28 Wis. 358 | Wis. | 1871
The only questions we shall consider in this case are as to the construction of section two of chapter 411, Private and Local Laws of 1866, and whether the power of the voters of the school district under that act was exhausted by reason of their having once taken proceedings in pursuance of it, which proceedings were subsequently abandoned. The whole act is as follows:
“ Section 1. The legal voters of joint school district No. 1, in the town of Sheboygan, town of Sheboygan Falls and village of Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan county, are hereby authorized and empowered to levy and collect from the persons, corporations and property in said district liable to tax, such amount as may be necessary, not exceeding the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting a school house or school houses in said district.
“ Section 2. A majority of the legal voters of said district may, at any legally called special or annual meeting of said voters, determine the amount of money so to be levied and collected, and the time of collecting said money, and, when so determined, said tax shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes are collected in said district.
“ Section 3. This act shall take effect from and after its passage and publication.”
The question upon the construction of section two is, whether
As to the power of the voters having been exhausted by reason of the proceedings first taken and then abandoned, we perceive no reason for so holding. The authority conferred upon the voters is without limitation as to the time within which it shall be exercised, and there is no restriction upon the manner of exercising it, except that it shall be at some legally called special or annual meeting. The words are, “ at any legally called special or annual meeting.” If, therefore, the voters, having once determined to levy and collect the tax, saw fit afterwards to abandon the resolution or rescind it, no good reason is perceived for saying that the authority might not subsequently be exercised. A general power of this nature cannot be said to be exhausted until it has in fact been carried into execution.
These two questions, being resolved against the plaintiff, are decisive of the order appealed from. The other points presented by counsel are not considered- The motion to vacate the preliminary injunction should have been granted, and the order denying the same must be reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings according to law.
By the Court.— So ordered.