U.S. Supreme Court WILLIAMS v. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, 289 U.S. 36 (1933)

[Page 289 U.S. 36, 48]

Their standing for that purpose, at least in the state courts, is a question of state practice (Columbus & Greenville Ry. Co. v. Miller, 283 U.S. 96, 99, 51 S.Ct. 392; Braxton County Court v. W. Va., 208 U.S. 192, 197, 198 S., 28 S.Ct. 275; Stewart v. Kansas City, 239 U.S. 14, 16, 36 S.Ct. 15), as to which the federal courts do not exercise an independent judgment.

The Maryland decisions proceed on the assumption that municipal corporations assailing a statute of exemption or other special legislation have an interest in the controversy which entities them to be heard (City of Baltimore v. Starr Church, supra; City of Baltimore v. Allegany County Com'rs, 99 Md. 1, 57 A. 632), though the reports do not show that their interest was questioned.

In the absence of any argument to the contrary in behalf of the petitioner, we make the same assumption here.

The judgments are reversed.