State ex rel. Baum v. Soldiers Bonus Board
State ex rel. Baum v. Soldiers Bonus Board
Opinion of the Court
Relator was bom in Pennsylvania. He came to this state, May 2, 1917, to look for work. While working in Minneapolis he registered under the Selective Service Act, giving a certain number on Henne-pin Avenue as his residence or address. In January, 1918, he quit his job “by request,” and then left for the state of Oregon to look ifor work. He found employment in the shipyards there and in Seattle, Washington. Evidently the call from the draft board in Minneapolis reached him, for he returned to Minneapolis, and was inducted into the military service July 26, 1918. A year later he was honorably discharged. When he applied for a bonus he gave
When relator came to this state he was barely of age. It appears that he was in the same situation as, perhaps, the great majority •of the young men are when leaving the parental home. He had to go where he could find work in order to live. Existence then comes first, and the place of residence is the place of work. In that position one cannot well choose a permanent place of abode, or even form an intention as to what state is, or will be, his “bona fide” residence. As the Selective Service Act was administered, he was registered as a resident in this state for duties under that law. In obedience thereto he gave Ms address in Minneapolis, the place where he then was earning a living and necessarily must abide. When he was let out of his job, he sought work in a distant state, but promptly returned at the call of the draft board to fill the quota which this state was called upon to supply to the United States military forces from its residents. It would almost seem that the state ought not now to be heard denying his being a resident for, when the President called upon the state to furnish its quota of soldiers from its residents, relator was asked to become and willingly became one of them. We think the board applied a wrong construction to the bonus act when holding that none but “bona fide” residents, that is, persons who had acquired a permanent residence or home in this state, could receive the bonus granted by Laws 1919 (Sp. Sess.) p. 72, c. 49, as amended by Laws 1921, p. 774, c. 471. Our conclusion is that the legislature intended to give a bonus to every soldier who registered for the draft in this state and who, when called to serve, obeyed without objection, and willingly served until honorably discharged. Thereby he helped to fill the quota which it was the duty of the state to send from its residents, and
The findings Gif the board are reversed and the cause is remanded to the adjutant general for further action in harmony herewith.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE EX REL. EVERETT BAUM v. SOLDIERS BONUS BOARD
- Status
- Published