Plant Food Co. v. City of Charlotte

The defendant contends that the contract before us for consideration involves those discretionary powers of the municipal board which must be kept free at all times, to be exercised in the public interest; and since the powers concerned are of that' character, they cannot be delegated, suspended, or embarrassed by contract, which would have a binding force upon succeeding boards. The plaintiff contends that the contract involves only the proprietary or business powers of the municipal corporation, and that the service involved is a legitimate subject of contract which might extend over a…