87 W. Va. 127 | W. Va. | 1920
The final decree appealed from dissolved the preliminary injunction and dismissed plaintiff's bill, and plaintiff appeals. The purpose of the bill was to enjoin defendant, its mayor and common council from enforcing or attempting to enforce against plaintiff by prosecution or otherwise an ordinance adopted by the council on July 21, 1919, purporting to regulate the operation of pool rooms in said town, section 2 of which is as follows: “Any place of business where such tables are kept for public use and resort shall be and remain open for business only between the hours of 7 o'clock A. M. and 8:30 o’clock P. M. each day in the week except Saturday and Sunday; but on Saturday such place may remain open until 10 o'clock P. M., and on Sunday shall remain closed the entire day.” Section 4 imposes quite drastic penalties upon those found, guilty of the violation of the ordinance, and with which the bill alleges and the record shows plaintiff was threatened.
Prior to the commencement of the license year beginning July 1, 1919, and the passage of the ordinance complained of, plaintiff had applied for and obtained from the clerk of the county court of Wetzel County a license to operate a pool room in said town for the ensuing license year, and had paid the license tax thereon. He also subsequently obtained from the town au
The proposition relied on to reverse the decree and to obtain perpetuation of .the injunction is that so much at least of the ordinance as purports to regulate the opening and closing time of places of business where such pool tables are operated, is void and unenforceable, no such power or authority being vested in town' or council by chapter 47 of the Code, under which the municipality was incorporated.
In support of his contention counsel for plaintiff refers us first to chapter 102, Acts 1919, amending and re-enacting certain sections of chapter 32 of the Code 1916, particularly sections 1 and 10. thereof. Section 1, as amended by said act, as did section 1 of chapter 32 of the Code, inhibits the keeping for public use or resort a bowling alley, pool table, billiard table, etc., without a state license therefor. As amended by the act of 1919, the businesses upon which license taxes may be imposed are very much enlarged and extended. Prior to the amendment of said section, such licenses were issuable only when authorized by the county court; now by the amendment thereof they are issued by the county clerk upon proper application filed with him, but revokable by the county court for good cause shown upon petition and notice to the licensee, and an opportunity to be heard, as provided by section 34 as amended. And prior to the amendment of section 10 by the act of 1919, when the business was to be carried on in an incorporated city, town or village, such license was permitted only when authorized under the charter of the city, town or village by the council or license court thereof, as well as by the county court. So we see these amendments worked a very decided and important change in the law respecting licenses.
It is conceded that with this state license so obtained, plaintiff has absolute right to carry on his business in the town of Lit-tleton. But on behalf of the defendants we are referred first to section 33 of chapter 47, providing that: “Whenever anything for which a State license is required, is to be done within such city, town or village, the council may require a city, town or village license therefor, and may impose a tax thereon for the use
For authority to regulate in the manner provided by’ the ordinance we are next referred to section 28, chapter 47, as follows: "The council of such city, town or village shall have plenary power and authority therein * * * to prevent injury and annoyance to the public or individuals from anything dangerous, offensive or unwholesome; * * * to abate or cause to be abated anything which, in the opinion of a majority of the whole council, shall be a nuisance; * * * to protect the persons and property of the citizens of such city, town or village, and to preserve peace and good order therein.” The police power of the state is also invoked as being inherent in the municipality. The police power of the state is conceded, but a municipality in the exercise thereof must always find the power of the state specifically delegated, or necessarily implied from the power specifically granted. Judy v. Lashley, 50 W. Va. 628; Improvement Company v. City of Bluefield, 69 W. Va. 1, 6; State v. Porter, 84 W. Va. 398, 99 S. E. 508. But'can the power to regulate be extracted from the authority conferred by said section 28 ? “To prevent injury or annoyance to the public or individuals from anything dangerous, offensive or unwholesome,” is the first classification of the statute. It is not believed that the power to regulate the business of operating pool tables can by any rule of construction be referred to this power.
The next is, “to abate or cause to be abated anything which, in the opinion of a majority of the whole council, shall be a nuisance.” Can it be said that operating a pool table, a business for which a license is authorized as a revenue measure, is or could be a nuisance, or within reason declared so by the council? Pool and billiard tables are now installed and operated in Y. M. C. A'.
■ 'Conceding the power to regulate, it is insisted the ordinance in question would be an unreasonable regulation of a lawful business. It is said, and the evidence tends to show, that the time when the ordinance require? the closing of pool rooms, is the time when many who would resort thither are released from their daily work, and that plaintiff could not succeed and pay his license taxes under such regulations; that he would be bound to quit the business because his patronage does not fairly begin until business at other places ends. There is much force in this argument of unreasonableness, but we need-not go into that question, because we find the charter does not warrant the regulation imposed by the ordinance.
Reversedj injunction reinstated and perpetuated.