{ "id": 11271929, "name": "T. M. SMALL et al. v. COUNCILMAN OF EDENTON", "name_abbreviation": "Small v. Councilman of Edenton", "decision_date": "1908-02-19", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "527", "last_page": "530", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "146 N.C. 527" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "126 N. C., 1026", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "91 U. S., 540", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5647366 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/91/0540-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 N. C., 399", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "126 N. C., 1026", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 451, "char_count": 6987, "ocr_confidence": 0.455, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.166351529316851e-07, "percentile": 0.8636262191347835 }, "sha256": "f1e92b68a5dca8b5960bb3568f7271a3b2a259741828c039920f4af3a698256f", "simhash": "1:15f29edb3bdb9a30", "word_count": 1198 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:49:58.256488+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "T. M. SMALL et al. v. COUNCILMAN OF EDENTON." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ClaeK, O. I.\nThe councilmen of the town of Edenton, after full notice and full public discussion, and after hearing petitions for and against it, adopted the following ordinance: \u201cThat all stationary awnings (that is, awnings with posts resting on tbe sidewalk) in the town of Edenton be removed by 1 February, 1907. Any person, firm or corporation owning such awning wbo fails to comply with said ordinance shall be fined fifty dollars, and the constable of Edenton shall remove such awning.\u201d The plaintiffs were a firm who had a stationary awning in front of their store, extending over the sidewalk. This is an action seeking a perpetual injunction against the town to restrain it from removing plaintiffs\u2019 awning .under the authox-ity of said ordinance.\nIt was cpntended here that the posts upon which the awning rested were placed beyond the edge of the sidewalk, bxxt the testimony of Mr. Bond, one of the plaintiffs, was that the sidewalk was 15 or 16 feet wide, and that the posts were set in the ground 14 feet from the wall of the plaintiffs\u2019 store, and it is admitted in the record by plaintiffs that Mr. Bond\u2019s testimony on this matter is correct. The plaintiffs asked no instructions based on a contrary state of facts. Besides, it would not be a material circumstance, for the ordinance is clearly intended to require the removal of \u201cstationary awnings\u201d extending over the sidewalk, because of their obstruction to putting out fires, of the often dilapidated condition and unsightliness of many of them, and for other reasons; and whether the posts were placed just inside or just outside the edge of the sidewalk does not affect the scope and purpose of the ordinance or its application.\nThe ordinance was within the powers \u2022 of the governing board of the town, and was properly held by his Honor to be reasonable. If it does not meet the approval of the citizens of the town, they can secure its repeal by instructing their town council to that effect, or 'by electing a new board. Such local matters are properly left to the people of a self-governing community, to be decided and determined by them for themselves, and not by a judge or court for them.\nThe true rule is well stated by Burwell, J., in Tate v. Greensboro, 114 N. C., 399: \u201cIt is not for a court and jury to review the conduct of tbe proper municipal authorities in such a matter as that now under consideration.\u201d In Barnes v. District of Columbia, 91 U. S., 540, it is said: \u201cThe authorities state, and our own knowledg\u2019e is to the effect, that the care and superintendence of streets, alleys'and highways, the regulation of grades and the opening of new and the closing of old streets are peculiarly municipal duties. No other power can so wisely and judiciously control this subject as the authority of the immediate locality where the work is to he done. The wisdom of this rule is well illustrated by this action. Complaints were made, it seems, by citizens that these trees were injurious to the public way and, in their effects, perhaps, to the public health. The proper authorities of the city, clothed with the power to repair the streets and protect the public health, listened to these complaints, and, in the exercise of their best judgment, so far as it appears, decided that the interest of the community required their removal. The proposition of the plaintiffs is that a jury shall judge of the correctness of this conclusion, and if they find that the officials committed what they think was an error they and the city shall be mulcted in damages. The maintenance of such an action would transfer to court and jury the discretion which the law vests in the municipality, but transfer it, not to be exercised directly and finally, but indirectly and partially by the retroactive effect of punitive verdicts upon special complaints.\u201d Cooley Const. Lim. (6th Ed.), 255.\nSuppose' another owner on this street, with similar awnings, were to bring suit and it was left to a jury. The jury in each case might decide differently, and here would, indeed, be an anomaly in government. Revisal, sec. 2930, provides that the town council \u201cshall provide for keeping in proper repair the streets and bridges in the town, in the manner and to the extent they may deem best.\u201d\nThe reasonableness of an ordinance is for the court, the jury only being called in to find the facts, when in dispute. Abbott Mun. Oorp., see. 545; Smith Mun. Oorp., sec. 1133.\nUpon the whole testimony in this case, the court properly instructed the jury that this ordinance was reasonable. As there was not the slightest evidence of malice or bad faith, the reasonableness of the ordinance was purely a matter for the court. The town authorities are vested with large discretionary powers, especially in respect to streets; and if every ordinance were subject for approval upon the verdict of juries, it would be impossible to regulate the streets and sidewalks so as to secure uniformity, convenience, protection from fire, proportion .and sightliness and other necessary things incident to the growth and development of modern municipalities. These views are distinctly declared \u2022 in Tate v. Greensboro, 114 N. C., 399, which case is really decisive of this. That authority has often been cited, and we adhere to it. State v. Higgs, 126 N. C., 1026, relied on by plaintiff, is in conflict with it and is overruled. The latter case was based, as this is, upon the assumption that the removal of the sign projecting into the street was dependent on its being a nuisance. If so, the conclusion would have followed that the issue of nuisance should have been found by the jury. But the real question was .as to the power of the city authorities to pass such ordinance, and its reasonableness. These were matters for the court, and, under Tate v. Greensboro, the authorities of the town were within their right. The only fact was whether the defendant had violated the ordinance, which was not disputed.\nNo Error.", "type": "majority", "author": "ClaeK, O. I." } ], "attorneys": [ "O. 8- Vann, Aydlett & Eh.ringh.aus and W. M. Bond for plaintiffs.", "Pruden & Pruden and Shepherd & Shepherd for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "T. M. SMALL et al. v. COUNCILMAN OF EDENTON.\n(Filed 19 February, 1908).\n1. Ordinances \u2014 Malice or Bad Faith \u2014 Reasonableness\u2014Questions for Court.\nWhen there is no evidence of malice or bad faith, the reasonableness of a city ordinance is a question of law for the court.\n2. Ordinances \u2014 Stationary Awnings \u2014 Reasonableness.\nAn ordinance is reasonable and valid which requires all stationary awnings (with posts resting upon the sidewalks) in the town to be removed by a certain day fixed, and imposes a fine of fifty dollars upon the owners failing to so remove them, and provides for their removal by the town constable.\nState v. Biggs, 126 N. C., 1026, overruled.\nCivil actioN, tried before 0. II. Allen, J., and a jury, at Fall Term, 1907, of the Superior Court of Oi-iowan County. From judgment for defendants plaintiffs appealed.\nThe facts sufficiently appear in the opinion of the Court.\nO. 8- Vann, Aydlett & Eh.ringh.aus and W. M. Bond for plaintiffs.\nPruden & Pruden and Shepherd & Shepherd for defendants." }, "file_name": "0527-01", "first_page_order": 561, "last_page_order": 564 }