Albuquerque National Bank v. Perea

In equity. Suit by the Albuquerque National Bank against Jose L. Perea, sheriff and ex officio collector of the county of Bernalillo, N. M., and Clifford L. Jackson, district attorney of said county, brought in the district court of said county, to restrain defendants from collecting certain taxes. The bill was dismissed, and the judgment thereon was affirmed, by the supreme court of the territory. 25 Pac. Rep. 776. Complainant appeals. Affirmed.

Statement by Mr. Justice BREWER:

On November 3, 1888, appellant, as plaintiff, filed its bill in the district court of the second judicial district of the territory of New Mexico to restrain the defendant, sheriff and ex officio collector of Bernalillo county, from the collection of the regular territorial, county, and city taxes assessed and levied upon its property for the year 1888. The ground upon which the injunction was sought was, generally speaking, inequality and discrimination in the assessment. The bill alleged that the plaintiff made a return of its property for taxation to the assessor, protesting at the time that its property should not be assessed at any greater rate than other property; that, disregarding the protest, the assessor assessed the property at its par and full value; that thereupon it appealed to the board of equalization, which reduced the assessment to 85 per cent.; 'that all other property in the county and territory is not assessed at near so high a valuation upon its actual value;' and that the average valuation of such other property does not exceed 70 per cent. of its actual value. At first there were also allegations to the effect that the assessor and board of equalization systematically discriminated in the valuation and assessment of complainant's property and other property in the territory, but they were voluntarily stricken out by the plaintiff. It further alleged 'that the amount of its taxes upon the assessment as made by the board of equalization is the sum of $2,189, and that the amount of the assessment which your orator should justly pay for its said property, if lawfully, equitably, and justly assessed, would be the sum of $1,532.30, which said sum your orator brings into court, and hereby tenders and offers to pay to the said defendant Jose L. Perea, ex officio collector of said county of Bernalillo.'

Subsequently, and on November 29, 1889, it filed a supplemental bill, the purpose of which was to restrain the collection of the taxes for the year 1889. That bill, on its face, failed to allege the amount of taxes levied upon the property of the plaintiff for that year; though by reference to one of the exhibits attached,-the assessment roll for the county,-it appears that it was $3,713.76. There was an allegation that the amount admitted in the original bill to be justly due for the taxes of 1888 had been paid; and then follow these averments, which are all there are, in respect to an admission of an amount due, payment, or tender:

'And your orator further alleges that, having paid all the taxes for which it was liable for the year 1888, it now comes into court and offers to pay all the taxes which can justly and lawfully be assessed against it, and for which it may be justly and lawfully liable for the year 1889, and now tenders the same into court. * * *

'And your orator further alleges that the said assessment and said tax roll are so made out that it is impossible to separate the property upon which your orator is justly and lawfully taxed, and the taxes upon which are just and lawfully levied, from the balance of the taxes assessed against your orator; but whatever sum may be ascertained by the court to be so justly due from your orator on account of taxes for the year 1889 your orator is ready and willing and bring the same into court and is ready to pay the same.'

The demurrer to these bills, original and supplemental, was sustained by the district court, and the bills dismissed, and on appeal to the supreme court of the territory this decree was affirmed. From the decision of the supreme court of the territory, complainant has brought this appeal.

W. B. Childers, for appellant.

Edward l. Bartlett, for appellees.

Mr. Justice BREWER, after stating the facts in the foregoing language, delivered the opinion of the court.