Tietjens v. City of St. Louis

The question for decision is whether the city of St. Louis is authorized to enact a rent control ordinance. Since the city’s charter has not granted it specific power to legislate on such a subject, its authority to do so must be reasonably implied from the broad power in its charter to regulate business generally in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of its inhabitants. While we recognize the worthy purpose sought to be accomplished, still we must hold that the settled law of this state does not permit a city'to invoke such power on the ground it is reasonably implied in'general…