Court Opinion

ID: 9578984
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:50:16.90261+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:34:07.396756
License: Public Domain

Duckworth, Chief Justice,
dissenting. I dissent from the majority ruling because, in my opinion, this is a plain case of lending the State’s credit in violation of the Constitution. While we have upheld the validity of the Ports Authority which, in my opinion, encompasses the usual facilities to effectuate and insure successful operation of the port, nevertheless I can not accept what appears to me to be a strained construction of the term “port facilities” that will include the construction of a manufacturing plant, as is unquestionably undertaken in this case. We are not free to speculate that the building might be used for warehouse or other appropriate port purposes when we are told by the record in this case that it is the deliberate and positive intent to construct this building for the purpose of leasing it to a private individual to be used as a factory with the installation of necessary machinery to accomplish the intended purpose of processing goods. I can not be.unmindful that perhaps within a hundred yards of this factory, financed by the State’s credit and used by private individuals, there might well exist another similar plant, financed by private finances and subjected to State, county, and local taxes, which places the owner of such private enterprise at a definite disadvantage with his competitor, and this disadvantage is afforded that competitor by the State, which is solemnly charged by the first paragraph of the Constitution to protect persons and property, impartially and completely. I fear that this case marks the first dangerous step toward placing the State of Georgia in open competition with private enterprise, which is the veiy lifeblood of a free democracy.