Woodall v. City of Lynchburg

40 S.E. 915, 100 Va. 318, 1902 Va. LEXIS 30

• Court: Supreme Court of Virginia
• Decided: March 12, 1902
• Status: Published

Opinion

Harrison, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

This is an action of assumpsit, brought by plaintiff in error against the city of Lynchburg, to recover five hundred dollars alleged to have been illegally exacted of him by way of license tax for the privilege of conducting business as a labor agent. There are three counts in the declaration. The important aliegations are that the plaintiff in error was duly licensed by the State to carry on the business of labor agent, and that for this privilege the State license fee was $25; that for the same year he applied to the city of Lynchburg for the privilege of conducting the business within its jurisdiction, and was required to. pay $500 for such license, the city having theretofore only charged $30 for such privilege. It is further alleged that the ordinance of February 23, 1900, under which the license tax of five hundred dollars- was collected, is illegal :and of no effect, because it imposes a tax on a legitimate and useful occupation, already licensed by the State, so high as to be a restraint upon trade-unreasonable, excessive, oppressive and unfair—and was and is without authority of law; a palpable attempt on the part of the City Council to prohibit the plaintiff from engaging in a useful and legitimate ■ business and occupation licensed by the State, under the guise of an ordinance purporting to impose a license tax for the purpose of raising revenue, but having for its real object the prohibition and suppression of such business; and having been enacted by said Council for that very purpose, and not for 'the purpose of raising revenue for said city; without authority of law, accomplishing such object and purpose; for the plaintiff avers that he cannot pay said tax and prosecute such business in the city of Lynchburg at a profit.

It is further alleged that the tax was paid under protest, and under threats of the penalties imposed by the ordinance (a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars per day for each day that plaintiff might conduct the business of labor agent without license).

The defendant in error demurred generally to the declaration, and the demurrer was sustained. This judgment of the Circuit Court we are asked to review.

The ordinance complained of was passed in pursuance of the authority vested in the city by chapter 8, sec. 5, of the revised charter of Lynchburg (Acts 1895-6, p. 213-1). This language has been repeatedly construed and held to confer upon the city the general power of taxation, except only as it may be limited by the laws of the State, or of the United States, and to include all powers and subjects of taxation. Newport News & Old Point Rwy. & E. Co. v. City of Newport News, ante p. 157. This legislative grant of power to the City Council of Lynchburg is without limitation as to the amount of tax to he imposed. That matter is left solely to the discretion of the Council.

It is settled law that where the Legislature confers upon a municipality the general power of taxation, it grants all the power possessed by itself in respect to the imposition of taxes, and the city can then impose taxes, in its discretion, upon all subjects within its jurisdiction not withheld from taxation by the Legislature, whether they be taxed by the State or not. Norfolk v. Norfolk Landmark Co., 95 Va. 564; Newport News Rwy. Co. v. Newport News, supra.

The power of the Council of the city of Lynchburg to impose the tax complained of must, therefore, be regarded in the same light as if an act of the Legislature imposing such tax was called in question.

The power of taxation is a most important and delicate trust, and, under our system of government, rests with the legislative and not with the judicial department, and its province cannot be invaded by the courts. As was said by Chief Justice Marshall: “It is unfit for the judicial department to inquire what degree ■of taxation is the legitimate use, and what degree may amount to the abuse, of the power.”

Mr. Justice Cooley, in his admirable work on Constitutional Limitations, says: “The power to impose taxes is one so unlimited in force -and so searching in extent, that the courts scarcely venture to declare that it is subject to any restrictions whatever, except such as rest in the discretion of the authority which exercises it. ... Ho attribute of sovereignty is more pervading, and at no point does the power of the government affect more constantly and intimately all the relations of life than through the exactions made under it. . . . Chief-Justice Marshall has said of this power: ‘The power of taxing the people and their property is essential to the very existence 'of government, and may be legitimately exercised on the objects to which it is applicable to the utmost extent to which the government may choose to carry it. The only security against the abuse of this power is found in the structure of the government itself. In imposing a tax, the Legislature acts upon its constituents. This is, in general, a sufficient (security against erroneous and oppressive taxation.’ ” After quoting the foregoing observations from Judge Marshall, the learned author adds: “The like general views 'have been frequently expressed in other cases.” Cooley on Const. Lim. (6th ed.), pp. 587-8.

Again, in Weston v. Charleston, 2 Peters, 449, 466, Chief-Jus^ ti'ce Marshall says: “If the right to impose a tax exists, it is a right which, in its nature, acknowledges no limits. It may be carried to any extent within the jurisdiction of the State or corporation which imposes it, which the will of such State or corporation may prescribe.”

These principles have been repeatedly approved and applied by this court. Ould & Carrington v. City of Richmond, 23 Gratt. 464; Commonwealth v. Moore & Goodsons, 25 Gratt. 951; Commonwealth v. Maury, 82 Va. 888; Norfolk v. Norfolk Landmark Co., supra, and other cases.

In the case of Commonwealth v. Moore & Goodsons, supra, involving the constitutionality of a license tax imposed by the State upon merchants, the court says: “If the legislation complained of is unjust and unequal, unwise and oppressive, to any particular class (about which we express no. opinion), the remedy for unwise and oppressive legislation, within constitutional bounds, is by an appeal, not to the courts, but to the justice and patriotism of the representatives of the people. If this ffailsj the people, in their sovereign capacity, may Correct the evil. But the courts cannot assume their fights. In the language of Chief-Justice Marshall: ‘The wisdom and justice of the representative body, and its relations with its constituents, form 'the only security, when there is no express limitation, against excessive taxation, and unwise legislation generally.’ ”

It will be observed that the declaration in the case at bar concedes the authority of the City Council under its charter to assess (the plaintiff in error with a license tax for the privilege of conducting his occupation of labor agent. The complaint is. that the amount of the tax imposed is so excessive and burdensome that the plaintiff in error cannot prosecute his business of labor agent -at a profit. If it be true that the tax complained of is excessive and oppressive, as to which we express no opinion, the relief sought would compel the court to determine what degree of tax was reasonable. This would be for the court to assume legislative functions which it has no authority to exercise.

Bor these reasons the judgment of the Circuit Court must be affirmed.

Affirmed.