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Opinion of the Court.

In section 7 of the Civil Service act of 1883 (22 Stat. 406) is this proviso:

"But nothing herein contained shall be construed to take from those honorably discharged from the military or naval service any preference conferred by the seventeen hundred and fifty-fourth section of the Revised Statutes, nor to take from the President any authority not inconsistent with this act conferred by the seventeen hundred and fifty-third section of said statutes."

But these sections do not contemplate the retention in office of a clerk who is inefficient, nor attempt to transfer the power of determining the question of efficiency from the heads of departments to the courts. The proviso in section 3 of the act of August 15, 1876, expressly limits the preference to those "equally qualified.”

No thoughtful person questions the obligations which the nation is under to those who have done faithful service in its army or navy. Congress has generously provided for the discharge of those obligations in a system of pensions more munificent than has ever before been known in the history of the world. But it would be an insult to the intelligence of Congress to suppose that it contemplated any degradation of the civil service by the appointment to or continuance in office of incompetent or inefficient clerks simply because they had been honorably discharged from the military or naval service. The preference, and it is only a preference, is to be exercised as between those "equally qualified," and this petitioner was discharged because of inefficiency. That, it may be said, does not imply misconduct but simply neglect, but a neglected duty often works as much against the interests of the Government as a duty wrongfully performed, and the Government has a right to demand and expect of its employés not merely competency, but fidelity and attention to the duties of their positions.

Nowhere in these statutory provisions is there anything to indicate that the duty of passing, in the first instance, upon the qualifications of the applicants, or, later, upon the competency or efficiency of those who have been tested in the service, was taken away from the administrative officers and transferred to the courts. Indeed, it may well be doubted whether that is a

Statement of the Case.

duty which is strictly judicial in its nature. It would seem strange that one having passed a civil service examination could challenge the rating made by the commission, and ask the courts to review such rating, thus transferring from the commission, charged with the duty of examination, to the courts a function which is, at least, more administrative than judicial; and if courts should not be called upon to supervise the results of a civil service examination equally inappropriate would be an investigation into the actual work done by the various clerks, a comparison of one with another as to competency, attention to duty, etc. These are matters peculiarly within the province of those who are in charge of and superintending the departments, and until Congress by some special and direct legislation makes provision to the contrary, we are clear that they must be settled by those administrative officers.

We see no error in the conclusions of the Court of Claims, and its decree is

Affirmed.

CONSOLIDATED CANAL COMPANY v. MESA CANAL

COMPANY.

APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA.

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This court, in view of the finding of the court below as to the influence of the dam placed by the Mesa Company upon the flow of water in the canal of the Consolidated Company, is concluded as to the question of fact.

An injunction will not issue to enforce a right that is doubtful, or to restrain an act, the injurious consequences of which are doubtful. The dam built by the Mesa Company although it had the effect of raising the flow of water in its canal so as to destroy the water power obtained by the Consolidated Company through the construction of its canal, was not an infringement of the rights secured to the Consolidated Company under the contract set forth in the statement of the case.

THIS case comes on appeal from a decision of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Arizona, 53 Pac. Rep. 575, affirming

Statement of the Case.

a decree of the District Court of Maricopa County in favor of the defendant in a suit brought by the appellant to restrain the defendant from maintaining in its canal a dam in such a way as to impede the flow of water in appellant's canal, or to destroy a certain water power claimed by appellant.

The facts as shown by the findings and statement prepared by the Supreme Court are as follows: The appellee was the owner of the Mesa Canal. On January 10, 1891, it made a contract with A. J. Chandler, who subsequently transferred his rights thereunder to the appellant. The material portions of the contract are as follows:

"This article of agreement, made and entered into this 10th day of January, A. D. 1891, by and between the Mesa Canal Company, a corporation duly organized and legally existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Territory of Arizona, having its principal office and place of business at Mesa city in the county of Maricopa and Territory of Arizona, party of the first part, and A. J. Chandler of the city of Phoenix, in the county and Territory aforesaid, party of the second part, witnesseth:

"That, whereas, the said party of the first part is an irrigating corporation, and as such is now the owner operating the Mesa Canal in said county and Territory.

"And, whereas, said party of the second part desires to increase the size and capacity of said canal between the point in Salt River where the water is now taken out, or by consent of the directors of the Mesa Canal Company may hereafter be taken out, and a point in said Mesa Canal known as 'Ayers' head gate,' so as to increase the flow of water through said portions of said canal as aforesaid, and for the purpose of the party of the second part, his associates and assigns, obtaining water thereby through said canal, and in order to have the said canal increased in size, dimensions and capacity without cost or expense to said party of the first part, and without in any way interfering with the rights, titles, interests nor privileges of said party of the first part in and to said canal and the water flowing through said canal, except as hereinafter provided.

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Statement of the Case.

"Now, therefore, the Mesa Canal Company, party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to it in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and for the further consideration and purposes herein contained and expressed, does for itself and for its successors or assigns hereby grant unto the said A. J. Chandler, his associates, heirs or assigns, forever, the following rights and privileges upon the terms and conditions herein expressed, viz.:

"That the said A. J. Chandler, his associates, heirs or assigns, shall have the right and privilege of entering upon any and all of the following portions of said Mesa Canal at any time prior to the first day of March, A. D. 1891, for the purpose of widening and enlarging and increasing the size and capacity of said Mesa Canal between the point in Salt River where the water is now or may hereafter be taken out for said canal, and a point on said canal known as 'Ayers' head gate,' and enlarge and increase the size and dimensions of the main dam and head gates at the point of commencement of said canal in Salt River, and enlarge and increase the size and capacity of said Mesa Canal so that the same when so enlarged and increased in size shall have a carrying capacity in addition to its present carrying capacity not exceeding forty thousand inches of water miners' measurement, nor less than ten thousand inches of water miners' measurement, and said enlargement shall be fully made and completed by the thirtieth day of December, A. D. 1891. The present carrying capacity of said Mesa Canal for the purpose of this agreement shall be seven thousand inches miners' measure

ment.

"All the cost and expense of enlarging and increasing the size of said dam, head gate and canal as aforesaid shall be borne and paid by the party of the second part, his associates, heirs or assigns, forever. And said enlargement shall be made without in any way interfering with any of the rights, titles, interests or privileges of said party of the first part in and to the said canal and the water flowing through said canal, except as hereinafter provided.

"The party of the first part hereby reserves the right to fur

Statement of the Case.

ther enlarge said portion of the Mesa Canal whenever they deem it necessary to do so, provided such enlargement shall not interfere with or lessen the rights or privileges herein granted to the party of the second part, his associates or assigns.

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"Said party of the second part, his associates or assigns, shall in enlarging said main dam, head gates and canal as aforesaid, in all respects enlarge said dam, head gates and canal in a good, substantial and workmanshiplike manner, according to the most approved methods of constructing and building irrigating canals.

"All suits, liabilities, costs, expenses or judgments, and all damages or loss incurred or sustained by the party of the first part caused by said enlargement, shall be borne by the party of the second part, his associates or assigns forever, and all suits or proceedings against the party of the first part by reason of said enlargement to be defended at the expense of the party of the second part.

"It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto, their successors or assigns, that at all times when there is an abundance of water in Salt River liable to appropriation and flowage through said canal when so enlarged, then and at all such times the said party of the first part shall have the right to use from said canal in addition to the amount herein before specified as the capacity of said canal two thousand inches of water, miners' measurement.

"The management and control of the canal between the point known as 'Ayers' head gate' to and including the dam in Salt River when so enlarged as aforesaid shall be in the party of the second part, his heirs, associates or assigns. Provided, that the party of the second part, his heirs, associates or assigns, shall before he or they are entitled to receive or use any water through said canal, first deliver to the party of the first part, their heirs or assigns, at the point in said Mesa Canal known as 'Ayers' head gate,' and shall continue to deliver, the seven thousand inches of water miners' measurement above expressed as the carrying capacity of said Mesa Canal, or such portion thereof as may be apportioned to said Mesa Canal by decree of any court. Provided, the stockholders who are now using or may

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