public purpose
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Case Law, Bouvier (1914)
Definitions from Case Law
From 292 U.S. 40 - A. Magnano Co. v. Hamilton · 1934Most cited · 563 citing opinions
that requirement has regard to the use which is to be made of the revenue derived from the tax, and not to any ulterior motive or purpose which may have influenced the Legislature in passing the act
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
As employed to denote the objects for which taxes may be levied, it has no relation to the urgency of the public need or to the extent of the public benefit which is to follow. It is on the other hand merely a term of classification to distinguish the objects for which, according to settled usage, the government is to provide, from those which by the like usage are left to private inclination, interest, or liberality. People v. Township Board, 20 Mich. 452, 4 Am. Rep. 400. See Eminent Domain; Tax.