Louisville Gas Co. v. Citizens' Gas Co.
Supreme Court of the United States
IN ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. This was a writ of error to the highest court of Kentucky. The general question to be determined was whether certain legislation of that Commonwealth was in conflict with the clause of the National Constitution which forbids a State to pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts.
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IN ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. This was a writ of error to the highest court of Kentucky. The general question to be determined was whether certain legislation of that Commonwealth was in conflict with the clause of the National Constitution which forbids a State to pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts. The appellant, the Louisville Gas .Company, contended that its charter, granting certain exclusive rights and privileges, constituted, within the meaning of that Constitution, a contract, the obligation of which had been impaired by the charter…
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Harlan
After stating the facts in the language reported above, he continued :
Two of the judges of the State court held that the clause of the Bill of Eights of Kentucky, which declares that ‘‘-all freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal, and that no man or set of men are entitled to exclusive, separate public emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services,” Const. Kentucky, 1799, Art. 10, § 1; 1850, Art. 13, § 1, forbade the General Assembly of that Commonwealth to grant to a private corporation the exclusive privilege of manufacturing and…
2Cases cited7 opinions
- Jefferson Branch Bank v. SkellySupreme Court of the United States · 1862
- Louisville & Nashville Railroad v. PalmesSupreme Court of the United States · 1883
- Wright v. NagleSupreme Court of the United States · 1880
- Gordon v. Winchester Building & Accumulating Fund Ass'nCourt of Appeals of Kentucky · 1876
- Commonwealth v. BaconCourt of Appeals of Kentucky · 1877
2 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by61 opinions
- United States v. Trans-Missouri Freight Assn.Supreme Court of the United States · 1897
- Pearsall v. Great Northern Railway Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1896
- Gibbs v. Consolidated Gas Co. of BaltimoreSupreme Court of the United States · 1889
- Kansas City Southern Railway Co. v. C. H. Albers Commission Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1912
- Douglas v. KentuckySupreme Court of the United States · 1897
56 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.