United States v. Southern Pac. Co.

• Decision Date: 13 September 1909
• Parties: UNITED STATES v. SOUTHERN PAC. CO.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Oregon

172 F. 909

UNITED STATES v. SOUTHERN PAC. CO.

United States Circuit Court, D. Oregon.

September 13, 1909

Walter H. Evans, Asst. U.S. Dist. Atty.

J. E Fenton, for defendant.

BEAN District Judge.

The plaintiff, having recovered judgment in two civil actions against the defendant for violation of Act Cong. June 29 1906, c. 3594, 34 Stat. 607 (U.S. Comp. St. Supp. 1907, p 918), prohibiting any railroad company from confining animals, while in transit from one state to another, for more than 28 hours, and which is commonly known as the 'Twenty-Eight Hour Law,' filed its bill of costs in each of such actions. The defendant objects to the allowance of any costs, on the ground that the proceeding to recover the penalty provided in the act referred to is neither an action at law nor a suit in equity, but is a special proceeding, and since the act itself does not authorize or warrant the imposition of costs, in addition to the penalty therein provided for a violation of its provisions, no costs can be taxed. The defendant also objects to certain items in the complainant's bill of costs: First, a docket or attorney's fee of $40; second, for the mileage of certain witnesses on behalf of the plaintiff, who reside in this state and more than 100 miles from the place of trial; third, for the mileage of certain witnesses residing in the state of California; fourth, for the fees of the marshal of the Northern district of California for serving subpoenas on witnesses in that district, and a similar item for the fees of the marshal of the district of Washington for serving a subpoena in that district; fifth, the expenses of one Hanson, an employe of the Reclamation Service, who was sent from Toppenish, in Washington, to testify as a witness in the case.

1. An action to recover the penalty provided in the act of Congress referred to is a civil action with the ordinary incidents of such an action. Montana Central Railway Co. v. United States, 164 F. 400, 90 C.C.A. 388; United States v. Southern Pacific Co. (D.C.) 157 F. 459; United States v. Baltimore Ry. Co., 159 F. 33, 86 C.C.A. 223; United States v. Southern Pacific Co. (D.C.) 162 F. 412; New York Central Railroad Co. v. United States (C.C.A.) 165 F. 833. And therefore the plaintiff, as the prevailing party, is entitled to its costs. Western Coal & Mining Co. v. Petty, 132 F. 603, 65 C.C.A. 667 Moreover, section 974 of the Revised Statutes (U.S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 703) provides that when judgment is rendered against the defendant in a prosecution, for any fine or forfeiture incurred under a statute of the United States, he shall be subject to the payment of costs. This section would seem to authorize the taxation of costs in actions of this kind.

2. Sections 824 and 837 of the Revised Statutes (U.S. Comp. St. 1901, pp. 632, 644) authorize the taxation and allowance, on a trial before a jury in a civil or criminal action prosecuted by the government, of a docket or attorney's fee of $40. These provisions, so far as they may relate to the district attorney, are not repealed or modified by Act May 28, 1896, c. 252, 29 Stat. 179 (U.S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 611), placing district attorneys on salaries, except as to the disposition of such fees. Section 6 of the latter act provides that all fees and emoluments allowed by law to be paid United States attorneys and United States marshals shall be charged as heretofore, and shall be collected, as far as possible, and paid to the clerk of the court having jurisdiction, and by him covered into the treasury; and section 17 declares that sections 6 to 16, inclusive, shall not be construed to prevent or affect the assessment or taxation of costs against the unsuccessful party in a civil proceeding, or against defendants convicted of crimes or misdemeanors.

3. The extent to which the prevailing party in a civil action may charge against his adversary mileage fees of witnesses who attended the trial on his behalf is a subject of much conflict in the federal decisions. The question has not been authoritatively decided by the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, so far as I am advised. In some jurisdictions it is held that the successful party is entitled to the mileage of his witnesses, regardless of the place of their residence, of whether they came from or out of the district, and whether they attended in obedience to a subpoena or at the request of the party.

United States v. Sanborn (C.C.) 28 F. 299. In others it is held that since section 863, Rev. St. (U.S. Comp. St. 1901, p 661), provides for taking the deposition of a witness residing more than 100 miles from the place of trial, the clerk has...