Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1878 — Important Supreme Court Decisions. [ARTICLE]

Important Supreme Court Decisions.

The following decisions have been rendered by the United States Supreme Court: No. 875. United States vs. the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, appeal from the Court of Claims. The original question in the case was whether the Government was entitled to transportation without cost over the railroad, or to the mere right to use the road with fair compensation. That question was decided in favor of the company When the case was formerly before this court, to the effect that the Government was entitled to the right of use when required, and must pay a fair compensation for the service. The question now was whether the mandate of this court had been complied with by the Court of Claims by its enforcement of the terms of the reduction agreed upon between the road and War Department, which was one third of the ordinary rates to the public. The court find that the mandate was sufficiedtly complied with. Affirmed. No. 95. Murray vs. the City of Charleston. Error to the Supreme Court of South Carolina. In this case the court hold that no municipality of a State can by ordinance, under the guise of taxation, relieve itself from performing to the letter all that it has expressly promised to the creditor. Hence the city of Charleston, which had agreed to pay 6 per cent, interest on certain of its bonds to holders thereof, could not by subsequent ordinance tax these bonds, and withhold the amount of interest as it falls due. Reversed. Justice Strong delivered the opinion. Dissenting, Justices Miller and Hunt, who take the view that the charter of the city was enacted in 1871, before the constitution gave the power hero exercised, and that the contract set up was made subject to it, and it is not therefore impaired by the action of the city.