City of Roswell v. Eastern Railway Co.
City of Roswell v. Eastern Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION OP THE COURT.
The appellant was convicted of a violation of Section 3, Ordinance 213. of the City of Roswell, which reads as follows: “On and after the first day of June, 1910, it shall be unlawful for any person or common carrier to knowingly bring intoxicating liquors from any city, town or village, or other place, within the Territory of New Mexico, into the City of Roswell.” The City of Roswell contends that the ordinance above set forth is a valid exercise of its powers under the eighteenth subsection of Section 2402, Compiled Laws of 1897, which grants to cities the following powers: “To have the right to license, regulate or prohibit the selling or giving away of any intoxicating, malt, vinous, mixed or fermented liquor, within the limits of the city.” The ordinance in question in other sections prohibits within the limits of the City of Roswell the sale, barter, giving away or otherwise furnishing, except as herein provided Tiquors of various kinds. The soliciting or taking orders for or advertising the sale of intoxicating liquors,” and the keep-of them “with intent to sell, give or barter the same,” in violation of the ordinance is also forbidden. Physicians are, however, allowed to prescribe and apothecaries to sell such liquors under regulations prescribed in the ordinance. It is obvious that the prohibition of Section 3 extends not merely to bringing of liquor into Roswell for purposes violative of the ordinance, but to bringing it for purposes not in violation of the ordinance and, indeed, for purposes authorized and provided for by the ordinance. How is any person to get liquor into Roswell for his own use or to sell as an apothecary, or how is an apothecary to fill the prescription of a physician without violating Section 3 of the ordinance? To be valid an ordinance must be "reasonable," not in "contravention of common right." Dillon on Mun. Corp., 5 ed., secs. 589-596. Section 3 of the ordinance in question cannot be held to meet that test, besides it is the settled law of this territory that municipal corporations “have only such powers of government as are expressly granted them, or such as are necessary to carry into effect those that are granted. No powers can' be implied except such as are essential to the objects and purposes of the corporation as created and established. Dillon on Municipal Corporations, secs. 89, 237, 5 ed., and cases cited. Ottawa v. Carey, 108 U. S. 110-121; Barnett v. Denison, 145 U. S. 135-139.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CITY OF ROSWELL v. EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS (BY THE COURT). 1. By the eighteenth sub-section of section 2402, C. L. 1897, cities are granted the following power: “To have the right to license, ¡regulate or prohibit the selling or giving away of any intoxicating, malt, vinous, mixed, or fermented liquor within the limits of the city.” Held, that Sec. 3, ordinance No. 213 of the City of Roswell, which provides that: “On and after the first day of Juné, 1910, it shall be unlawful for any person or common carrier to knowingly bring intoxicating liquors irom any city, town or village, or other place, within the Territory of New Mexico, into the City of Roswell,” is an attempt to exercise a power neither expressly nor impliedly granted by the eighteenth sub-section of Sec. 2402, O. L. 1897, and therefore void.