12 Colo. 157 | Colo. | 1888
As a rule, the judicial branch of the government will not institute an inquiry into the motives controlling action by the legislative bodies of municipal corporations. If the particular action in question is expressly or impliedly authorized by statute, the courts will in general only inquire into the motives prompting it where fraud is charged and the party complaining claims to have been injured thereby (1 Dill. Mun. Corp. 3d ed. § 311); and, it is hardly necessary to add, the investigation in such cases will only be made in proceedings properly instituted and with the proper parties. .
The statute authorizes the city council of Denver to discharge policemen whenever in its judgment a reduction of the force is deemed advisable. It clearly appears from the preamble and resolutions adopted that such reduction was made in pursuance of the statute authorizing it; and, under the circumstances of this case, we are
Th¿ case of State v. Schumaker, 27 La. Ann. 332, does not, as we understand it, necessarily conflict with the foregoing view. In that case the municipal action recited in the opinion was a notice to relator by the clerk of the metropolitan police board “that he was honorably discharged under the provisions of section 3, act No. 60, Acts of 1874, and Dr. Schumaker was appointed in his place.” Thus it appeared that the board misunderstood the statute. They were authorized by the statu
Affirmed.
Elliott, J., not sitting, having tried the case below.