City or New Orleans v. L'Hote & Co.

35 La. Ann. 1177

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: December 15, 1883
• Docket: No. 8784
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the Court was delivered hy

Todd, J.

The defendants are appellants from a judgment condemning them to pay a tax on property described as a factory for the manufacture or making of articles of wood.

It is claimed that the property or factory is exempt from taxation, under Article 207 of the present State Constitution, and this presents the only question for determination, other issues raised hy the pleadings having been abandoned.

The tax in question was levied prior to the adoption of the present State Constitution, being the tax assessed in 1879, to he collected in 1880. When this levy was made the property in' question was clearly subject to taxation, there being then in existence no provision for its exemption, constitutional or legal.

In tlie cases of the City vs. Vergnole, 33 An. 36, and Suc. of Dupuy, 33 An. 258, we held,' after mature deliberation, that the restrictions and limitations, respecting taxes and licenses, which would include also exemptions, established by the Constitution of 1879, had no retroactive effect.

The instant case comes clearly within the scope of those decisions, and the reasons therein given for the conclusions announced are equally applicable to the case before us.

Judgment affirmed.