The charters of public corporations, investing them with subordinate legislative and other governmental powers are not contracts within the meaning of the obligation clause, and, so far as the federal Constitution is concerned, the state legislature has, with reference to them, unlimited powers of amendment or repeal. "It is settled law that the legislature in granting it [a municipal charter] does not divest itself of any power over the inhabitants of the district which it possessed before the charter was granted. Unless the Constitution otherwise provides, the legislature still has authority to amend the charter of such a corporation, enlarge or diminish its powers, extend or limit its boundaries, divide the same into two or more, consolidate two or more into one, overrule its action whenever it is deemed unwise, impolitic or unjust, and even abolish the municipality altogether, in the legislative discretion." 12

11 204 U. S. 103; 27 Sup. Ct. Rep. 198; 51 L. ed. 393.

12 Laramie Co. v. Albany Co.. 92 U. S. 307; 23 L. ed. 552. See also New Orleans v. New Orleans Waterworks Co., 142 U. S. 79; 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 142; 35 L. ed. 943.