159 So. 259 | Ala. Ct. App. | 1935
The petition for mandamus is based upon an act of the Legislature of 1933, approved April 11, 1933, entitled "An Act To provide for the more efficient and convenient assessment and collection of State and County taxes in every county of the State of Alabama whose boundary lines have been altered or rearranged by the addition of new territory thereto, or by the transfer of territory therefrom, or both, and to provide compensation therefor." Acts 1933, Ex. Sess., p. 120. *326
The judges of this court having reached the unanimous conclusion that said act was in violation of the Constitution of 1901, and was therefore void and of no effect, referred the question to the Supreme Court under and by authority of section 7322 of the Code of 1923, to which was the following response:
"The Act limits its application to counties, the boundary lines of which have been, since January 1, 1931, or hereafter may be, 'altered or rearranged by the addition of new territory taken from any other adjoining county * * * if the county to which such territory is added have two courthouses, or two offices where the Probate Court of said county is held and conducted,' a classification which, as a matter of judicial knowledge, can only apply, in the absence of future legislation, to the county of Russell. Henry, County Treasurer, v. Wilson,
"While the act is general in form, it is clearly local in its application and effect, and the attempted classification must be condemned as designation rather than a classification. Mobile County v. Byrne,
"The act was passed in violation of the provisions of section 106 of the Constitution, and must be pronounced unconstitutional and void. Const. 1901, §§
"It is a matter of serious doubt whether it could be upheld, even if section 106 of the Constitution had been complied with. See Bridges v. McWilliams, Chairman of Democratic Executive Committee,
"Let this response be certified to the Court of Appeals.
"All the Justices concur."
The act above being void, the judgment is reversed, and a judgment will here be entered dismissing the petition.
Reversed and rendered.
