Brown-Lipe Gear Co. v. Ferris — 275 N.Y. 418

Majority

p. 418

In the Matter of Brown-Lipe Gear Company, Respondent, against Arthur M. Ferris et al., Constituting the Board of Assessors of the City of Syracuse, Appellants.

Argued October 1, 1937;

decided October 5, 1937.

p. 421

James C. Tormey, Corporation Counsel (A. M. Beach of counsel), for appellants.

Chapter 449 of the Laws of 1935, authorizing the Board of Review of Taxes and Assessments of the city of Syracuse, is valid and con. stitutional and the second question submitted should be answered in the negative. (Matter of Wendell v. Lavin, 246 N. Y. 115 ; Matter of McAneny v. Board of Estimate, 232 N. Y. 377 ; People ex rel. Chamberlain v. Forrest, 96 N. Y. 544 ; Matter of Hermance v. Board of Supervisors, 71 N. Y. 481 ; People ex rel. Citizens Lighting Co. v. Feitner, 81 App. Div. 118 ; People ex rel. Simon v. Bradley, 207 N. Y. 592 ; People ex rel. Met. St. Ry. Co. v. Tax Commrs., 174 N. Y. 417 ; Matter of Morgan v. Furey, 186 N. Y. 202 ; People v. Pinckney, 32 N. Y. 377 ; People ex rel. Welch v. Bard, 209 N. Y. 304 .) The order appealed from is not proper as a matter of law and the first question submitted should be answered in the negative. (Bannon v. Bannon, 270 N. Y. 484 .)

Maurice F. Lane for respondent.

The order appealed from is proper as matter of law. (Matter of Household Realty Corp., 158 Misc. Rep. 667 .) Chapter 449 of the

p. 422

Laws of 1935 establishing the Board of Review is unconstitutional and void. (Household Realty Corp. v. Ferris, 158 Misc. Rep. 667 ; Matter of Wendell v. Lavin, 246 N. Y. 115 ; People v. Raymond, 37 N.Y. 428 ; People ex rel. Met. St. Ry. Co. v. Tax Commrs., 174 N. Y. 417 ; People v. Pelham, 215 N. Y. 374 ; Matter of Morgan v. Furey, 186 N. Y. 202 ; Matter of Brenner, 170 N. Y. 185 ; Devoy v. City of New York, 36 N. Y. 449 .) Chapter 449 of the Laws of 1935 constitutes a delegation of administrative authority whichjs in violation of section 19 of article 6 of the New York Constitution. (Matter of Richardson, 247 N. Y. 401 ; People ex rel. Washington v. Nichols, 52 N. Y. 478 ; Matter of Hathaway, 71 N. Y. 238 ; People ex rel. Welch v. Bard, 209 N. Y. 304 ; Matter of Davies, 168 N. Y. 89 ; People v. Hall, 169 N. Y. 184 ; Matter of Gilroy, 11 App. Div. 65 ; Citizens Sav. Bank v. Town of Greenburgh, 173 N. Y. 215 ; Matter of Wood, 2 Cow. 29 ; Case of Supervisors of Election, 114 Mass. 247 ; Board of Supervisors v. Todd, 97 Md. 247 .)

We agree with the Appellate Division that the challenged statute (L. 1935, ch. 449) attempts to transfer to a board to be appointed by State officers essential functions theretofore belonging to the Assessors of the city of Syracuse and is, therefore, invalid. (N. Y. Const, art. X, § 2; People v. Raymond, 37 N. Y. 428 ; People ex rel. Metropolitan St. Ry. Co. v. State Board of Tax Commissioners, 174 N. Y. 417 . See Prescott v. Ferris, 251 App. Div. 113 .) We pass on no other issue.

The order should be affirmed, without costs, and the questions certified answered in the affirmative.

Crane, Ch. J., Lehman, O’Brien, Hubbs, Loughran, Finch and Rippey, JJ., concur.

Order affirmed, etc.

Cases cited

Wendell v. Lavin 246 N. Y. 115 N.Y. 1927-07-20 p. 421, p. 422
McAneny v. Board of Estimate & Apportionment 232 N. Y. 377 N.Y. 1922-01-17 p. 421
People ex rel. Chamberlain v. Forrest 96 N. Y. 544 N.Y. 1884-10-07 p. 421
Hermance v. Board of Supervisors 71 N. Y. 481 N.Y. 1877-12-18 p. 421
People ex rel. Citizens' Lighting Co. v. Feitner 81 App. Div. 118 N.Y. App. Div. 1903-03-20 p. 421
People ex rel. Simon v. Bradley 207 N. Y. 592 N.Y. 1913-03-25 p. 421
People ex rel. Metropolitan Street Railway Co. v. State Board of Tax Commissioners 174 N. Y. 417 N.Y. 1903-04-28 p. 421, p. 422
In re Morgan 186 N. Y. 202 N.Y. 1906-10-16 p. 421, p. 422
People v. Pinckney 32 N. Y. 377 N.Y. p. 421
People ex rel. Welch v. Bard 209 N. Y. 304 N.Y. 1913-10-21 p. 421, p. 422
Bannon v. Bannon 270 N. Y. 484 N.Y. 1936-04-14 p. 421
People ex rel. Town of Pelham v. Village of Pelham 215 N. Y. 374 N.Y. 1915-06-18 p. 422
Melody v. Goodrich 170 N. Y. 185 N.Y. 1902-03-14 p. 422
Devoy v. Mayor of New York 36 N. Y. 449 N.Y. p. 422
In re Richardson 247 N. Y. 401 N.Y. 1928-03-01 p. 422
People ex rel. Washington v. Nichols 52 N. Y. 478 N.Y. 1873-04-08 p. 422
In re Proving the Alleged Last Will & Testament of Hathaway 71 N. Y. 238 N.Y. 1877-11-20 p. 422
In re Davies 168 N. Y. 89 N.Y. 1901-10-01 p. 422
People v. Hall 169 N. Y. 184 N.Y. 1901-12-20 p. 422
In re Gilroy 11 App. Div. 65 N.Y. App. Div. 1896-12-22 p. 422
Citizens' Savings Bank v. Town of Greenburgh 173 N. Y. 215 N.Y. 1903-01-13 p. 422