Concord v. Robinson

Citations

• 121 U.S. 165
• 7 S. Ct. 937
• 30 L. Ed. 885
• 1887 U.S. LEXIS 2032

Syllabus

<p>A grant to a municipal corporatibn of power to appropriate moneys in aid of the construction of a railroad, accompanied by a provision- directing the levy and collection of taxes to meet sucli appropriation, and pre- . scribing no other mode of payment, does not authorize the issuing of negotiable bond's in payment of such appropriation.</p> <p>The power given by' the act of March 24, 1869, of the legislature of Illinois, relating to the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad, to townships, towns, and cities, which had voted to contribute aid in the construction of said road, to borrow money and issue bonds in payment of such contributions, if not acted upon prior to July 2, 1870, -was withdrawn by the constitution of Illinois of 1870, and could not, thereafter, be exercised. - '</p> <p>Subscriptions and donations in aid of railroads, .voted by municipal corporations of Illinois, prior to July 2, 1870, such vote being .authorized by laws iu force when it was taken, could be' completed after that date, according to the conditions attached to the vote, or upon terms that did ■ not increase the public burdens, notwithstanding the. provision- in the constitution of 1870, that no municipality “ shall ever become subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or private corporation, or make donation to, or loan its credit in aid of, such corporation.”</p>