No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
State Constitutional Law in 1942–43*
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2013
Extract
Delegation of Legislative Power: To the Federal Government. The rapidly growing practice of making state agencies which administer social security laws responsible for bringing them into and keeping them in conformity with the federal Social Security Act came under review by the Washington supreme court. Immediately following adoption of the Senior Citizens Grants Act as an initiative measure in November, 1940, the federal Social Security Board began withholding the matching funds on the ground that the flat exemption of specified items of an applicant's income and resources failed to comply with the requirements of the national act. After three and a half months, the state administrators yielded to the persuasion of the Social Security Board and issued rules which in effect nullified the federally objectionable features, and at the same time detailed how the items formerly exempted were to be considered. A divided court sustained both the rules and the law. The majority concluded that the Washington law was intended to be construed in harmony with the federal act, as that act is amended and interpreted by its administrators. Accordingly, they viewed and approved the delegation chiefly as one which authorized the local administrators to declare certain portions of the act inoperative if they found them in conflict with the federal law. The situation was declared to be one in which “the Legislature enacted a statute under which the executive determines some fact or status upon the existence of which the operation of the statute is to depend.” This theory, of course, makes the function more judicial than legislative, as was pointed out in the dissenting opinion. But the theory completely ignores the fact that, after suspending the proscribed sections, the state administrators wrote their own set of definitions and rules, which were then instituted as a budgetary system.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © American Political Science Association 1943
References
1 Morgan v. Department of Social Security, etc., 127 P. (2d) 686 (Wash., July, 1942).
2 Natural Milk Producers Ass'n. et al. v. City and County of San Francisco et al. 124 P. (2d) 25 (Cal., Apr., 1942).
3 LaGuardia, Mayor, v. Smith et al., 41 N.E. 153 (N. Y., Mar., 1942).
4 Moore v. Brown, Secretary of State, 165 S.W. (2d) 657 (Mo., Nov., 1942).
5 Morrissey v. State Ballot Law Commission, 43 N.E. (2d) 385 (Mass., Aug., 1942).
6 Communist Party of United States of America et al. v. Peek, State Secretary et al., 127 P. (2d) 889 (Cal., July, 1942).
7 State ex rel. Palagi v. Reagan, 126 P. (2d) 818 (Mont., June, 1942).
8 State ex rel. Quinn v. Marsh, 3 N.W. (2d) 892 (Neb., May, 1942).
9 State ex rel. Herbert, Atty. Gen. v. Bricker, Governor et al., 41 N.E. (2d) 377 (Ohio, Apr., 1942).
10 May v. City of Laramie, 131 P. (2d) 300 (Wyo., Nov., 1942). Acts which gave certain persons the privilege of bringing suits against the state, and which provided that the statute of limitations should not be available as a defense, were held to be forbidden special legislation in State Highway Department et al. v. Gorham, 162 S.W. (2d) 934 (Texas, June, 1942), and Bordy v. State et al., 7 N.W. (2d) 632 (Neb., Jan., 1943). Minimum hours legislation for municipal fire department employees was held not to be special legislation in Grosse Pointe Fire Fighters Ass'n, Local No. 533 et al. v. Village of Grosse Pointe Park, 6 N.W. (2d) 725 (Mich., Nov., 1942).
11 Commonwealth ex rel. Banks v. Cain, Keeper of Prison, 28 A. (2d) 897 (Pa., Nov., 1942).
12 People v. Montana, 44 N.E. (2d) 569 (Ill., Nov., 1942).
13 Citizens Building & Loan Co. of Ulrichsville v. Merion, Superintendent of Building and Loan Ass'ns, 45 N.E. (2d) 800 (Ohio, Apr., 1941).
14 Ex parte Levy, Levy v. Albright, 163 S.W. (2d) 529 (Ark., July, 1942).
15 State ex rel. Ralston v. Turner, 4 N.W. (2d) 302 (Neb., June, 1942). For constitutionally unobjectionable legislation affecting the bar, see Ayres et al. v. Hadaway et al., 6 N.W. (2d) 905 (Mich., Dec., 1942). In Hulbert v. Mybeck, 44 N.E. (2d) 830 (Ill., Nov., 1942), the court frustrated an attempt by a local bar association to prevent a court clerk, who was not an attorney, from assisting persons in establishing birth dates.
16 State ex rel. Martin, Att'y.-Gen. v. Heil, Governor, et al., 7 N.W. (2d) 375 (Wis., Dec., 1942).
17 McBride v. Osborn, Governor, 127 P. (2d) 134 (Ariz., June, 1942).
18 Rogers v. Frohmiller, State Auditor, 130 P. (2d) 271 (Ariz., Oct., 1942). The governor's power, under a statute, to transfer money from one emergency fund to another was upheld in Commonwealth ex rel. Meredith, Atty. Gen. v. Johnson. Governor, et al. 166 S.W. (2d) 409 (Ky., Aug., 1942), as extended on denial of rehearing in December, 1942. The powers of the attorney-general may be diminished by the legislature in Kentucky. Although the office is constitutional, the constitution does not enumerate its powers. Johnson, Governor v. Commonwealth, ex. rel. Meredith, Att'y. Gen., 165 S.W. (2d) 820 (Ky., Dec., 1942).
19 3 S. (2d) 761 (La., June, 1941). See this Review, Aug., 1942, p. 668.
20 Graham et al. v. Jones et al. (2d case, same parties), in re Times-Picayune Pub. Co. Inc., et al., 7 S. (2d) 688 (La., Mar., 1942).
21 314 U.S. 252 (Dec., 1941).
22 Radin, , “Freedom of Speech and Contempt of Court”, Ill. Law Rev., Vol. 36, pp. 599–620 (Feb., 1942).Google Scholar
23 Ricks v. Close, Director of Finance, et al., 9 S (2d) 534 (La., May, 1942).
24 Wall v. Close, Director of Finance, et al., 10 S. (2d) 779 (La., Nov., 1942).
25 Louisiana State Bar Association v. Leche, 9 S. (2d) 566 (La., July, 1942). Same v. Connolly, 9 S. (2d) 582 (La., July, 1942). Summary revocation of the license of a physician convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude was upheld in Schireson v. State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey et al., 28 A. (2d) 879 (N. J., Nov., 1942).
26 Perez, Dist. Att'y. v. Meraux, Judge. 9 S. (2d) 662 (La., Aug., 1942). Stanley, Att'y. Gen. v. Jones. 9 S. (2d) 678 (La., Aug., 1942).
27 In re Advisory Opinion to Governor, 8 S. (2d) 26 (Fla., May, 1942); State ex rel. McGaughey v. Grayston, 163 S.W. (2d) 335 (Mo., June, 1942); State ex inf. McKittrick, Atty. Gen., v. Wilson, 166 S.W. (2d) 499 (Mo., Dec., 1942); Gullickson v. Mitchell, Secretary of State, 126 P. (2d) 1106 (Mont., June, 1942); Cramer v. Sheppard, Comptroller of Public Accounts, et al., 167 S.W. (2d) 147 (Texas, Jan., 1943); Critchlow v. Monson, Secretary of State, et al., 131 P. (2d) 794 (Utah, Dec., 1942). Contra: People ex rel. Cromer v. Village of Maywood et al., 45 N.E. (2d) 617 (Ill., Nov., 1942), and State ex rel. Cooper v. Roth, 44 N.E. (2d) 456 (Ohio, Oct., 1942).
28 See Critchlow v. Monson, Secretary of State, et al., 131 P. (2d) 794 (Utah, Dec., 1942).
29 See Cramer v. Sheppard, Controller, 167 S.W. (2d) 147 (Texas, Jan., 1943).
30 Caperell et al., v. Goodbody, 29 A. (2d) 563 (N. J., Dec., 1942).
31 City of Little Rock et al. v. Smith, 163 S.W. (2d) 705 (Ark., July, 1942).
32 Cloutier v. State Milk Control Board, 28 A. (2d) 554 (N. H., Oct., 1942). In City of Lebanon v. Schneider, 163 S.W. (2d) 588 (Mo., June, 1942), emergency financing of municipal utilities in “defense areas” was upheld. The expression “five o'clock p.m.” was held to mean mountain war time although the statute containing it was passed when mountain standard time was in effect.
33 Taylor v. State, 11 S. (2d) 663 (Miss., Jan., 1943); Cummings v. State, 11 S. (2d) 683 (Miss., Jan., 1943); Benoit v. State, 11 S. (2d) 689 (Miss., Jan., 1943). The act provides: “Any person who … shall intentionally preach, teach, or disseminate any teachings, … theory, … designed … to encourage violence, sabotage or disloyalty to the government … or who by action or speech … gives information … which would incite any sort of racial distrust, disorder, prejudices or hatreds, or which reasonably tends to create an attitude of stubborn refusal to salute, honor or respect the flag or government of the United States, or of the state of Mississippi, shall be guilty of a felony and punished by imprisonment … until treaty of peace be declared … but such imprisonment shall not exceed ten years.”
34 West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 11 U. S. Law Week 4472; 87 L. Ed. 1171. (U. S. Sup. Ct., June 14, 1943).
35 Taylor v. Mississippi, 11 U. S. Law Week 4497; 87 L. Ed. 1195.
36 State ex. inf. McKittrick, Att'y. Gen., ex rel. Ham v. Kirby, 163 S.W. (2d) 990 (Mo., July, 1942); accord, Ricks v. Department of State Civil Service, 8 S. (2d) 49 (La., Apr., 1942).
37 People v. Barber, 46 N.E. (2d) 329 (N. Y., Jan., 1943). In Emch v. City of Guymon, 127 P. (2d) 855 (Okla., July, 1942), an ordinance forbidding the distribution of newspapers, handbills, tracts, or books without a permit was easily held unconstitutional as applied to a distribution made by a Jehovah's Witness.
38 City of Blue Island v. Kozul, 41 N.E. (2d) 515 (Ill., Mar., 1942).
39 Jones v. City of Opelika, 7 S. (2d) 503 (Ala., Apr., 1942).
40 Jones v. City of Opelika, 316 U.S. 584 (June 8, 1942).
41 Jones v. City of Opelika, C.C.H. Supreme Court Service, p. 1199 (May 3, 1943); 87 L. Ed. 854.
42 Commonwealth v. Murdock, 27 A. (2d) 666 (Pa., Sept., 1942).
43 Murdock v. Pennsylvania, C.C.H. U.S. Supreme Court Service, p. 1189 (May 3, 1943); 87 L. Ed. 854.
44 Hamilton v. City of Montrose, 124 P. (2d) 757 (Colo., Mar., 1942).
45 Commonwealth v. Prince, 46 N.E. (2d) 755 (Mass., Feb., 1943).
46 Lawson et al. v. Commonwealth, 164 S.W. (2d) 972 (Ky., Oct., 1942).
47 Harfst et al. v. Hoegan et al., 163 S.W. (2d) 609 (Mo., June, 1942), rehearing denied, July, 1942.
48 State v. Smith et al., Same v. Griggsby et al., 127 P. (2d) 518 (Kan., July, 1942).
49 Minersville School District v. Gobitis, 310 U.S. 586 (1941).
50 Jones v. City of Opelika, 62 Sup. Ct. 1231 (June, 1942).
51 Blossom Dairy Co. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters et al., 23 S.E. (2d) 645 (W. Va., Dec. 1942).
52 Angelos et al. v. Mesevich et al., 46 N.E. (2d) 903 (N. Y., Jan., 1942). See also Naprawa et ux. v. Chicago Flat Janitors' Union, Local No. 1, et al., 43 N.E. (2d) 198 (Ill. App., June, 1942) denying an injunction against picketing an apartment house whose owner-manager did all janitor work and refused to pay up a $200 union membership after having paid the $50 initiation fee; and Magill Bros. Inc. v. Building Service Employees International Union et al., 127 P. (2d), 542 (Cal., July, 1942) authorizing injunctive relief against the statement “This house on strike” when, in fact, it was not.
53 Walker v. State, 22 S.E. (2d) 462 (Ga., Oct., 1942).
54 316 U.S. 455 (June, 1942).
55 Smith v. State (four cases), 25 A. (2d) 681 (Md., April, 1942).
56 Coates v. State (nine cases), 25 A. (2d) 676, (Md., Apr., 1942), certiorari denied, Oct., 13, 1942. The Maryland court also held that segregation of Negro golf players on one of the four courses maintained by Baltimore City constituted an invasion of constitutional rights where it appeared that other course facilities were substantially inferior. Durkee et al. v. Murphy (three cases), 29 A. (2d) 253 (Jan., 1943). For other cases involving Negro rights, see Bunn v. City of Atlanta, cited in note 63 infra.
57 Ex parte Boyd, 122 P. (2d) 162 (Okla., May, 1942).
58 Dickoff v. Dewell, Judge, 9 S. (2d) 804 (Fla., Oct., 1942).
59 State ex rel. Curley v. McGeachey, Circuit Judge, et al., 6 S. (2d) 823 (Fla., Mar., 1942).
60 Ex parte Wetzel, Bessemer Bar Association v. Wetzel, 8 S. (2d) 834 (Ala., June, 1942).
61 People v. McCrea et al., 6 N.W. (2d) 489 (Mich., Nov., 1942).
62 State v. McGowan, 131 P. (2d) 262 (Mont., Nov., 1942). An information charging defendants with having received and possessed stolen property on July 18, 1940, was held vulnerable to a plea of double jeopardy in Louisiana when six weeks earlier a jury had returned a verdict of not guilty for the same offense alleged to have been committed on July 21, 1940. State v. Schneller, 7 S. (2d) 66 (La., Mar., 1942).
63 Bunn v. City of Atlanta, 19 S.E. (2d) 557 (Ga., Mar., 1942).
64 Cherry v. Board of Regents of University of State of New York, 44 N.E. (2d) 405 (N. Y., Oct., 1942).
65 Gamble v. Board of Osteopathie Examiners of California et al., 130 P. (2d) 382 (Cal., Nov., 1942).
66 McRae et al. v. Robbins et al., 9 S. (2d) 284 (Fla., July, 1942). The Chief Justice dissented from the part of the opinion upholding the act, and two judges dissented from the part holding the order to be unsupported. See also Lisenba et al. v. Griffin et al., 8 S. (2d) 175 (Ala., May, 1942), for invalidation of an ordinance creating a city barber board with sweeping powers.
67 See this Review, Vol. 35, p. 696, n. 65–68.
68 Ibid., n. 68.
69 State Board of Barber Examiners v. Cloud et al., 44 N.E. (2d) 972 (Ind., Nov., 1942). This opinion is distinguished by a careful review of the status of such legislation, and by a readiness to argue its expediency and justice. See also Needham v. Proffitt, 41 N.E. (2d) 606 (Ind., May, 1942), for invalidation of a statute which prohibited embalmers from advertising prices in newspapers and printed media.
70 Noble et al. v. Davis, 161 S.W. (2d) 189 (Ark., Apr., 1942). But an Arkansas statute which declared optometry to be a learned profession open only to graduates of Grade A schools, which prohibited professional advertising, and authorized revocation of the license of an optometrist who accepted employment from any person, firm, or employer not a licensed optometrist, was upheld in Melton et al. v. Carter et al., 164 S.W. (2d) 453 (Oct., 1942).
71 Tileston v. Ulmann, State's Attorney, et al., 26 A. (2d) 582 (Conn., May, 1942).
72 Scarborough, Director of State Beverage Department v. Webb's Cut Rate Drug Store, Inc., 8 S. (2d) 913 (Fla., June, 1942). Two judges dissented.
73 Cleaners, Dyers and Pressers Local Union, No. 228, v. G.H.W. Cleaners and Dyers, Inc., 7 S. (2d) 623 (La., Mar., 1942).
74 Pepsodent Co. v. Krause Co., Ltd., (International Cellucotton Products v. Same, 9 S. (2d) 303 (La., May, 1943).
75 Ferran et al. v. City of Palo Alto et al., 122 P. (2d) 965 (Cal., Mar., 1942).
76 Atlantic, C. L. R. Co. v. Ivy, 5 S. (2d) 244. See this Review, Vol. 36, p. 684, n. 76.
77 Loftin el al. v. Crowley's, Inc., 8 S. (2d) 909 (Fla., June, 1942).
78 Sacramento Municipal Utility District v. Pacific Gas & Electric Co., 128 P. (2d) 529 (Calif., Sept., 1942).
79 Webber et al. v. City of Scottsbluff et al., 3 N.W. (2d) 635 (Neb., Apr., 1942).
80 See Russell, Horace, “Tax Status of Public Housing,” Amer. Bar Assn. Jour., Vol. 28, p. 381 (June, 1942).Google Scholar
81 See McDougall, Myres S. and Mueller, A. A., “Public Purpose in Public Housing: An Anachronism Reburied,” Yale Law Jour., Vol. 52, pp. 42–73 (Dec., 1942).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
82 Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority v. Thatcher et al., 42 N.E. (2d) 437 (Ohio, June, 1942).
83 Mallard v. Eastern Carolina Regional Housing Authority, 20 S.E. (2d) 281 (N. C., May, 1942).
84 Glen Alden Coal Co. v. Schylkill County Com'rs, 27 A. (2d) 239 (Pa., July, 1942).
85 436 W. 34th Street Corporation v. McGoldrick, Comptroller, 43 N.E. (2d) 436; Lacidem Realty Corporation v. Graves, 43 N.W. (2d) 440 (N. Y., 1942).
86 Forrester, Comm'r, for the Use of Walker County v. North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, 19 S.E. (2d) 158 (Ga. App., Feb., 1942).
Comments
No Comments have been published for this article.