Gernatt v. Huiet

• Decision Date: 13 September 1941
• Docket Number: 13844.
• Citation: 16 S.E.2d 587,192 Ga. 729
• Parties: GERNATT v. HUIET, Com'r of Labor.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

16 S.E.2d 587

192 Ga. 729

GERNATT v. HUIET, Com'r of Labor.

No. 13844.

Supreme Court of Georgia

September 13, 1941

Syllabus by the Court.

1. The act provided March 29, 1937, Ga.L.1937, p. 806, Code Ann § 54-601 et seq., levying contributions on the privilege of employing eight or more persons in this State, for the benefit of eligible workmen who become unemployed without fault on their part, and providing for administration of the fund thus created, and for other purposes, and known as the 'Unemployment compensation law,' is not as a whole violative of (a) Article 9 of the amendments to the constitution of the United States, Code, § 1-809, providing that the enumeration of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Livingston v. Moore, 7 Pet. 469, 32 U.S. 469, 551, 8 L.Ed. 751; Ohio v. Dollison, 194 U.S. 445, 24 S.Ct 703, 48 L.Ed. 1062; Brown v. New Jersey, 175 U.S 172, 20 S.Ct. 77, 44 L.Ed. 119; Brown v. Walker, 161 U.S. 591, 606, 16 S.Ct. 644, 40 L.Ed. 819. (b) Or of the fourteenth amendment of the constitution of the United States, Code, § 1-815, providing that no State shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law. Livingston v. Moore, 32 U.S. 469, 551, 8 L.Ed. 751; Ohio v. Dollison,

194 U.S. 445, 24 S.Ct. 703, 48 L.Ed. 1062; Brown v. New Jersey, 175 U.S. 172, 20 S.Ct. 77, 44 L.Ed. 119; Brown v. Walker, 161 U.S. 591, 606, 16 S.Ct. 644, 40 L.Ed. 819. (c) Or of article 1, section 1, paragraph 3, of the constitution of this State, Code, § 2-103, declaring guaranty as to due process. Lindsley v. Natural Carbonic Gas Co., 220 U.S. 61, 31 S.Ct. 337, 55 L.Ed. 369, Ann.Cas.1912C, 160; Steward Machine Co. v. Davis, 301 U.S. 548, 57 S.Ct. 883, 81 L.Ed. 1279, 109 A.L.R. 1293; Dixie-Ohio Express Co. v. State Revenue Commission, 186 Ga. 228, 197 S.E. 887, affirmed, 306 U.S. 72, 59 S.Ct. 435, 83 L.Ed. 495; Coy v. Linder, 183 Ga. 583, 189 S.E. 26; Rourke v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 187 Pa. 636, 1 S.E.2d 728. (d) Or of article 1, section 1, paragraph 23, of the constitution of this State, providing for separation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers, Code, § 2-123; Carroll v. Wright, 131 Ga. 728, 63 S.E. 260. (e) Or of article 1, section 4, paragraph 1, of the constitution of this State, Code, § 2-401, relating to general and special laws. South Georgia Mercantile Co. v. Lance, 143 Ga. 530, 85 S.E. 749; Family Finance Co. v. Allman, 174 Ga. 467, 163 S.E. 143. (f) Or of article 3, section 7, paragraph 8, of the constitution of this State, Code, § 2-1808, inhibiting passage of a law referring to more than one subject-matter, or containing matter different from what is expressed in the title. Plumb v. Christie, 103 Ga. 686, 700, 30 S.E. 759, 42 L.R.A. 181; Hart v. State, 113 Ga. 939, 39 S.E. 321; Stewart v. Anderson, 140 Ga. 31, 78 S.E. 457; Morgan v. Lowry, 168 Ga. 723, 149 S.E. 37; Head v. Wilkinson, 186 Ga. 739, 198 S.E. 782; Rossman v. Moultrie, 189 Ga. 681, 7 S.E.2d 270.

2. Section 19(g)(1) of said act, defining employer, Code Ann. § 54-657(g)(1), is not (a) in conflict with the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States, Code, § 1-815; Carmichael v. Southern Coal & Coke Co., 301 U.S. 495, 507, 57 S.Ct. 868, 81 L.Ed. 1245, 109 A.L.R. 1327, or (b) article 1, section 1, paragraph 1, of the constitution of this State, Code, § 2-101, declaring that all government originates with the people and is founded on their will and consent. Williamson v. Housing Authority of Augusta, 186 Ga. 673, 199 S.E. 43.

3. Section 14(a) of said act, declaring the rate of interest which contributions required of employers shall bear after they become due and payable, Code Ann. § 54-647, is not in conflict with § 57-101 or § 57-117, and therefore is not violative of article 1, section 4, paragraph 1, of the constitution of Georgia, Code, § 2-401, relating to general and special laws. South Georgia Mercantile Co. v. Lance, 143 Ga. 530, 85 S.E. 749; Family Finance Co. v. Allman, 174 Ga. 467, 163 S.E. 143.

4. Section 7(a) of said act, declaring the date from which contributions shall be required of employers, subject to qualification or exceptions stated, Code Ann. § 54-620, is not violative of article 1, section 8, clause 3, of the constitution of the United States, Code, § 1-125(3), as imposing an unwarranted burden on interstate commerce. Robbins v. Shelby County Taxing District, 120 U.S. 489 493, 7 S.Ct. 592, 30 L.Ed. 694; Gloucester Ferry Co. v. Pennsylvania, 114 U.S. 196, 215 5 S.Ct. 826, 29 L.Ed. 158; New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. v. People of New York, 165 U.S. 628, 631, 17 S.Ct. 418, 41 L.Ed. 853; Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Co. v. Haber, 169 U.S. 613, 628, 18 S.Ct. 488, 42 L.Ed. 878.

5. Section 7(b) of said act, prescribing the rate or percentage of wages to be contributed by employers, Code, Ann. § 54-621, is not violative of article 1, section 5, paragraph 2, of the constitution of this State, Code, § 2-502, providing that the enumeration of certain rights shall not be construed to deny to the people any rights previously enjoyed by them. Chamberlin, Inc., v. Andrews, 299 U.S. 515, 57 S.Ct. 122, 81 L.Ed. 380; Steward Machine Co. v. Davis, 301 U.S. 548, 57 S.Ct. 883, 81 L.Ed. 1279, 109 A.L.R. 1293; Carmichael v. Southern Coal, etc., Co., 301 U.S. 495, 57 S.Ct. 868, 81 L.Ed. 1245, 109 A.L.R. 1327; Buckstaff Bath House Co. v. McKinley, 308 U.S. 358, 60 S.Ct. 279, 84 L.Ed. 322; Beeland Wholesale Co. v. Kaufman, 234 Ala. 249, 174 So. 516; McKinley v. R. L. Payne & Son Lumber Co., 200 Ark. 1114, 143 S.W.2d 38; Tatum v. Wheeless, 180 Miss. 800, 178 So. 95; Unemployment Compensation Commission v. Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., 215 N.C. 479, 2 S.E.2d 584; Southern Photo & Blue Print Co. v. Gore, 173 Tenn. 69, 114 S.W.2d 796; Friedman v. American Surety Co. of New York, Tex.Sup., 151 S.W.2d 570.

6. Section 8 of said act, relating to election of employers with respect to being subject to the act, duration and termination of liability thereunder, Code Ann. § 54-623, is not violative of article 1, section 1, paragraph 1, of the constitution of this State, Code, § 2-101, as to origin and foundation of government. Chamberlin, Inc., v. Andrews, 299 U.S. 515, 57 S.Ct. 122, 81 L.Ed. 380; Steward Machine Co. v. Davis, 301 U.S. 548, 57 S.Ct. 883, 81 L.Ed. 1279, 109 A.L.R. 1293; Carmichael v. Southern Coal & Coke Co., 301 U.S. 495, 57 S.Ct. 868, 81 L.Ed. 1245, 109 A.L.R. 1327; Buckstaff Bath House Co. v. McKinley, 308 U.S. 358, 60 S.Ct. 279, 84 L.Ed. 322; Beeland Wholesale Co. v. Kaufman, 234 Ala. 249, 174 So. 516; McKinley v. R. L. Payne & Son Lumber Co., 200 Ark. 1114, 143 S.W.2d 38; Tatum v. Wheeless, 180 Miss. 800, 178 So. 95; Unemployment Compensation Commission v. Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co., 215 N.C. 479, 2 S.E.2d 584; Southern Photo & Blue Print Co. v. Gore, 173 Tenn. 69, 114 S.W.2d 796; Friedman v. American Surety Co., Tex.Supp., 151 S.W.2d 570.

7. The defendant's demurrer having been based solely on the ground that the act above referred to was unconstitutional in the particulars pointed out above, it was not erroneous to overrule the same.

Geo. G. McCoy, of Savannah, for plaintiff in error.

A. L. Henson, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Clifford Walker and Otis L. Hathcock, both of Atlanta, for defendant in error.

ATKINSON Presiding Justice.

To a suit brought by the commissioner of labor against Gernatt, to recover a sum alleged to be due under the Georgia 'unemployment compensation law,' a demurrer based solely on alleged grounds of unconstitutionality of the law was overruled, and Gernatt excepted. A constitutional attack is made on the act as a whole, and on several of its sections. While the identical questions presented have not heretofore reached this court, like assaults have been made on similar legislation enacted in a number of States. In no instance have the attacks been successful. In so far as the attack involves contention that the act is contrary to certain provisions of the constitution of the United States the Federal Supreme Court has decided to the contrary, as will be seen by a reference to the authorities cited in the headnotes. 'When we know with certainty that a question arising under the constitution of the United States has been definitely decided by the supreme court of that government it is our duty to accept the decision, for the time being, as correct, whether it coincides with our own opinion or not. Any failure of due subordination on our part would be a breach, rather than the administration, of law.' 'Wrought Iron Range Co. v. Johnson, 84 Ga. 754 759, 11 S.E. 233, 235, 8 L.R.A. 273. In so far as it is claimed that the act or some of its constituent parts are in conflict with certain provisions of the constitution of this State, from the very nature of the case none of these precedents can be absolutely controlling. However, as to those portions of the constitution of this State relied on as nullifying the legislation, the courts of other States having similar...