City of Joplin v. Southwest Missouri Light Co.
Supreme Court of the United States
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI. Bill in equity to restrain the appellant from supplying its inhabitants with incandescent lights or other electric lighting in competition with the appellee.
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APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI. Bill in equity to restrain the appellant from supplying its inhabitants with incandescent lights or other electric lighting in competition with the appellee. The city of Joplin is a municipality of the State of Missouri; the appellee is a corporation of said State, and the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court was- invoked on the ground that the action of the city impaired the obligation of the contract existing between it and the appellee, in violation of the Constitution of the United States, and hence the…
1Opinion of the CourtJustice McKenna
The foundation of the suit is that the ordinances of March, 1899, and the acts and conduct of the city in entering into competition with the complainant (appellee) impair the obligation of the contract impliedly arising from the ordinance of October 7,. 1891, and the acceptance thereof by appellee. In other words, it is contended that under the statute of the State, which we have quoted, the city was given the power to construct an electrical plant and erect poles, etc., to “supply private lights for the use of the inhabitants of the city,” or it could grant that right “to any person or…
2Cases cited4 opinions
- Walla Walla City v. Walla Walla Water Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1898
- Bienville Water Supply Co. v. MobileSupreme Court of the United States · 1902
- Skaneateles Water Works Co. v. SkaneatelesSupreme Court of the United States · 1902
- Bienville Water Supply Co. v. MobileSupreme Court of the United States · 1899
3Cited by51 opinions
- Tennessee Electric Power Co. v. Tennessee Valley AuthoritySupreme Court of the United States · 1939
- Knoxville Water Co. v. KnoxvilleSupreme Court of the United States · 1906
- Clark v. City of Los AngeLesCalifornia Supreme Court · 1911
- Madera Water Works v. MaderaSupreme Court of the United States · 1913
- State Ex Rel. City of Mansfield v. CrainMissouri Court of Appeals · 1957
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