Boyle v. Adams , 50 Minn. 255 ( 1892 )

Mitchell, J.

In this ease an order was made sustaining the demurrer to the complaint, notwithstanding that the piaintiff failed to appear on the trial or hearing. Unless there is some distinction in this respect between an'issue of fact and one of law which does not now occur to us, the correctness of this practice may well be doubted. Kent or v. Glaspie, 44 Minn. 448, (47 N. W. Rep. 52.)

But, as the plaintiff does not make this point, we shall treat the order as being, what he claims it to be, a determination of the issue of law upon the merits.

The allegations of the complaint are that the state auditor, as land commissioner, had offered for sale the pine timber on certain lands of the state; that plaintiff had made the commissioner an offer to purchase the same at private sale, which offer the commissioner had taken under consideration; that before the commissioner had determined to accept the offer, the defendant agreed with plaintiff that, if he would withdraw his offer, and permit him (defendant) to purchase the timber, he would pay plaintiff $500; that plaintiff agreed to this, and withdrew bis offer, and thereupon defendant became the purchaser of the timber at private sale, to his great gain and profit. Judgment is demanded for the $500.

It is rather difficult to spell out of this any sufficient consideration for the promise to pay this money; but, if there is, it must be because the agreement removed competition in the way of offers or proposals for the purchase of public property offered for sale, and thus enabled the defendant to buy it for a less price than he otherwise could have done. If so, the agreement was one that operated against the interests of the public, and was therefore void as against public policy. If the sale had been at public auction, and a like agreement had been made to buy off and prevent competition, there could have been no doubt of its illegality. But the fact that the sale was, as alleged, private, can make no difference in a ease like the present. The effect and result of such an agreement is the same in either case. We are not aware of any statute (and counsel have called our attention to none) authorizing the land commissioner to sell the pine on state lands at private sale.

But, assuming that the law does authorize him, instead of selling at public auction, to invite offers or proposals for its purchase, it is still the interest of the state, as well as the duty of the commissioner, to sell for the highest price obtainable.

Competition is as desirable in the one case as in the other, and any agreement that would silence or remove competition is alike prejudicial in both. An offer or proposal in writin'g, where such offers are invited, is no less a bid than a verbal one at an auction sale, and the abstaining from making an offer in one case under promise of a benefit is as much against the interests of the public as is abstaining from bidding in the other under a like promise. In either case, the natural and necessary effect of such an agreement is to remove competition, lessen both the number and amount of offers, and thereby prevent the sale of public property for as high a price as it would otherwise have brought.

To illustrate by this ease: If the defendant could afford to pay $500 to induce plaintiff to stand out of his wav, it must have been because he could thereby secure the timber from the state for a price at least that much less than he could otherwise have done. It makes no difference that the commissioner had the right to reject all offers if not satisfactory. The same right might be reserved and exercised in case of a sale at public auction.

(Opinion published 53 N. W. Rep. 860.)

Such an agreement operates against the interests of the public, and is therefore against public policy and void. See Gulick v. Ward, 10 N. J. Law, 87.

Judgment affirmed.