Interesting decision.
--In full bench of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, last week, the
Court decided that money appropriated by a City Council for an exhibition of fireworks on the 4th of July was not a purpose which came within the power or authority of a city or town, under the statutes of that Commonwealth granting cities and towns the power to appropriate money.
The decision was given in the case of the city of
Lynn, the City Council of which, in 1857, appropriated $500 for an exhibition of fireworks on the 4th of July, and in which some of the citizens, believing it to be illegal, applied to the Supreme Court for an injunction.
The case was commenced merely to test the legality of the action of the City Council.