, 1876-04-28

HAlA 70 tH6 Ci4l[H kEt IN
the pettlon. and giving an sbsolute Undertaking .
wtshln the meaning Of that eiause then Ii IL clearly
uNQuKsrioNABLr PROHIBITED
4 to 10 done. hy any act Continuing in forco elthsr
was passed ia April isis. ii ths Legislature conid
not thon h.sn passsd an act authorizing H. much leaa
ion Il i liz duty % q conrtS % 70 e9n.pus ths
words Of tbs Constitution give eecl TO ths 10.
tsn sf shs Rs9pis, r. saoras T. H. of hs
ssuss and 70 ba7s undsrssood what toy 1ns.nt, md
words employed. whoa sien In shes ordinary, nssar:
Il a'enneaton, and tho order Of the'F grammatical
.a,s ths F, ~
the instrument, then that moaning Ii tho only ope
oourts srs At liberty 70 say Naa intended 70 bo
which tho words declszn Il The meaning Of tho ibsr-
msn. md neither courts nor Legislatures hava rght
y f. sspFsns Fsss
Court os th!s State and aIe suppoEssd b. other snd
sssd ~ s. ill., s T. ss ssS IT, @ 9a +
Virginia es al. q H.. 81, and s.sea oltea.
Il psopls ~ Ma,nard, l. Ill., q, tae Court sad:
vtsion Of former law which was incons!atent w
became - much unconstitutional ~ II ths law had
ia tho siste no matter when p..sed, which eoasrs a
the provisions Of thu Contribution Of the Batc~
This principle has bccn recognized by thu suprems
Court in numerous caaoe since tbs nav Constitution
Of 1910.
This language employed IN the proib.tory clause Of
btgou., leaving no question open to construction or
1udioisi dctor1nsnason But tho questfon s whether
-... BECOMING INDEBTED"
Within tho meaning Of The clause Is 10 that question,
tha worda ussd seem to exclude Ill distinction b.
tween permanent and whAt II called temporary
loan.
The language "a that No city, sse.. .ha bo allowed
TO hscome indebsed 10 81, m.nncr snd for any pur.
than that theso words forbid ali Distinction between
permanent and temporary loan the la.tor, In form
least hesitation in holding. and DO In tho light Of
tho decisions Of tho anpreme Court Of this btate,
oraa n q nd :,
solute undertaking to repay Tho sso Is to "beeoms
indebted" c!shin r. moaning Of ths clause Ct tho
10 for ons month or twensJ ycars, and sven though
1t might b tho intention ana purpose TO apply tho
scer1ng fos eesning ia Ia w reps!ns ths sreets snd
alleys ~ II this ease I'D out of the revenue of he
revenues. boeanse involves the creation of liability
wholly independent Of them. But authorities havs
effect that 70 far As re4pects tho ordinary crrput 11
pensos o. tho corporation. II theEe bars boon an Ap
Ts 70 "i 9 e saa
debts within tho meaning Of The clauses Of the Char
ter and Constitution In question. Tho transactions
transactions, and when tho Appropriation and tax.
leyy arc made, Tho moneJs 10 meet such ourront
peses ~ IN legal contemplation, In The Treasury,
Th!s doctrins u fully supportea by th. following
ossn n Gy q 50
Sssbe:.y,1 ono. stss i: sss nsyno'a y. ssfs,e:
no mean. In tho treasury eet IL lndebtednsss tho
of it, tarabe properly IL not violation Of tha section
Of tho State Constitution, which proydea that !" no
municipal corporation shall bo allowed 10 become In
corporation" In auch caso It would not booo,no in-
Dillon Muncipsl corporations, sec..ea, and caso
ro5srrcd f.. 70 r. note II on.,..,o
tbs: shsls .''' .s - s'' 'S''' '''1'N 40 ''''N''A
NO LEGAL OBJECTION
TO tho anacipaton Of the provided for BY
ss Z pyss' r. eos sa 2; ss 81
q Which ths o!sim .,'e. e e bef5issxtns
& au implied undertaking 10 e1ercIae due diligence 70
s's Il; md resosai.sd ID ene.ae H. fhs -
PIE ro 50 1is, $685. Such collateral or incidental
Or ths incrrtn9 ii, OF ~ becoming indebted, within
TO shis extent the authorities cited by rostor's
counsel 40. but A. understand thcsa caeea, they
OF them pass upon the question whether tho ber
rowing money and giving ~ abeolate undertaking to
the appropriate revenues to that purpose, would not
constitute delt within Tho meaning u tho prohibition
IT,, 10 .na 10 Il s5 s e.
appropriation and tax-IcEy having boon duly made. In
lcga contamination such rcvenueo asp to 10 regarded
a bcug already tn the Treasury.
At tha time oi tbs demand upnn tho respondents and
llnK the petition tn tis cast, there had III no legal
scnas, been any tA1 levied. An appropriation bill is
qu!te another. Tbs hwy Of the lax Ia made
esun: y Il 'qg''pf.ss T. II 9sA'asS . s tho .ews y
Il has not been done. cannot perceive how tho pin
ne Of tho sss sed p{ whsrs no s.ss
transactions Of the nacal ara TO 10 regarded a. IN
entirety ~ above ausxcs.ed: The doctrine thas tho
= Dsins slseaay il ths Tie.sry i as.surab'y &c.
e.s ssss 5afefa tney 1' sa
perceived how any tncnnvenonce can arse from ths
or - o ,y eons ona Sy n tn1 S
County Oork. which may bo done At Any tine after
Tho appropriation Ia taado
on THE WHOLE CASE,
am OF opinion lint Tho corporation hArinR alteady
reached the prescribed limit of indebtedness would
be within tho prohibition Of ths AH % add to that ILL.,
deutb4laas by borrowing money snu giving IN Also
soluts undertaking or obligation to ropsy II. sm
further vi tho oplnion that ~llere appropriation
tho 1 levied to .bem, noither Ao ncurriug suca
expe<9 nnr the auucpa!on OF such Fsrenusa 70 dis
sh.ss ~ senias y us.aa ass T xa y: Ssn
thls prtncipls that when Tho appropriation aud
ta1-lsvy arc Mads, these moans aro 10
10 regarded ~ talnS A1roaiy In ths Treasury, and
may untic!paed y osdels ee1tinaates specially
payable ont of the proper fund to meet the oraintry
current e1penses. This mods TO tns fsoo fron
legal obJectIoo; Tic orders, eott1ctes
payable would De available, for they place ths holder
lu letter position than srsn judgment, ~ ia ths
fo1msr the holder nsed but present the4 In the
hitter he might haTto apply toA nandsuus 70 compel
foyy.
It4 misunderstanding to suppose That this cas- III.
wolves the validity Of herelotpso asuud No
such question u involved, md tts determination would
depend upon othog considerations. LII that eass, II
thsy absolute undertakings, tho ultimate queAon
would 10 Mtrlher TIC power 70 borrow mousy which
Il etrectuA balore the Constitutional Limit is reacled
absolutely es.sos 10 Innocent hohaes. tho snomsnt
the limit IL roschc ~ II It A narGE bsen grAAtSl TA4
question Is ulcn and difficult, aud Tar y know has
been 1irGclly decl1ed. Courts will " likely to
40 decide It, that such prohibition shall not opora.s
~ snare 10 lnuooant holders. hut In tA4 Tie
only auesoa ia TO The puNsr Aad legal duty 10 bog
toE money under tbs circumstances lescttbsd- ain
inclined 10 deny thu maaasmns soley oa tbs ground
tlat l11aYy lAs been n7ds, sud tho writ u Accord
tDgy denied.
WHAT THEY THINK OF 1T.