Searle v. Abraham

Adams, Ch. J\ The plaintiff avers that he is a citizen and tax-payer of the city of Oskaloosa; that the city has made a [508] provision for lighting its streets by a contract with the Oskaloosa Gas Company, which is still in force, and that the city has exhausted its power for lighting its streets; that, notwithstanding such fact, the officers of the city are about to enter into a contract with the Edison Electric Light Company to light the same lamps, and that by such contract the city will increase its indebtedness beyond the constitutional limit. The defendants deny that there is any contract in force between the city and the Oskaloosa Gas Light Company; and it contends that in any event the plaintiff, as a citizen and tax-payer, is not entitled to maintain an action for an injunction to restrain the city council from entering into another contract for lighting the streets. We do not think that it is necessary to determine the question as to the validity of the alleged contract between the city and the Oskaloosa Gas Light Company. For the purposes of the opinion, it may be conceded that it is valid. It is to be observed that the company is not complaining. The complaint is made by a mere citizen and tax-payer, and on the ground that his taxes will be increased. He claims, indeed, to have shown that the taxes of the city will be increased even beyond the constitutional limit. In respect to the latter position, that the contract would create an indebtedness in excess of the constitutional limit, we have to say that, as such contract could not be enforced, we do not think that the plaintiff has any ground of complaint, at least in advance of any steps taken by either party towards a performance of the contract. But we do not think that it is made to appear that the plaintiff’s taxes would be increased at all. The Oskaloosa Gas Light Company may have neither the ability nor desire to perform its contract. If this is so, the city might properly enough make other provision for lighting its streets. In no event would the city be liable to the Oskaloosa Gas Light Company for more than the damages which it would sustain by reason of the refusal of the c'ity to take and pay for its gas; and it may be that the damages [509] would be such, if any, that the city could afford to pay them in consideration of a cheaper or better service by tbe other company. The jdaintiff does not show, with any reasonable certainty, that he would sustain any injury by the contemplated action of the council. Without such showing, we do not think that he is entitled to an injunction. (Dodge v. City of Council Bluffs, 57 Iowa, 560; Des Moines Gas Co. v. City of Des Moines, 44 Id., 510; Dodge v. Woolsey, 18 How., 331.) In our opinion the injunction was rightly dissolved. Aeeirmed.