Beltzhoover Borough v. Heirs of Beltzhoover
Beltzhoover Borough v. Heirs of Beltzhoover
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
In the case of SewicHey M. E. Church’s Appeal, 165 Pa. 475, we decided that church property was not exempted from liability to pay assessments for local improvements. We held that such special assessments were not general taxation and therefore did not come within the operation of the constitutional exemptions from taxation of churches and other properties designated.
Again, in the case of City of New Castle v. Stone Church Graveyard et al., 172 Pa. 86, we held that a graveyard was not exempt from such assessments for the same reasons expressed in the decision of the former case. The present is the ease o’f a graveyard, and of course comes within both the foregoing decisions. ;
There is no force in the objection that the ordinance under which the improvement was made was passed under the act of 1889, and therefore no assessment could have been made under the act of 1891. Tins question was settled by our decision in the case of Hand v. Fellows, 148 Pa. 456, and in Frederick Street, Hanover Borough’s Appeal, 150 Pa. 202.
The fourth and fifth assignments are not sustained because
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Beltzhoover Borough v. Heirs of Jacob Beltzhoover, Owners or Reputed Owners
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- [Marked to be reported.] Municipal lien — Exemption from taxation — Graveyard. A graveyard, like church property, is not exempt from liability to pay assessments for local improvements, inasmuch as such assessments are not, general taxation within 'the operation of the constitutional exemptions from taxation of churches and other properties designated. Boroughs — Street improvement — Statutes—Bepeal—Acts of April 23, 1889, and May 16, 1891. The act of April 23, 1889, P. L. 44, relating to street improvements in boroughs is not repealed by the act of May 16, 1891, P. L. 80, as the two acts afford schemes for street improvements, not at all repugnant to each other. Hand v. Fellows, 148 Pa. 456, and Frederick St., 150 Pa. 202, followed. Municipal liens — Scire facias — Appearance—Service. Objections to the service of a scire facias sur municipal lien cannot be heard, where the record discloses a general appearance for all of the defendants, and a general affidavit of defense for all. A municipal lien may be filed against the heirs of a decedent, as heirs, without giving their specific names. A municipal lien against the “Heirs of Jacob Beltzhoover, owners or reputed owners,” is valid.