Southern Ry. Co. v. Hartshorne

McCLELLAN, J. Reference to the report of the previous appeal of this cause (150 Ala. 217, 43 South. 583, 124 Am. St. Rep. 68) will afford a satisfactory summary of the facts involved, the theories of the bill for relief, and the ruling of this court in affirmance of the decree below overruling demurrer to the bill and motion to dismiss the hill for want of equity. In due order cause proceeded to decree on the merits; the chancellor granting in full the relief sought in the premises. As a matter of fact it was correctly found by the chancellor that the real estate in question was conveyed by the Couch heirs to the appellant for a consideration afforded by the diversion of a part of the public revenue of the city of Decatur. The appellant takes the point, and urges as a ground for the denial of the relief prayed [493] by these judgment creditors of the municipality, that a sufficient consideration for the contract between appellant and the municipal authorities, and for the conveyance to it by the Couch heirs — a consideration moving from the appellant to the city — existed in the fact that the construction of a proper depot and station facilities by the appellant would and did result in appreciable benefit to the city of Decatur and its inhabitants. Testimony was offered in support of this contention; but the court disallowed it, thereby affording bases for several of the assignments of error. There can be no possible ■ merit in this insistence. The Constitution of 1875 and that of 1901, by section 55 of article 4 and section 94, respectively, provided that the lawmaking branch “shall not have the power to authorize any county, city, town, or other subdivision of this state to lend its credit, or to grant public money, or thing of value in and of or to any individual, association or corporation whatever, or to become a stockholder in any such corporation, association or company, by issuing bonds or otherwise.” The comprehensiveness of these provisions of the organic laws and'the wholesome reason for their incorporation into them are stated in Garland v. Board of Revenue, 87 Ala. 227, 6 South. 402. Brief quotations from the opinion in that case will demonstrate the correctness of the stated conclusion on this point below and of the affirmance of it here. In describing the conditions suggesting the prohibitions of section 55 it was said: “Several of the counties had, by legislative authority, subscribed for stock in railroad corporations, and issued bonds to pay for the same, in anticipation of the future public benefit.” (Italics supplied.) And, having described the conditions that came to be a mischief of sufficient importance to command treatment in a Constitution, this court said: “Its (section 55) terms are comprehensive [494] enough to include any aid, hy issuing bonds or otherwise, by which pecuniary liability is incurred furnished by the municipalities named to private enterprises.” Not content with that broad statement, the opinion appropriates the language of the Ohio court dealing with a similar clause in the Constitution of that state: “In no project originated by individuals, whether associated or otherwise, with a view to gain, are the municipalities permitted to participate in such manner as to incur pecuniary liability. They can neither become stockholders, nor furnish money or credit for .the benefit of the parties interested therein.” Proceeding, this court said: “Operation should be given to the provision in the Constitution coextensive with evils to be prevented.” This section (55) has, as stated, become section 94 of the Constitution of 1901, and hence is impressed in meaning and effect with the construction put upon it in Garland’s Case. In the light of that decision we need hardly add that the very motive leading to the creation of the conditions to prevent the recurrence of which the provision was written was anticipated public benefits. If the public benefits were held to be sufficient to take the act without the prohibition, then its ordaining in two Constitutions in this state was wholly vain. In the Garland Case a pecuniary liability was attempted to be incurred. The same reason that forbade that course of procedure to aid private enterprises is present to condemn the diversion of public revenue in this instance. The provision is no more explicit against becoming a stockholder or affording credit by the issuance of bonds than it is that money shall not be granted. In all enterprises like railroads, canals, pikes, manufacturing establishment, etc., benefits naturally accrue to the community concerned, and it is common experience that this is true. Because it is true the trustees of gov495 eminent are and have always been amenable to it as an influence to induce the lending of the credit or granting the funds or property of the subordinate governments to the aid of such enterprises as foreshadow public benefits. This disposition, natural and inevitable of gratification if not restrained, cannot he gratified by those who have control. The very existence of this disposition has resulted in the creating of the prohibition. To permit it to yet prevail is to annul one of the wisest of the Constitution’s provisions. Some argument has been addressed to the proposition that prior to the Constitution of 1875 the charter of Decatur permitted such grants as was here attempted, and that in re-enacting or amending that or succeeding charters the power was not impaired. The argument is unsound. It involves the maintenance of the proposition that provisions in statutes in conflict with the Constitution of 1875, and the same is true of the later instrument, not within the exceptions provided by the schedule, were not stricken down by the Constitution. That, of course, is not true. Sections 55 and 94 are self-acting — prohibitory in nature and effect. They bound, and bind, in order, all departments of the state, and no law could, did, or does exist in contravention of their prohibitions. Under this ruling the price paid Couch’s heirs for the lot was a donation, pure and simple.. The complainants, judgment creditors of the city of Decatur, were entitled to subject the property to the satisfaction of their demand, as was ruled on former appeal. The chancellor.so adjudged, after properly eliminating the illegal testimony proffered in the cause. His decree is without error, and is therefore affirmed. Affirmed. Dowdell, G. J., and Anderson and Sayre, JJ., concur.