Mercantile Bank of the Americas v. West Porto Rico Sugar Co.
Mercantile Bank of the Americas v. West Porto Rico Sugar Co.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the following opinion:
Certain motions need not he discussed, hut two relative to depositaries have been earnestly pressed and should receive careful consideration.
1. The 'questions presented relate to the safe-keeping of the receivership, funds earned and disbursed during the management of the property in question. Hothing can be more important.
The first question presented is whether these funds shall be paid into court and thus deposited in the registry of the court. Theoretically as to this there could be no objection, as it is the court that is managing the property and the clerk’s office is the treasury of the court. Practically there is the objection that everything going into the registry is subject to a deduction or fee of 1 per cent, nominally going'to the clerk, but really going to the treasury of the United States. This is not a tax in any proper sense of the word; it was in its origin a fee to. the clerk for the handling of the money. Ho governmental reason- therefore now requires that the court increase funds-for that purpose. In point of fact, unless required for some specific reason, it would seem improper to diminish the fund going to creditors, and who ex hypothesi may not receive all that is due them. The expenses of a receivership must ultimately come out of the property and the creditors.
2. It is urged that the receivers be directed to deposit the funds received in the operation of the receivership property in the Banoe Territorial, which is a large creditor of the defendant corporation and in this way will be able to recoup some of its possible losses. This does not commend itself to
And in point of'fact it might bo that if a bank has made so large a loan to a corporation that is in danger of loss, this might in itself be a reason for not making a deposit in that institution. It might argue a lack of wisdom on the part of the managers. This is not decided^ and the court would be far from wishing to make such a decision; but at least the fact that a bank is a large sufferer is not a reason for putting receivership funds in it. A receivership is independent entirely of all parties and all claims and is directed to the preservation and conservation of the property in question, whether physical or financial. Eunds must be deposited in a safe depository independent of all other considerations. It would seem best to leave the receivers to their own discretion in the matter of depository. It may be that they would use this bank as well as other banks. The court has no wish to control their discretion, but they are to remember they will be liable on their bonds for any abuse of discretion or for negligence.
The same might be said of the suggestion that deposit bo made in the American Colonial Bank and the Eational City Bank, which are authorized depositories of the United States. There is no question as to these being proper places for deposit if the receivers see proper, and it might be the part of wisdom to keep a growing fund in these depositories. The same rule as to discretion will apply. The receivers are intrusted with large powers, they are in fact the hand of the court, the court
The receivers will act accordingly.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MERCANTILE BANK OF THE AMERICAS v. WEST PORTO RICO SUGAR CO., INC.
- Status
- Published