56 S.E. 940 | N.C. | 1907
This proceeding is brought to determine the legality of an issue of bonds to the amount of $25,000, issued by the town of Lumberton, N.C. and which the defendants contracted to purchase. The defendants contest the validity of the bond issue upon the following grounds, as appears from briefs of counsel for both parties to the controversy:
1. For that the petition and notice of election do not set forth with certainty the rate of interest nor the time of maturity, as is provided by sections 1 and 2 of chapter 334, Private Laws of 1905, under which the bonds have been issued.
2. For that the rate of tax to be levied and collected to pay interest and to provide a sinking fund for the redemption of the bonds at maturity, as set forth in the petition and notice of election, and as levied by the board of commissioners of the town, is insufficient, not enough funds being provided wherewith to pay interest and principal at maturity.
3. For that waterworks and sewerage are two distinct and separate objects, and bonds for the extension of waterworks and sewerage could not be voted upon on one form of ballot and in one ballot-box, as was *212 done, where the act provides that each object must be voted for separately upon different ballots and in different boxes.
As to the first objection, we find that the notice required by the act of 1905, referred to, contains these words: "The said bonds, if issued, to bear interest at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent per annum, payable annually." A majority of the qualified voters, under the terms of (305) said act, enacted in strict conformity to the Constitution, authorized the issue of the bonds upon a 6 per cent interest basis. The commissioners are vested with full power to fix the rate of interest, provided it does not exceed 6 per cent. This is not only true under the terms of the notice, but section 1 of the act expressly confers such discretion. The record shows that the bonds are to bear interest at 5 1/2 per cent.
As to the time of maturity, both the notice and the act authorize the issue of bonds maturing at a date not longer than thirty years, and redeemable at the option of the town at the end of twenty years. The language of section 1 of the act gives to the commissioners a discretion as to the time of payment, subject to the thirty-year limit. Bank v. Ayer,
It is contended that the rate of taxation levied by the plaintiff's commissioners in their order will be insufficient to pay the annual interest and to provide a sinking fund. This cannot invalidate the legality of the bond issue. The act provides that the commissioners shall levy a special tax sufficient to provide for the interest and sinking fund, and, if the tax levied during any one year should prove to be insufficient, they can be compelled to levy an additional tax, subject, of course, to the limitations contained in the proviso to section 4 of the act. The defendants are, of course, held to have had knowledge of the terms of the act when they contracted to purchase bonds issued under its authority. It appears that the rate levied is not up to the limit yet, and we are led to believe that there is a probability that in the future it may be safely lowered, judging from the glowing terms in which the learned counsel for the plaintiff, in their brief, refer to their prosperous town, (306) viz.: "The Court will take judicial notice of the fact that our towns and cities are growing rapidly — especially the town of Lumberton, that great center of trade and industry." We cannot take judicial notice that Lumberton is "that great center of trade and industry," to the extent of basing our judgment as to the sufficiency of the tax levy upon what the future may hold in store for its thrifty population. What we do hold is that, if it is insufficient, the holder can compel an increased levy within the terms and limitations of the act. *213
It is also contended that the propositions relating to waterworks and sewerage should have been voted on in separate boxes, in order to comply with the terms of the act. We do not deem it necessary to determine the question, so elaborately presented in the briefs, as to whether waterworks and sewerage are one and the same thing, as understood in the town of Lumberton, or are two distinct objects and kinds of municipal improvement.
We hold that the language of the act is not mandatory, and whether one or two boxes were used is immaterial so far as it affects the validity of the bonds. The words "may be voted on in separate boxes" are shown by the context to leave the manner of voting to the sound discretion of the commissioners. The qualifying words, "but in such case," immediately following, indicate plainly that the propositions could be voted on in one box; but, in case two boxes were used, certain requirements are made as to ballots. In fact, the whole of section 2 plainly imports that it was within the discretion of the commissioners to provide only one box for the vote upon water and sewerage.
Upon a review of the whole record, we are of opinion that the bonds constitute a valid obligation of the town of Lumberton, and that, under the terms of their contract, the defendants are compellable to accept and pay for the same.
The judgment of the Superior Court is
Affirmed.
Cited: Smith v. Belhaven,