American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1846-01-01

VI lIIc DinBS anu OlllCr Incorporated lnStltu-
tlons OF the State has been the occasion of con-
tlnued litigation. The Banks of the city of
Baltimore, under the impression that their sew
eral charters exempted them from taxation,
refused to pay the tax; and suit was institute
cd, during the term of my predecessor, to test
the COnstltutionality Of the tax imposed ON
them by this act; which resulted in the deci-
son Of the Supreme Court of the United
States 'that the Banks Of the city of Balti-
more chartered III 1921, were exempt from tax
alton during the continuance of the charters
then granted, and that the other Banks of the
city were legtimateiy taxed" Under the
impression that this decision had settled the
question OF ofliabilty to taxation, | requested the
! Attorney General to call upon the several
| Banks and request their compliance with the
| law The Banks, chartered III 1921, contend
| ing that their charters of 1921 did not expire
until 1916, and the other Banks contcnding
that, under the act of 1895, chapter l12, 10
other tax could be imposed on them than was,
or could be imposed OH the Banks chartered in
1871 still refused to pay the tax; and inme-
diatcly directed proceedings TO be instituted to
test the validity Of their claim to exemption.
This proceeding resulted in decision by the
Court Of Appeals ''that the Banks chartered
| 1921 were liable to taxation from tie st of
Jan. 1876, and that the other Banks were liza
bic for the tax from the date of its imposition
in lStl." All the Banks of the city Of Balt-
more have acquicsced il this decision, except
the tamerS' and Planters, and the Western
/ Banks, which now refuse to pay upon the
ground that the act Of 1871, chap. IS and
l843, chap. 299, which make it the duty of the
"Prcsdents OF the Banks and other incoporat-
ed institutions of the State to retain and pay
the tax directly into the treasury" are uncon-
stilutlonai. A proceeding has been instituted.
and is now pending in the Court of Appeals,
to test the validity Of this objection; the deci-
sion Of which may render further legislation
necessary.
The revenue which will be derived from the
direct tax during the coming year will be in
creased by the sum Of S24,2 -, the tax up
on the capital of the Banks which have not
hitherto paid, including the unpaid tax of the
two Banks before mentioned, which are still
contesting their obligation to pay.
. Upon investigation found that but one Bank
in the city of Baltimore, (the Merchants Bank
and but few of the other incorporated compa-
nies had paid The direct tax, since the passage
of the act of lS43, chapter 299, which trans
ierred the collection Of this tax from the local
collectors to the Presidents Of the several cor
porate institutions. The Treasurer at my in
S'"',co auG' cSseu clcu'aI 70 'he residents oi
each OF the incorporated companies, Of whoso
locality he could obtain information, requiring
them 10 pay into the treasury the tax due from
the companies over which they presided; which
has resulted in the payment by many Of them
o Tie cutire tax due from their respective in
stitulons, amounting to the sum Of STA ,38S.S 7;
and which viii Justify me N applying for man.
damuS against those who may continue den-
4u,gIu"' % etlo'ce tlieLF observance oi IH2 Jaw,
Inc "o1su'eI VIII iuT"S" you WIZ. iIS' OF
't' ooiPoi@tl"iH' anu 10 cuPlt4i oi e"C'' u
whose 'ocaIily ana caP'uu we coa'o OBTAIN M
lo''l'aIon' c' distinguishing I lh"Se "'Ich nave
l'on' 'i"S' "i,'on nave loI P"Io' lloh "i,'ch
you |'.l s10 tIt'S r'o IcEe""e WING" Wi" DC
g,oo'o'5 uoi'So0 I'''' ''ii' PN',Iu"' EoolCe eaa
o'' " go "'''VI"t ~ ~ "'o'Ioo0'
u "'o ~" o' '"o pH'"''oio wy
S,.a >StoI" "' '''o ''''e"' VI VIC i''''"' o' INC
,.,,
ho. ..,l 'o' Do ,I I.,.' -, ''IV ,-"II' VI
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h;cb rcre ' roisod % onJ doodod ,'0 '"A 9"'S''o'
Tho diroct f., I,w snocie,,s os ooo or +I,,
s,,;onts nc ,o,a,;or ,s,lI sl,, ord a,a. ,,-
soIs o,yned NV cit,gars nr ,Lis Sta,on rro",
this source the State has hitherto Jo,ived va, nn
rnvenmn. tbn ownoro nf .h;ns anJ nrssoIS Nv NV
sis,rr tpat tho t ,ooood
t5at camSo Of tho CopS,itn,;nn IS thn IfOod ~
Statos Stat wbich m conf,rs nnon tta G Gennr,I @ Co.. Gov
orn,o,t tha ,o,,ar 80 lo",,into
Pr rcfnronro to tho dnois;nn of [ ,ba ~nns, &C
ApnoaIs voI, ,,;I .en ,Iat tho onns,;,,;on.Etn
of Fr his tsv ;s sns,ainoJ '''''"''''
The rT rs@istoras a Il and Ieorsod tor,oco bo,orn
inn to IN the mor, Of Re- sItimnre nn ,ho ist "r o.
,o6sr ls15 arn,n,od IN vaI,,. ~ 40 10 900