Mayor and Council of Wilmington v. Smentkowski

• Decision Date: 19 March 1964
• Citation: 57 Del. 232,198 A.2d 685
• Parties: , 57 Del. 232 The MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF WILMINGTON, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Delaware, v. Victoria SMENTKOWSKI.
• Court: Supreme Court of Delaware

Page 685

198 A.2d 685

7 Storey 232, 57 Del. 232

The MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF WILMINGTON, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Delaware, v. Victoria SMENTKOWSKI.

Supreme Court of Delaware.

March 19, 1964.

O. Francis Biondi, City Sol., and Frank J. Gentile, Jr., Asst. City Sol., for The Mayor and Council of Wilmington.

Elwood F. Melson, Jr., Wilmington, for defendant.

TERRY, C. J., and WOLCOTT and CAREY, JJ., sitting.

CAREY, Justice.

This case, which was certified to us from the Superior Court, involves the validity of a Wilmington City ordinance designed to prohibit discrimination in restaurants because of race, color or religion.

The ordinance requires the obtaining of a City license to conduct various businesses within the City limits. On June 1, 1961, it was amended to provide that no person holding a license to operate a restaurant, cafe, soda fountain, hotel, dining room or other place serving food for consumption on the premises shall discriminate against or fefuse to serve any person because of his race, color or religion. This defendant refused to be bound by this provision and her application for a restaurant license for 1962 was denied solely because of that refusal. She continued to conduct her restaurant and as a consequence was arrested for operating the business without a license. From a finding of guilt in the Municipal Court, she appealed to the Superior Court. Her defense is that the foregoing provision of the ordinance is invalid because the City lacks authority to enact it.

The specific question we must decide is: Does the Mayor and Council of Wilmington have the authority to prohibit racial or religious discrimination by City restaurant owners in the sale and service of food on their premises and to prohibit such owners from refusing to serve any person on the premises because of his race, color or religion?

It is settled that a municipal corporation has no authority beyond that which is expressly granted or fairly implied or indispensable to its declared objects and purposes. Mayor and Council of Wilmington v. Dukes, Del., 157 A.2d 789. Concededly, no section of the Wilmington City Charter expressly authorizes the Council to adopt anti-segregation ordinances. The right to issue business licenses and to charge fees therefor was conferred upon the City by 31 Laws of Delaware Ch. 29, but the sole purpose of that power is stated to be the raising of money for the payment of its debts and expenses; it is not suggested that this Section even impliedly authorizes the ordinance here questioned. The only Section of the Charter relied upon to justify the ordinance is found in 17 Laws of Delaware Ch. 207, which, after enumerating a large number of specific powers, concludes with this language: '* * * and in general shall have power to do all those matters and things for the well being of the said city which shall not be in contravention of any existing laws of this State or the...