Opinion
April, 1911.
I do not think that these associations or corporations which unite in this submission have an interest in the controversy here submitted, as the testator made no bequest to either of them enforcible or unenforcible. If there is a bequest to anybody it is to the individuals who were the widows or orphans of the members of those associations or corporations and they are not parties to the submission and, therefore, not before the court. Section 1279 of the Code of Civil Procedure, under which there can be the submission of a controversy, provides that "the parties to a question in difference, which might be the subject of an action, being of full age, may agree upon a case, containing a statement of the facts, upon which the controversy depends; and may present a written submission thereof to a court of record which would have jurisdiction of an action, brought for the same cause." It seems to me quite clear that this case as submitted to us does not fall within this provision as the widows and orphans, whoever they may be, are not parties to the submission. The questions presented on this submission can be determined on the settlement of the accounts of the executors before the surrogate or the plaintiff to this submission may rest without taking further action until some one comes in who claims to be entitled to an interest in one of these legacies. The question of whether or not there is an enforcible legacy should be left until there are some parties before the court who are the objects of the testator's bounty, and I think we should express no opinion upon that question in the absence of the proper parties. It follows, therefore, that this proceeding must be dismissed, without costs to either party. McLaughlin, Scott, Miller and Dowling, JJ., concurred. Proceeding dismissed, without costs. Order to be settled on notice.