Shinn v. Oklahoma City
| Decision Date | 17 January 1939 |
| Docket Number | 27871. |
| Citation | 87 P.2d 136,184 Okla. 236,1939 OK 29 |
| Parties | SHINN v. OKLAHOMA CITY. |
| Court | Oklahoma Supreme Court |
Syllabus by the Court.
1. The Supreme Court will not pass upon the constitutionality of city ordinances, or any of their provisions, until there is presented a proper case in which it is made to appear that the person complaining has been or is about to be denied some right or privilege to which he was lawfully entitled, or is about to be subjected to some of its burdens or penalties except where the ordinances are indivisible and the provisions of same not affecting the litigant's rights if unconstitutional, would cause the entire ordinance to fall.
2. The ordinances of Oklahoma City regulating money lenders and loan brokers whose loans are "secured by chattel mortgages bills of sale or other contracts involving as security the forfeiture of rights in personal property or which are secured by assignments, bills of sale or other conveyances of salary or wages" are severable, and a plaintiff who has not acquired a license thereunder, has no interest entitling him to question the constitutionality of the provisions thereof regulating licensees and providing for the revocation of licenses.
3. The State may, in the exercise of the police power, license and regulate money lenders and loan brokers whose loans are secured as set out in the second paragraph of the syllabus; and it may delegate authority to do so to municipal corporations.
4. A city ordinance requiring a license of, and regulating, money lenders and loan brokers whose loans are secured as set out in the second paragraph of the syllabus, does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution U.S.C.A. as being an improper discrimination because it exempts National and State banks, trust companies and building and loan associations.
Appeal from District Court, Oklahoma County; Ben Arnold, Judge.
Action by O. Shinn against the City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to enjoin the enforcement of certain ordinances. From a judgment sustaining defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's petition, the plaintiff appeals.
Affirmed.
Shirk, Danner & Earnheart and George Shirk, all of Oklahoma City, for plaintiff in error.
A. L. Jeffrey and A. P. Van Meter, both of Oklahoma City, for defendant in error.
This is an action to enjoin the enforcement of certain ordinances of Oklahoma City. Plaintiff alleged in his petition that he is a money lender; that the ordinances of the defendant regulating this occupation are unconstitutional for many reasons; that the defendants, if not restrained, will enforce the ordinances as against plaintiff, and asked the enforcement of same be enjoined. Defendant's demurrer to this petition was sustained by the trial court. Plaintiff elected to stand on his petition and the court then dismissed same with prejudice. Plaintiff appeals.
1. The ordinances in question regulate (a) money lenders and (b) loan brokers, whose loans are "secured by chattel mortgages, bills of sale or other contracts involving as security the forfeiture of rights in personal property or which are secured by assignments, bills of sale or other conveyances of salary or wages". The money lender is charged a license fee of $25, while the license fee for the loan broker is $125. The ordinance excepts from its operation "National and State Banks and Building and Loan Associations or trust companies, under the supervision of the State Banking Commission or members of any organized Stock Exchange, or any person, firm or corporation selling goods, chattels or merchandise on the installment plan". The City Auditor is authorized to inspect the books and accounts of licensees. It is further provided that on failure or refusal to comply with the ordinance or a violation of the usury law of the State of Oklahoma, the "City Manager shall cause a hearing to be had, ascertain the facts, and certify the same to the Council, who may cause such license to be revoked". The ordinances also provide that licensees shall give cards written in ink or printed with typewriter containing certain information to the pledgor, mortgagor or assignor. Receipts for payments are also required and blank conveyances are forbidden. Violation of any of the provisions of the foregoing ordinances is made punishable by fine of not more than $19 and $1 costs, and each day's violation is declared to be a separate offense.
Plaintiff attacks all of these provisions as being violative, in one way or another, of certain constitutional guarantees. Defendant first claims, among other things, that plaintiff having never acquired a license for the business of money lender, as required by the ordinance, is not entitled to question the validity of sections of ordinances applicable only to licensees and which have never been invoked against plaintiff; and that this court will not consider hypothetical or anticipatory questions. We think this a valid objection. This court will not pass upon the constitutionality of an act of the Legislature or any of its provisions until there is presented a proper...
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