PAGE V. SUN INSURANCE OFFICE.
203
PAGE et al. v. SUN INSURAXCE OFFICE. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. No. 637. FIRE INSURANCE-PRORATING
March 30, 1896.)
Loss. Property situated on two separate blocks was insured to a certain amount under policies covering the entire property on both lots. The property on one block was further insured by a policy covering that alone, which contained a provision that the company should not be liable for a greater proportion of any loss than the amount insured should bear to the whole insurance. 'rhe property covered by this policy was partially destroyed, that on the other block remaining uninjured. Held, that the compound policies covered the property destroyed, to their full amount, so that the proportion of the loss to be borne by the specific policy was the proportion which that policy bore to the total amount of both the compound and specific policies. 64 l!'ed. 194, affirmed.
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Minnesota. Otto Kueffner (J. N. Searles, T. T. Fauntleroy, and Frederick D. Rice were with him on the brief), for plaintiffs in eiTor. Emanuel Cohen (Stanley R. Kitchel and Frank W. Shaw were with him on the brief), for defendant in error. Before CALDWELL, SANBORN, and THAYER, Circuit Judges. Circuit Judge. Edward '8. Page and Charles H. Page, co-partners as Page Bros., the plaintiffs in error, were the owners of lumber, lath, and shingles of the value of $59,095.52, situated on two blocks in the city of Anoka, Minn. That portion of this property situated on the easterly of these blocks was worth $16,727.06, and that portion of this property situated on the westerly of these blocks was worth $42,368.46. On November 10, 1893, a fire caused a loss of $30,982.02 on that portion of their property situated on the westerly block, but caused no damage or loss upon the property situated on the easterly block. At the time of this fire the plaintiffs in error held policies of insurance to the amount of $40,000 on this entire property situated on both blocks, and policies to the amount of $10,000 upon that portion of this property situated on the westerly block. One of the latter policies, for the amount of $2,500, was issued by the Sun Insurance Office, the defendant in error. This policy contains this provision: "This company shall not be liable under this policy for a greater proportion of any loss on the described property * * * than the amount hereby insured shall bear to the whole insurance, whether valid or not, or by solvent or insolvent insurers, covering such property."
Upon this state of facts the court below held, in an action upon this policy, that both the $10,000 insurance on the property on the westerly block only, and the entire $40,000 insurance upon all the property on both blocks, covered the property situated on the westerly block and described in this policy, and that the plaintiffs in error could recover only 2500150000 of the amount of the loss on this policy, which is $1,549.10. Judgment was accordingly entered
204
74 FEDERAL REPORTER.
for that amount, and this writ of error was sued out to reverse it. 64 Fed. 194. The only error assigned is that only such a proportion of the $40,000 insurance upon the property upon both blocks as the value of the property upon the westerly block bore to the value of the property on both blocks (that is to say, only 4236846!s909552 of $40,000), which is $28,677.95, covered the property upon the westerly block, within the true meaning of the clause of the policy in suit which we have quoted; that the whole insurance covering the property on this block was consequently only $38,677.95; and that the defendant in error is consequently liable for 250000/:;867795 of $30,982.02, the total loss, which is $2,002.56. Ingenious and persuasive arguments have been presented to sustain this assignment, but the unambiguous terms of the contract are fatal to them ali. This contract is too plain to permit construction, too positive to allow evasion, and too clear to admit of doubt. It provides that this defendant in error shall not be liable for any greater proportion of the loss on the property described in it than the amount insured by it shall bear to the whole insurance covering the property it describes. It will not do to say that the policies for $40,000, which insured both this property on the westerly block and that upon the easterly block, did not cover to their full amount the property described in this policy. The whole includes all its parts, and that which covers the whole covers every part that constitutes the whole. The policy in suit requires the insured to state in his proofs of loss "all 'other insurance, whether valid or not, covering any of said property." If, pursuant to this provision, the plaintiffs in error had stated in their proofs of loss that the amount of their insurance on this property by virtue of these compound policies for $40,000 was only $28,677.95, it is plain that their statement would not have been true. If the loss upon the property on this westerly block had been $80,000, instead of $30,892.02, the insured could certainly have collected the full $40,000 on these compound policies. How, then, can it be said that the entire $40,000 of insurance furnished by these compound policies did not cover the property damaged? Arguments and authorities have been urged upon our consideration in support of the proposition that a more just and equitable division of the loss between the companies which issued the componnd policies covpring the propP!'ty npon both blocks, and those which issued the specific policies on the property upon the westerly block only, would be effected by treating the former as insuring the plaintiffs in error to the amount of $28,677.95 on the property on the westerly block, and to the amount of $11,322.05 on the property on the easterly block. But that question is not presented by this record. According to the agreed statement of facts upon which this case was submitted, the $40,000 of insurance was not so placed. The question before us is not what contribution each company which insured this property ought in equity to make to the payment of this loss, in the absence of express contracts fixing their liabilities, and we are compelled to decline to follow counsel into the consideration of that and cognate questions. It is not our province to make contracts for the parties to this suit, or to modify
WOODBURY V. CITY OF SRA WNEETOWN.
205
Hhose which they have themselves deliberately made because it ap1pears to us that they might have made those that would have been more equitable or more advantageous. They have made a contract themselves which fixes the amount of the liability of the defendant -for this loss. This action is founded on that contract, and it is the sole measure of the defendant's liability. The only question here is whether or not the plaintiffs in error may recover, under this policy, any greater proportion of the loss upon the property which it describes than that which the amount insured by it bears to the en-tire insurance covering that property. The policy expressly provides that they cannot, and that must close this discussion. The result is that, under a clause in a policy of insurance which provides that the company shall not be liable for a greater proportion of any loss on the property described therein than that which -the amount insured thereby shall bear to the whole insurance cover: ing such property: First. Compound policies insuring the property described in such a policy, and other property, cover the property so described, to their full amount, in case of a loss upon the property ,described in the specific policy, and no loss on the other property described in the compound policies. Second. In such a case the company issuing the specific policy is liable for no greater proportion of the loss than that which the amount of such policy bears to the total amount of both the compound and specific policies coverin!! the property it describes. Merrick v. Insurance Co., 54 I'a. St. 277, 281, \282, 284. The judgment below is affirmed, with costs. I
WOODBURY et aI. v. CITY OF SHAWNEETOWN.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. May 4, 189(;.) No. 138. 1. REvTEw-GE!\ERAIJ FINDING-WAIVER OF .JURY.
"Vhere a jury is waived in writing. and the court makes merely a general finding of facts, no question is preseuted on writ of error of -the sufficiency of the facts found to support the judgment. Rev. St. §§ 649, 700.
2.
ASSTGNliEN1'S OF EUROR-ALLEGATIONS OF FACT.
An assignment of error cannot be accepted as proof of facts alleged therein, and cannot, therefore, be considered, in the absence of anything else in the record to show that the court did or did not rule as asserted in such assignment.
3.
SAME-WAIVER OF ,TURy-EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE.
In an action at law, tried by the court without a jury, assignments of error which would involve an examination of the evidence cannot be considered by the appellate court. 4. REvTEw-Hur,nws ON MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL. 'Vhether a motion for a new trial shall be granted or refused is a matter of discretion in the federal courts, and their action thereon is not assignable as error.
Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of Illinois. Geo. A. Sanders, for plaintiffs in error. Carl Roedel, for defendant in error.
206
Before WOODS, Circuit Judge, and BAKER and SEAMAN, District JUdges. WOODS, Circuit Judge. The declaration in this case is in assumpsit upon five bonds, part of a series of twenty-five for $1,000 each, of the city of Shawneetown, bearing date January 1, 1872. Issue was joined by a plea of non assumpsit, and the case submitted for trial to the court by written agreement waiving a jury. The court made a general finding, and gave judgment for the defendant. No question is presented upon any action or ruling of the court in the progress of the trial of the cause, and, the finding not being special, there is presented here no question of the sufficiency of the facts found to support the judgment. Rev. St. §§ 649, 700. The specifications oferror, first to tenth inclusive, are to the effect that the court erred in holding or in not holding as stated upon particular questions; but an assignment of error cannot be accepted as proof of facts alleged in it, and there is nothing else in the record to show that the court did or did not rule as asserted. The eleventh specification relates only to the question of costs. The twelfth is to the effect that the court erred in not giving the plaintiff judgment for the amount of his bonds, interest, and the costs of the action; but to determine whether there was error in that respect would involve an examination of the evidence, which in a case tried by the court without the aid of a jury is not within the power or jurisdiction of this court. The adjudications to that effect are numerous. Skinner v. Franklin Co., 6 C. C. A. 118, 56 Fed. 783, and 9 U. S. App. 676, and cases cited; Bowden v. Burnham, 8 C. C. A. 248, 59 Fed. 752, and 19 U. S. App. 448; U. S. v. Carr, 10 C. C. A. 80, 61 Fed. 802, and 19 U. S. App. 679; National Bank of Commerce v. First. Nat. Bank, 10 C. C. A. 87, 61 Fed. 809; v. W. & J. Sloane, 10 C. C. A. 69, 61 Fed. 791, and 19 U. S. App. 573, 661; Distilling & Cattle Feeding Co. v. Gottschalk Co., 13 C. C. A. 618, 66 Fed. 609, and 24 U. S. App. 638, and cases cited. The bill of exceptions in this record shows no exception save to the overruling of the motion for a new trial. It does not purport to contain all the evidence, and, while it sets out matters of record and other facts as having been agreed upon, it does not show that all the facts are stipulated, nor that the case is submitted upon the facts stated as "an agreed case." The judgment in an agreed case may be reviewed as if the facts had been specially found. See cases supra. The other specifications of error are upon the overruling of the motion for a new trial, and, it is well settled, present no question for review, because in the federal courts it is a matter of discretion whether a motion for a new trial shall pe granted or denied. The judgment below must be affirmed.
UNITED STATES V. ORMSBEE.
207
BOLLES et al. v. HAMILTON COUNTY. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. No. 174. Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of Illinois. Geo. A. Sanders and Wm. R. Bowers, for plaintiff in error. J. R. Williams and J. M. Hamill, for defendant in error. Before WOODS, JENKINS, and SHOWALTER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM.. This is an action of assu.mpsit upon coupons from bonds issued by the county of Hamilton, Ill., to the St. Louis & Southeastern Railway Company. Trial by jury was waived by written agreement, and the court made a general finding and gave jUdgment for the plaintiff in error upon a not upon all, of the coupons in suit. There is no special finding of facts, and in other respects also the record is the same as in the case of Woodbury v. City of Shawneetown, 74 Fed. 2(};). For the reasons there explained, no q1,Iestion is presented for consideration, and the jUdgment of the circuit court must be affirmed. May 7, 1800.)
SEYMOUR v. WHITE COUNTY. (Circu.it Cfll,lrt of. Appeals. Seventh Circuit. :May 4, 1800.) No. 153. Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of Illinois. Geo. A. Sanders, for plaintiff in error. J .. R. Williams, and J. ftf. Hamil, for defendant in error. Before WOODS and JENKINS, Circuit Judgeli, and BUNN, District Judge. WOODS, Circuit Judge. This is an action of assumpsit on bonds made by the county of White, Ill., bearing date Decemher 2, 1872, and purporting to have been made In part payment of a subscription to the capital stock of the Cairo & Vincennes RaillJoad Company. Issue having been joined hy a plea of non assumpsit, a jury was waived by written agreement, and the case suhmitted for trial to the cou.rt, which, upon the evidence adduced, made a general finding and gave jndgment for the defendant. No exception was saved to any ruling or action of the court, other than the overruling of. the motion for a new trial, and the entry of judgment on the finding for the defendant in error. The specifications of error correspond in all respects with those In the case of Woodbury v. City of Shawneetown, 74 Fed. 205, and, for the reasons there pointed out, present no question for review. The judgment below is therefore affirmed.
UNI'l'ED S'l'ATES v. ORMSBEE. (District Court, E. D. Wisconsin. May 9, 1800.) REGULATIONS
CONSTITUTIONAl, LAW OF LEGISI,ATIVE POWERS BySECIn;TARY OF WAR FOR USE OF .CANALS.
'l'he grant by congress by the act of August 17, 1894, to the secretary of war, of authority to prescrihe such rules and regUlations for the use, administration, and navigation of canals, etc., owned or operated by the United States, as In his judgment public necessity may require, was