State v. City of Pullman

Citations

• 23 Wash. 583
• 63 P. 265
• 1900 Wash. LEXIS 392

Syllabus

<p>MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS-CONTRACTS-ULTRA VIRES.</p> <p>A contract by a town to purchase water pipe laid by another party outside of the town limits at a price in excess of $2,000, and supply water to such party and other persons without the limits of the town, is ultra vires under Gen. Stat., § 683, which provides that in the erection, improvement and repair of all public works, when the expenditure required for the same exceeds the sum of $100, the same snail be done by contract let to the lowest responsible bidder, and under Id., §§ 696, 697, which prohibit a town from contracting for the extension of its water system, whereby an indebtedness is created, without the assent of three-fifths of the voters of the town.</p> <p>SAME-ESTOPPEL.</p> <p>When the contract of a municipal corporation is absolutely ultra vires, the fact that the municipality has received the benefits of the contract affords no ground for an estoppel against its denying the validity of the contract.</p>