Wood-Mendenhall Co. v. City of Greer

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Mr. Justice Hydrick. Plaintiff was conducting in the city of Greer a general merchandise business and, in connection therewith, a general repair shop, in which blacksmithing, woodwork and painting were done. The repair shop was generally known as “Mendenhall’s blacksmith shop.” Plaintiff also did painting in said shop which was not incidental to the blaeksmithing, that is, jobs of painting-on which no blaeksmithing was done. An ordinance of the city required the payment of an annual license on certain businesses, — among others, — the following: “blacksmith shop,” “merchants,” “paint shop or contractor.” On February 1st, 1909, plaintiff was given a license to carry on for one year the business of “merchandise and blacksmith.” This license was understood by plaintiff to cover all its business, and the mayor and city clerk then in office so construed the ordinance. Sometime in July, 1909, demand was made upon plaintiff that it pay a license for the business of a “paint shop.” The demand was refused, and plaintiff was tried, convicted and fined $100.00 in the city court for carrying on the business without a license. Under threat of continual prosecution for carrying on the business without a license, plaintiff paid the license, “under protest,” and brought this action to recover the amount paid. Plaintiff alleges that the license obtained in February covered and was intended to cover all its business, including that of *251 painting, and that the exaction of the additional license was illegal; that the ordinance under which it was exacted is illegal, because it violates the statute authorizing such licenses, in that it fails to graduate them in the manner prescribed by the statute. The Circuit Court held that the license paid in February was intended to cover and did cover all of plaintiff’s business, and that the city could not exact an additional license before the expiration of the year for which the first was given, and gave judgment for plaintiff. 1 The Court erred in the grounds upon which it rested its decision. It is true that the painting which is merely incidental to the finishing job of blacksmithing might properly be included in and covered by a license to carry on the business of “blacksmithing;” but it appears that plaintiff did painting outside of and not connected with the business of “blacksmithing.” That was a business separate from and independent of that of “blacksmithing,” and was not covered by the license. The city was not bound by the construction of the ordinance by the city clerk and mayor. The finding that the license did cover the entire business of plaintiff is without any evidence to support it. 2 But the other ground upon which plaintiff seeks to recováis well taken. The ordinance violates the statute under which the license is authorized, in that it is not graduated in the manner therein prescribed. The statute provides: “That said license shall be graduated according to the gross income of the persons, firms or corporations required to pay such license, or upon the amount of capital invested in said business.” Code, sec. 1983. The powers conferred upon municipal corporations are strictly construed, and must be exercised in precise conformity with the grant. White v. Rock Hill, 34 S. C. 242, 13 S. E. 416; Luther v. Wheeler, 73 S. C. 39, 52 S. E. 874; 4 L. R. A., N. S. 746n. *252 For failure to graduate the license in the manner prescribed by the Statute, the ordinance is illegal andl void. 3 The plaintiff pursued the course prescribed by the statutes in such cases. He paid the tax under protest, and sued to recover the amount paid. Telegraph Co. v. Winnsboro, 71 S. C. 231, 50 S. E. 870. The judgment being right, is affirmed.