Opinion ID: 1709084
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: As to Violation of Sections 22 and 103, Constitution 1901

Text: The City's proposed actions are not prohibited by either of §§ 22 and 103, Constitution 1901. A lease made by a public body, pursuant to statutory authority does not constitute an irrevocable and exclusive grant of special privileges, within the meaning of § 22 of the Constitution. That section is designed to prohibit grants of special privileges where some derogation of or encroachment on public rights is inherent in the grant, and is directed at grants of monopoly and discriminatory privileges made by a legislative body in its sovereign capacity, and is not directed at contracts of a private nature such as leases. See: Town of Elba v. Rhodes, 142 Ala. 689, 38 So. 807; Dickinson v. Cunningham, 140 Ala. 527, 37 So. 345; Birmingham & Pratt Mines Street Railway Co. v. Birmingham Street Railway Co., 79 Ala. 465, 58 Am.St.Rep. 615. Section 103 is merely a constitutional mandate to the legislature, which has been complied with by the passage of certain laws not here relevant. See: City of Birmingham v. Southern Bell Tel & Tel. Co., 234 Ala. 526, 176 So. 301.