OOLE V. Ol'ry 'OF' LA GRANGE.
S71
the pledge may remain in trust in the hands of a third person, even in those of the debtor, provided it be held precariously. ... '" III As long as the debt thus secured remains unpaid and the pledge continues in existence, whatever be the time elapsyd since maturity, the defensE\ of prescription cannot be raised." See 34 La. Ann. 776, and cases there cited.
The coupons sued on in this case are from bonds within the provisions of section 15 of the act of 1872; those which fell due prior to the repeal of the act, March 6,1876, have been secured by the fund pledged for their benefit, and prescription has been interrupted; those which fell due after the repeal, of. the said act, and more than five years prior to the institution of this suit, are prescribed. Judgment will be entered accordingly. BILUNGS,
J., conculiJ.
COLE, V. CITY OF LA GRANGE. l SANFORD V. SAME. 1
(Circuit Com't, E. CONSTITUTIONAl, LAW-TAXATION TN
Mi88OUri. March 22, 1884.) AID OF PRIVATE< :ENTERPRlSlllS.
State legislatures have no authority to .authorize taxation in 'aid of private enterprises or objects, even where there is no express constitutional prohibition.
Demurrers to the Answers. These are euits upon interest coupons cut from bonds issued as a gift from the city of La Grange, Missouri, to the La Grange Iron & Steel Company, a private corporation, under an act of the legislature of Missouri. The answers set up as defenses, (1) general denials; and (2) that the issue of the bonds was ultra vires i and contrary to law. Sanders & Haynes, for plaintiffs. David Wagner, for defendant. TREAT, J. These cases rest on the same facts and propositions of law. The purpose is to have the judgment of the court on the <special defense set up; yet the demurrer is general, and each answer contains a general denial. That technical point seems to have been overlooked; but as the parties have presented the subject on special defe!lses, by mutual understanding, the court announces its views with respect thereto. It is not deemed necessary to travel over the ground, theoretical and elemental, on which the many cases cited rest; for the books and adjudged cases are full of the law-learning involved. 1Reported by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the St. Louis bar.
879
FEDERAL REPORTER.
The main proposition always is as to the authority of a county or town or city to incur the obligations sued on, whether evidenced by a bond or otherwise. In these cases the suits are on coupons detached from bonds issued by the defendant, pursuant to the required vote of the citizens, as a gift to a private manufacturing corporation. There was a legislative enactment, to-wit, the charter of the defendant, which in terms permitted the issue of the bonds, the proper vote etc., having been duly had. The state constitution contains this clause: "The general assembly shall not authorize any city, county, or town to become the stockholder in, or to loan its credit to, any company, association, or corporation, unless two-thirds of the qualified voters of such county, city, or town, at a regular or special election to be held thereon. shall assent thereto."
It is contended that as there is no specific prohibition in the constitution against the issue by a city of its bonds as a gift to a private enterprise, if a two-thirds majority of the citizens so vote, the bonds might be held valid in the hands of bonafide holders, and the property within the corporate limits remain subject to taxation to meet such alleged obligations. It is true the state constitution in express terms refers only to becoming a stockholder or loaning credit, and says nothing about gifts. Why not? Because it was considered by all familiar the elemental principles of free governments that they were not founded and did not exist for the confiscation of private rights, or, through the exercise of the taxing power, appropriate one man's property for the private benefit of another. The oourt, at the close of the argument, asked if it was contended that inasmuch as the oonstitution required a two-thirds vote only as to becoming a stockholder or loaning municipal credit, therefore, a city could, without vote, give away its corporate funds or revenues, or impose a tax to make good a promised gift. Inasmuch as it is beyond the legitimate sphere of munioipalities to use their taxing or other functions ior mere private interests; and inasmuch as it had been settled that they could, as stockholders or otherwise, aid public enterprises, there was need of restricting the latter by exacting a vote of the people, but no need of providing against the former. It is not a "casus omissus," nor an intentional license forindiscriminate squandering of revenues by way of donations. When the required vote is had for stock or loans it is supposed the city receives value or security therefor, and the constitution placed restrictions thereon. Is it to be asserted that because no such restrictions were placed on gifts, that, therefore, the two-thirds of the voters of a city could impose on all taxable property heavy taxes for years, to make good a mere gift to a private manufacturing corporation? The question a.nswers itself. If such a COU1'se could be pursued for one private enterprise it could for all. It is not necessary to review the many cases cited. A c·ourt cannot ignore that the federa.l and state constitutions-nay that all state constitutions-prohibit the taking of private property even for public
IN
RE LETOHWORTH.
878
uses without just compensation. Is it to be argued, therefore, that private property can be taken for private uses, either with or without just compensation ?The supreme court of the United States stated the elemental thought underlying American constitutional law when it declared that an attempt, through the guise of the taxing power, to take one man's property for the private benefit of another is void, an act of spoliation, and not a lawful use of legislative Qr municipal functions. There have been somanJwell.considered cases in the United States courts and in the state courts on this subject that it would be a work of Sl1pererogation to repeat their arguments. It must suffice that the weight of authority and sound reason concur in holding bonds and coupons like those in question void ab initio. . Loan Ass'n v. Topeka, 20 Wall. 665; COin. Bank v. City of lola, 2 Dill. 858; Parkersburg v. Brown, 106 U. S. 487; S. C. 1 Sup. Ct. Rep. 442; Allen v. Jay, 12 (U. S.) Amer. Law Reg. 481, with notes; State v. Curators State Univ. 57 Mo. 178; St. Louis Co. Ct. v. Griswold, 58 Mo. 175; Liv. ingston 00. v. Darlington, 101 U. S. 407. In Cooley, Const. Lim. the subject is fully discussed, cases reviewed, and conclusions stated. Page 264 ct seq. Demurrers overruled.
In '1'C LETCHWORTH and others, Bankrupts. (Di8trict Oourt, N. D. Ne1A York.
1884.)
BANKRUPTOy-RENEWAL NOTE ExEOUTED AFTER BANKRUPTOY.
Where a party previous to becoming a bankrupt was liable on a bond, by the terms of which he became a continuing guarantor of notes discounted by a certain bank for a company of which he was. the president, and at the time of Ilis bankruptcy the bank held a note so discounted, indorsed b)' him, the fact ,hat a renewal note was given after the filing of his petition, will not prevent the debt from being proved as a claim against his estate.
In Bankruptcy. Oharles F. DU'1'ston, for assignee. Theo. M. Pomeroy, for creditors. COXE, J. At the time of the commencement of the proceedings ill bankruptcy herein, William H. Seward, Jr., & Co., bankers, held the bond of the' above.named bankrupt, by the terms of which he became So continuillg guarantor for the payment of any notes which the said 1irm might discount, for a manufacturing company of which he was president. Demand and notice of non'payment were waived. When the petition' was filed the manufacturing company was indebted to Seward & Co. in the sum of $2,500, for which they held the com-' pany's Ilote indorsed by the bankrupt. This note was renewed 'fro:/n