103 Iowa 76 | Iowa | 1897
I. The conceded facts in this case are as follows: The city of Bes Moines, a city o-f the first class, in 1882, by a vote of its electors, accepted the provisions of the statute of this state relating to- the establishment and maintenance of free public libraries, and had, in the ex-ercise of the powers conferred upon it, established and was maintaining such a library. In pursuance of law, a board of library trustees had been appointed and was exercising the powers and duties imposed upon it. On July 31, 1896, said board - of trustees did fix -and determine a rate of taxation of one mill on the dollar of the taxable valuation of the property in said city for the purpose of maintaining the public library ahd at the same time did fix and determine a rate of taxation of three mills on the dollar fox the. purpose of creating a sinking fund for the purchase of a lot and the erection of a library building, and -did cause said amounts so fixed and -determined to be certi'fied to the city council of said city. -Said city council
II. On the one hand it is' contended that the statute vests in the board of library trustees, absolute power to fix and determine the amount of the levy to be made ■ for the purpose of maintenance of the library, and of creating a sinking fund for the purchase' of a lot and the erection of a library building, subject only to the limitation® in the statute; and that the duty devolve® upon the city council to levy and certify the sum® so certified to them by ®aid board; that the city council is without any discretion in the matter. On the contrary, the appellees contend that the board of library trustees has no such power; that it© power in the matter is advisory merely, and that the city council is invested with a discretion a© to the amount or amounts which shall be levied for the purposes, mentioned. As in the discussion which may follow reference may be made to various act© of the legislature touching the creation and maintenance of free public libraries, it may tend to brevity, to here recite the substance of all such statute® which can have any bearing upon the
The legislature of the state of Kansas passed an act authorizing the creation of a board of road commissioners, and empowering them, among other things to levy-taxes. The act was held unconstitutional. Board of Commissioners v. Abbott, 52 Kan. Sup 148 (34 Pac. Rep. 416). The question of the constitutionality of the same
The legislature of the state of Michigan passed an act creating a board, of park commissioners to be appointed by the governor, with authority to create an indebtedness, and the act was. held unconstitutional. ■Mr. Justice; Campbell, in specially concurring with ■other members of the court, said: “I am not willing, however, to leave out of view an objection which has seemed to me quite as fundamental as the one referred to, and more dangerous, if that be possible, in its tendencies. I think the very essence of municipal
Counsel for appellants rely upon, the cases of Mayor of Baltimore v. State, 74 Am. Dec. 572, and State v. District Court of Hennepin County, 33 Minn. 235 (22 N. W. Rep. 625). The latter case, in its facts, is so different from, the case at bar as not to support the contention of appellant; and the Maryland case sustained the constitutionality of an 'act authorizing the board of police commissioners to levy and collect taxes for the support of the police department of the city. If this case is sustainable at all, it is upon the theory that the state may insist upon the proper exercise of the police power by a municipality, and, if the municipality fails so to do, the state may arbitrarily provide therefor. This is oh the theory that one of the objects of the government of the state is to preserve peace and good order.