Illinois Central Railroad v. People

Citations

• 95 Ill. 313
• 1880 Ill. LEXIS 180

Syllabus

<p>1. Constitutional law—power to regulate charges of railroads. The act of May 2, 1873, to prevent extortion and unjust discrimination in railroads, is a constitutional enactment, and is not in violation of the contract between the State and railroad companies, growing out of the granting and accepting their charters containing power to establish such rates of toll for the conveyanee of persons and property as they shall, from time to time, direct and determine in the by-laws.</p> <p>2. The charter of a corporation is, beyond a doubt, a contract, by which the corporation acquires the powers and functions to transact its business in the mode prescribed, but this is, by necessary implication, subject, the same as in case of natural persons, to the legislative power of the State to define, prohibit and punish extortion.</p>