Southern Ry. Co. v. Jackson County, 763

CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
Writing for the CourtSOMERVILLE, J.
Citation66 So. 570,189 Ala. 436
PartiesSOUTHERN RY. CO. v. JACKSON COUNTY.
Decision Date25 July 1914
Docket Number763

66 So. 570

189 Ala. 436

SOUTHERN RY. CO.
v.
JACKSON COUNTY.

No. 763

Supreme Court of Alabama

July 25, 1914


Appeal from Circuit Court, Jackson County; W.W. Haralson, Judge.

Action between the Southern Railway Company and Jackson County. Judgment for the county, and the company appeals. Reversed and remanded.

Lawrence E. Brown, of Scottsboro, for appellant.

Bouldin & Wimberly, of Scottsboro, for appellee.

SOMERVILLE, J.

In the case of Gunter v. Hackworth, 62 So. 101, it was ruled, on the facts here exhibited, that the indebtedness of Jackson county is in excess of the limitations imposed by section 224 of the Constitution of 1901; and, further, that that county could not under those limitations incur any additional debt even for the erection of a courthouse which was necessary for county uses.

As stated by counsel in brief, the sole question presented by this appeal is: Can a county in this state, which has exceeded the debt limit placed upon it by the Constitution, levy special taxes, in excess of the authorized general tax of one-half of one per centum, for the purpose of erecting a courthouse, and constructing public roads?

The authority to do so, if it exists, must be consistent with section 215 of the Constitution, which is as follows:

"No county in this state shall be authorized to levy a greater rate of taxation in any one year on the value of the taxable property therein than one-half of one per centum provided, that to pay debts existing on the 6th day of December, 1875, an additional rate of one-fourth of one per centum may be levied and collected which shall be appropriated exclusively to the payment of such debts and the interest thereon; provided further, that to pay any debt or liability now existing against any county, incurred for the erection, construction or maintenance of the necessary public buildings or bridges, or that may hereafter be created for the erection of the necessary public buildings, bridges or roads, (a) any county may levy and collect such special taxes not to exceed one-fourth of one per centum, as may have been or may hereafter be authorized by law, which taxes so levied and collected shall be applied exclusively to the purposes for which same were so levied and collected."

It will be observed that the special taxes thus authorized are for two purposes only: (1) To pay debts then (1901) already existing; and (2) to pay debts incurred in future for the objects...

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12 practice notes
  • Chism v. Jefferson County, 1050046.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Alabama
    • 16 Agosto 2006
    ...and supported by specially levied taxes to fund the warrants were subject constitutional debt limit); Southern Ry. v. Jackson County, 189 Ala. 436, 66 So. 570 (1914) (debt incurred for the construction of a courthouse was subject to the constitutional debt limit because a special tax funded......
  • Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Clark, 27785
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Mississippi
    • 27 Mayo 1929
    ...and such contract may be reformed so as to carry out the mutual intention of the parties. McAllister v. Richardson, 103 Miss. 418, 66 So. 570; Brimm v. Magee, 119; Miss. 52, 80 So. 379. The case of Big Creek Drug Co. v. Insurance Co., 115 Miss. 333, 75 So. 768, is good law, even if the agen......
  • Hall v. Blan, 3 Div. 48.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Alabama
    • 27 Abril 1933
    ...Ala. 205, 62 So. 101; Brown, Treasurer, v. Gay-Padgett Hardware Co., 188 Ala. 423, 66 So. 161; Southern Railway Company v. Jackson County, 189 Ala. 436, 66 So. 570; O'Rear v. Sartain, 193 Ala. 275, 69 So. 554, Ann. Cas. 1918B, 593. For general discussion, see 59 C.J. p. 223, § 369 and notes......
  • Jefferson County v. City of Birmingham, 6 Div. 776.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Alabama
    • 26 Noviembre 1948
    ...decisions have been to this effect. In this we cannot agree with counsel for appellant. In the case of Southern Railway v. Jackson County, 189 Ala. 436, 66 So. 570, we find the following clear cut expression in that particular: 'Having due regard to the language of the special tax proviso o......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
12 cases
  • Chism v. Jefferson County, 1050046.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Alabama
    • 16 Agosto 2006
    ...and supported by specially levied taxes to fund the warrants were subject constitutional debt limit); Southern Ry. v. Jackson County, 189 Ala. 436, 66 So. 570 (1914) (debt incurred for the construction of a courthouse was subject to the constitutional debt limit because a special tax funded......
  • Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Clark, 27785
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Mississippi
    • 27 Mayo 1929
    ...and such contract may be reformed so as to carry out the mutual intention of the parties. McAllister v. Richardson, 103 Miss. 418, 66 So. 570; Brimm v. Magee, 119; Miss. 52, 80 So. 379. The case of Big Creek Drug Co. v. Insurance Co., 115 Miss. 333, 75 So. 768, is good law, even if the agen......
  • Hall v. Blan, 3 Div. 48.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Alabama
    • 27 Abril 1933
    ...Ala. 205, 62 So. 101; Brown, Treasurer, v. Gay-Padgett Hardware Co., 188 Ala. 423, 66 So. 161; Southern Railway Company v. Jackson County, 189 Ala. 436, 66 So. 570; O'Rear v. Sartain, 193 Ala. 275, 69 So. 554, Ann. Cas. 1918B, 593. For general discussion, see 59 C.J. p. 223, § 369 and notes......
  • Jefferson County v. City of Birmingham, 6 Div. 776.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Alabama
    • 26 Noviembre 1948
    ...decisions have been to this effect. In this we cannot agree with counsel for appellant. In the case of Southern Railway v. Jackson County, 189 Ala. 436, 66 So. 570, we find the following clear cut expression in that particular: 'Having due regard to the language of the special tax proviso o......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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