Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. v. Taylor

Citations

• 192 U.S. 64
• 24 S. Ct. 208
• 48 L. Ed. 342
• 1904 U.S. LEXIS 1033

Syllabus

<p>Courts are not to be deceived by the mere phraseology in which an' ordinance may be couched when it appears conclusively that it was passed for an unlawful purpose and not for the one stated'therein.</p> <p>A license fee cannot be imposed by ordinance of a municipality for purposes of inspection on'telegraph companies doing an interstate business which is so far in excess of the expenses of inspection that it is plain that it was adopted, not to repay such expenses, but as a means for raising revenue. .</p>