Stein v. Bienville Water Supply Co.

Citations

• 141 U.S. 67
• 11 S. Ct. 892
• 35 L. Ed. 622
• 1891 U.S. LEXIS 2499

Syllabus

<p>A contract with a municipal corporation, whereby the corporation grants to the contractor the sole privilege of supplying the municipality with water from a designated source for a term of years, is not impaired, within the meaning of the contract clause of the Constitution, by a grant to another party of a privilege to supply it with water from a different source.</p> <p>Where a contract with a municipal corporation is susceptible of two meanings, the one restricting and the other extending the powers of .the corporation-, that construction is to be adopted which works the least harm to the State.</p>