Case Name: The La France Fire Engine Company, Respondent, v. The Town of Mt. Vernon, Appellant
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1895-02-14
Citations: 11 Wash. 203
Docket Number: No. 1680
Parties: The La France Fire Engine Company, Respondent, v. The Town of Mt. Vernon, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 203–204

Head Matter:
[No. 1680.
Decided February 14, 1895.]
The La France Fire Engine Company, Respondent, v. The Town of Mt. Vernon, Appellant.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS—PROMISSORY NOTES ISSUED BY TOWN — LIABILITY ON ORIGINAL INDEBTEDNESS — ALLOWANCE OP CLAIM.
Although a municipal corporation may have no authority to execute a promissory note, it may be liable to an action by the payee upon the original contract for which the note was given.
The issuance by a municipal corporation of a promissory note, whether valid as a note or not, is a sufficient allowance of the claim for which the note is given, when the entire claim had been before the town council and part of it had been ordered paid and the note has been executed for the balance.
Appeal from Superior Court; Skagit County.
J. Henry Smith, for appellant.
Million & Houser, for respondent.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Scott, J.
This is the second appeal in this cause. See 9 Wash. 142 ( 37 Pac. 287), where it was reversed upon an appeal by the plaintiff and was sent back for a new trial. Judgment was rendered, for the plaintiff and appealed from by the defendant.
The first point urged is that the defendant had no authority to issue the note in question, and it is claimed that the former judgment of this court does not conclude the defendant from raising the point upon this appeal. But this question is immaterial, for the complaint stated a cause of action upon the original contract for the purchase of the engine, the action being to recover the balance due, prior payments having been made thereon; and we held that the complaint was sufficient.
It is next urged that the claim had never been allowed by the council; but we regard this as untenable, since the entire claim had been previously before the council; part of it had been paid and the note in question issued for the balánee; and the issuance of this note was a sufficient allowance of the claim, whether valid as a note- or not, conceding that its formal presentment had not been waived.
Affirmed.
Hoyt, C. J., and Dunbar, Anders and Gordon, JJ., concur.