Tbe defendants, in full accord with tbe provisions of tbe charter of tbe city of Raleigh, adopted an ordinance providing for tbe issue of certain bonds, the material part of which reads as follоws:
*150 “SectioN 1. That the city of Raleigh issue $100,000 in bonds (par value) of said city, with interest coupons attached, bearing 5 per cent interest per annum, for the purpose of extending the sewer line emрtying into Pigeon House Branch to Crabtree Creek; for purchasing a site and building thereon a fire house to be occupied by Eire Company No. 2, and for building permanent pavements in said city, said bonds tо be denominated ‘Raleigh Public Improvement Bonds.’
“Sec. 2. That not more than $8,000 of s'aid issue be used in extending said sewer line; that not more than $6,000 be used in purchasing a site and erecting thereon a fire house to be occupied by Eire Company No. 2, and the balance of said $100,000 bond issue be used in laying permanent pavements in the city of Raleigh.” .
An election was held under provisions of the city chartеr, requiring those who favored the proposition to vote a ticket marked “Approved,” and those opposed to it, “Not Approved.” Fourteen hundred and forty-six qualified electors of the сity registered for the said election, and 1,020 voted “Approved” and 158 óf the said voters voted “Not Approved.”
The first contention of the plaintiff is that the election was void for the reason that threе distinct propositions were voted together: $8,000 for sewers, $6,000 for fire house, and the balance for permanent street improvements.
The plaintiffs rely upon the leading case of the
City of Winston v. Wachovia Bank and Trust Co.,
In the Winston case the voters had submitted to them the .proposition of issuing $350,000 of bonds, of which amount $75,000 was to be used for street improvements, $85,000 for sewerage purposes, $40,000 for waterworks; $60,000 for schоol buildings, and $90,000 for larger hospital facilities. Two of these propositions, towit, schools and hospital facilities, were not necessary expenses of the city, and the total amount of $350,000. was tо be apportioned in large amounts to each of the proposed propositions.
*151 In that case tbe Court held that when a popular vote is required to validate a municipal indebtedness, the proposition should be single, when the question embodies two or more distinct and unrelated propositions. In that case the propositions for street improvements, necessary muniсipal expenses, were entirely disconnected and not related to the proposition for school buildings and larger hospital facilities, neither of which is a necessary municipal expense.
This question has been decided in different ways in different States, the matter largely dependent upon constitutional or legislative regulation. There is no constitutional provision upon the subjeсt in this State, and there is nothing in the charter of the defendant, or in the general legislation of the State, which prohibits the submission as a single proposition for issuing bonds for public improvements.
As we construe the ordinance adopted, the proposition which the electors voted on was to issue $100,000 in bonds for public improvements in the city of Raleigh, and the sums to be devoted for the purposes mentioned were simply for the information of the citizens as to how the money was to be spent and in what proportion. It must be admitted that the purposes for which the bonds were issued are all municipal nеcessary expenses and closely related to each other. '
In the case of
Hotel Co. v. Red Springs,
We find in other jurisdictions that bond issues have been sustained, the proceeds to be expended for different purposes, where the proposition was submitted in a single ballot.
In
Grey v. Bourgeois,
In Conklin v. El Paso (Tex. Civ. App.), 44 S. W. Rep., 879 : Where the statute does not require it, it is not necessary that the proposition should specify the purposes for which the bonds are to be issued.
In the ease of
Potter v. Lainhart,
In-the case of
Louisville v. Park Commissioners,
In
Kept v. Hazelhurst,
In the case of City of Louisville v. Board of Park Commissioners, supra, an ordinance passed by the city council of Louisville providing for the issue of $500,000, $250,000 of which was to be used for park purposes and $250,000 for the construction of sewers, was voted on under one ballot.
In delivering the opinion, on page 413, the Court says: “The first objection argued we do not think can be sustained. The object of the оrdinance was single; it was the issuance of city bonds to the amount of $500,000. The mere statement of the purposes for which the proceeds of the bonds was to be expended does not vitiate the submission of a single question whether the liability was to be incurred.”
In the charter of the city of Winston there was some provision requiring the aldermen to specify the amount of bonds to be *153 issued for each sрecific purpose; but there is nothing of the sort in the charter of the city of Raleigh. The only provision in that charter is as follows:
“The board of commissioners shall have power to issue bonds of the city only after they have passed an ordinance by a majority vote of the entire board at two separate regular meetings, submitting the question of issuing the same to a vote of the peoрle, and after a majority of the qualified voters shall have voted in favor thereof.”
It is further contended that fifteen days notice of the new registration was not given. Yet it appears from the findings of the court that the electors of the city of Raleigh had actual knowledge of the registration, and that a very large majority of the electors did register and vote. Notice of the electiоn and registration was published in the Raleigh Times and in the News and Observer for thirty days; and the court further finds that no citizen of Raleigh was denied the privilege of registering, but every qualified voter in the said city had ample opportunity to register, and thаt a very large majority of the newly qualified electors did register.
In a somewhat similar case,
Yount v. Commissioners,
In
DeBerry v. Nicholson,
An irrеgularity in the conduct of an election which does not deprive a voter of his rights or admit a disqualified person to vote, which easts no uncertainty on the result, and which was *154 not caused by tbe agenсy of one seeking to derive a benefit from tbe result of tbe election, will be overlooked wben tbe only question is which vote was greatest. Tbe same principles are applicable to tbe rules regulating tbe registration of electors.
In McCrary on Elections, secs. 187 to 190, inclusive, tbe proposition is laid down: “If, as in most cases, tbe statute simply provides tbat certain acts or things shall be dоne within a particular time or in a particular manner, and does not declare tbat this performance is essential to tbe validity of tbe election, then they will be regarded as mandatory if they do, and directory if they do not, affect tbe merits of tbe election.”
Tbe third contention is tbat notice of election is signed by tbe city clerk, instead of tbe three city commissioners. Tbe notice recited tbat it was published by authority of tbe board of commissioners, and under instructions from them.
In tbe case of
Lawson v. Ry. Co.,
In the case of
Jordan v. Hayne,
In the case of Battis v. Price, 2 Pearson, 456, it was held: “Wben an election was held at tbe right time and place, and by tbe proper officers, it cannot be contested on tbe ground''that notice to bold it was nоt given by the officer directed by law to do so.”
Upon a review of tbe whole record, we are of opinion that tbe bonds are a valid obligation of tbe city of Raleigh, and tbe judgment of tbe Superior Court is
Affirmed.