Chicago Co v. Osborne Chicago Ry Co v. Same Chicago, St Ry Co v. Same, s. 219
| Decision Date | 28 April 1924 |
| Docket Number | 224,Nos. 219,225,s. 219 |
| Citation | 265 U.S. 14,44 S.Ct. 431,68 L.Ed. 878 |
| Parties | CHICAGO, B. & Q. R. CO. v. OSBORNE, State Tax Com'r, et al. CHICAGO & N. W. RY. CO. v. SAME. CHICAGO, ST. P., M. & O. RY. CO. v. SAME |
| Court | U.S. Supreme Court |
Messrs. R. Bruce Scott, of Chicago, Ill., and Timothy B. Clark, of Omaha, Neb., for appellant Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co.
Messrs. Wymer Dressler, of Omaha, Neb., and R. N. Van Doren and F. W. Sargent, both of Chicago, Ill., for appellant Chicago & N. W. R. Co.
Messrs. Richard L. Kennedy, of Chicago, Ill., Wymer Dressler, of Omaha, Neb., and R. N. Van Doren and F. W. Sargent, both of Chicago, Ill., for appellant Chicago, St. P., M. & O. Ry. Co.
Messrs. George W. Ayres, of Lincoln, Neb., and Hugh La Master, of Tecumseh, Neb., for appellees.
These are bills in equity brought to restrain the collection of taxes upon the respective railroad companies for the year 1922 on the ground that the farm lands in Nebraska were systematically and intentionally undervalued while the railroad properties were valued at their full worth and more. After a hearing by three Judges sitting under section 266 of the Judicial Code (Comp. St. § 1243), it was held that the plaintiffs 'had an adequate remedy at law under the statutes of the State of Nebraska in prosecuting error proceedings to the Supreme Court of the State of Nebraska' and for that reason a preliminary injunction was denied. Appeals were taken and the correctness of the above ruling is the only question here. It is not disputed that the proceedings in the Supreme Court of the State are purely judicial, so that Prentis v. Atlantic Coast Line Co., 211 U. S. 210, 29 Sup. Ct. 67, 53 L. Ed. 150, does not apply to this case. Bacon v. Rutland R. R. Co., 232 U. S. 134, 34 Sup. Ct. 283, 58 L. Ed. 538; Prendergast v. New York Telephone Co., 262 U. S. 43, 48, 43 Sup. Ct. 466, 67 L. Ed. 853.
The Board of Equalization and Assessment equalizes the assessments of other property made in the Counties and itself determines the assessments upon railroads. When is has made its final order it certifies it to the Counties and the County treasurers thereupon issue distress warrants and notify agents of delinquent corporations to pay over all moneys of the corporation in their hands not exceeding the amount of the tax. A failure of the agent to do so is made a misdemeanor and is punished by a fine. There is no provision for a supersedeas pending proceedings before the Supreme Court, and none by which the plaintiffs can pay under protest and bring an action at law. Dawson v. Kentucky Distilleries & Warehouse Co., 255 U. S. 288, 296, 297, 41 Sup. Ct. 272, 65 L. Ed. 638. Yet if the Board is guilty of the conduct charged in the bill the only remedy given by the statutes is a writ of error to take to the Supreme Court a record prepared by the Board. Compiled Stats. 1922, § 5901.
If an action to recover the payment were allowed, the suit might be brought...
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