer of the relator, as provided in section one of the act of 1909 (Acts 1909 p. 454), which amends section forty-three of the act of 1905 (Acts 1905 p. 219} §8644 Burns 1908), to compel him, by writ of mandamus, to execute an official bond for the faithful performance of his duties as such city treasurer.
Appellee’s demurrer for want of facts to the alternative writ was sustained by the court, and final judgment was rendered against the relator.
It is agreed by the parties to the appeal that under the act of 1909, supra, the treasurer of Tippecanoe county is required to “perform all the duties of city treasurer” of the city of LaFayette.
It is provided in the act of 1909, supra, that “in cities of the fourth class where the county treasurer shall act as city treasurer, his salary as such shall be $600 per year, which may be increased by ordinance to any sum not exceeding $1,000 per year. * * * In addition to such salary, the county treasurer shall receive five per cent of the amount of all delinquent city taxes collected by him for such city.”
As was said in Yeager v. Board, etc., supra, at page 430: “The person who accepts and assumes to act in the office takes it cum onere, not only of existing duties, but subject to such as may thereafter be legally imposed, and subject to such rights and liabilities as to compensation as the legislature has [declared] or may declare. If the legislature imposes burdensome or unremunerative duties, he must perform [them] as required or resign the office.”
Appellee insists that relief by mandamus can be had only where there is no other adequate remedy, and that as §§9121-9135 Burns 1908, §§5538-5552 R. S. 1881, Acts 1883 p. 57, provide an adequate remedy, mandamus will not lie.
Said sections apply when a bond has been filed but has become insufficient for reasons mentioned therein, but they do not apply where, as in this case, no bond has been filed.
Under the act of 1905, supra, as amended by the act of 1909, supra, the treasurer of Tippecanoe county was the only person authorized to act as the city treasurer of relator. It was the duty of appellee, as treasurer of said county, to perform the duties of city treasurer of the relator, and to execute a bond to the approval of the mayor of said city, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of that office. Appellee was acting as such city treasurer, but refused to give a bond as such. As he held the office of county
It is clear that the relator’s only adequate remedy to compel the execution of the bond was mandamus.
It follows that the court erred in sustaining appellee’s demurrer to the alternative writ.
Judgment reversed, with instruction to overrule appellee’s demurrer, and for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The State of Indiana, ex rel. City of LaFayette v. Duncan, Treasurer
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published