Case Name: SAMUEL H. GREY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, v. THE MEMBER-AT-LARGE AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF UNION
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1902-02-24
Citations: 67 N.J.L. 363
Docket Number: 
Parties: SAMUEL H. GREY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, v. THE MEMBER-AT-LARGE AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF UNION.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 67
Pages: 363–363

Head Matter:
SAMUEL H. GREY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, v. THE MEMBER-AT-LARGE AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF UNION.
Submitted December 7, 1901
Decided February 24, 1902.
1. Municipalities “having a special charter” or “governed by a special act of incorporation” do not constitute a class for which exclusive legislation is constitutional.
2. Goldberg v. Dorland, 27 Vroom 364, followed.
On demurrer to information.
Before Gummere, Chief Justice, and. Justices Gakkison, Collins and Pitney.
For the relator, Hudspeth & Puster and Horace L. Allen.
For the defendant, Frederick Frambach.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Garrison, J.
The case of Goldberg v. Dorland, 27 Vroom 364, settles the law in this court to the effect that "the classification of townships into those governed under or by a special charter," and those not so governed, is not of such a nature as to require or sustain exclusive legislation for each class. Parker v. Newark, 28 Id. 83; Johnson v. Hoover, 29 Id. 334.
The demurrer to the relator's information places in issue the constitutionality of the act of March 20th, 1891. Pamph. L., p. 201.
The purpose of that act is to give to certain municipalities the power to adopt the internal machinery provided by its terms. One of the distinguishing features to be possessed by each member of the class upon which this legislation is operative is that it shall either have a special charter or be governed by a special act of incorporation. I am unable to distinguish the case the court is now called upon to decide from those that already it has decided.
The act in question is invalid.
The relator is entitled to judgment.