10 N.E.2d 656 | Ill. | 1937
The appellant was, in the city court of Sterling, fined the sum of $3 for permitting his dog to go at large in the city of Sterling without the payment of a registration fee, herein called a tax, as required by certain ordinances of the city of Sterling. He raised in that court questions affecting the constitutionality of such ordinances and brings the cause here on direct appeal on the ground that constitutional questions are involved. The trial judge certified that in his opinion such questions were involved, and that it was in the public interest that the appeal be taken directly to this court.
Appellant's claimed constitutional grounds are that the ordinances are void because they violate the equal protection clause of the constitution of this State and amount to double taxation, contrary to constitutional provision. He also raises certain other questions concerning the construction of ordinances and statutes, and the method by which the ordinances involved were adopted.
The first question to be considered here, however, is one of our jurisdiction. Appellant admits that this court, in City ofPaxton v. Fitzsimmons,
As this court has frequently said, where it appears that a constitutional question supposed to be involved has been settled and is no longer open to debate, this court will not assume jurisdiction of an appeal merely to refer to its former decision.(Burns v. Illinois Central Railroad Co.
Cause transferred.