Prince v. City of Quincy

Citations

• 105 Ill. 138
• 1883 Ill. LEXIS 77

Syllabus

<p>1. Constitutional construction. Where the language of a constitution or statute is clear and unambiguous, the courts can hot add a provision thereto in the nature of an exception, unless where to give effect to the language used, according to its literal terms, would lead to a gross absurdity or manifest wrong or inconsistency, which the courts will not attribute to a legislative body.</p> <p>2. Municipal indebtedness—constitutional limitation. By section 12, article 9, of the constitution of 1870, a city or other municipal corporation is absolutely prohibited from becoming indebted, in any manner or for any purpose, to an amount, including existing indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding five per centum on the value of the taxable property therein, etc. Under this provision, when such municipality shall have reached the limit prescribed by the constitution, it is prohibited from making any contract whereby an indebtedness is created, even for the necessary current expenses in the administration of the affairs and government of the corporation.</p>