Opinion

Bates v. Porter

  • 74 Cal. 224
  • 15 P. 732
  • 1887 Cal. LEXIS 773
Court
California Supreme Court
Filed
Dec 1, 1887
Status
Published
Author
McFarland
On the bench
McFarland, Paterson, Thornton
Cited by
23 cases

The opinion

McFarland, J., dissenting.

I dissent from the conclusion of the majority of the court, and concur in the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Paterson.

It must be remembered that the water-works in question are conducted by the city of Sacramento as a busi ness,—just like the business of any other water company, or of any mining, manufacturing, railroad, or mercantile company. In such a case the “revenue” is, of course, the excess of receipts over expenditures. If other financial miracles could be wrought as easily as the turning of the gross proceeds of a business into revenue, “then chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces.”

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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