Court Opinion

ID: 6961616
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:46:36.335971+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:27.573185
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Walker delivered the opinion of the Court: This was a bill to enjoin the collection of a tax. It alleges that complainant resides in South Chicago; that he made no return to the assessor of that town for the year 1880, but was assessed for personal property at his residence, and paid $21.14 thereon. He alleges that he owns the half of two lots situated in that town, upon which he paid a real estate tax of $808.59, for the year 1880; that he was assessed on personal property, machinery on the lots, $1300, upon which a tax was extended of $78.50; that the machinery did not exceed $200 in value, consisting in belting, pulleys, etc.; that the assessment included the engines and boilers in the building, but they were not worth more than $300; that the engines and boilers -were .permanently attached to and were a part of the realty, and were not personalty; that they were so attached as to constitute a part thereof, so far as the owner of the fee is concerned, and that any real estate tax as aforesaid is as much a tax on the engines and boilers as on the land; that they were improperly assessed as personal property; that personal property did not exist on the lots; that therefore the tax, except on the personal property of the value not to exceed $100, is inequitable, unjust, oppressive and illegal, and prays for an injunction perpetually restraining the collection of all but the tax on $100 of valuation. A demurrer was filed to the bill. On a hearing the demurrer was overruled, and a perpetual injunction decreed to prevent the collection of the tax on the engines and boilers, except taxes on the $100 valuation. An appeal is prosecuted to reverse the decree. The demurrer admitted all facts properly pleaded, but did not admit arguments or legal conclusions, and its office is to determine whether the facts as stated constitute grounds for granting equitable relief. The bill, even if it otherwise stated grounds for equitable relief, is defective in not averring a tender of the amount of the tax that is admitted to be legal. Again, no equitable excuse is shown for not appearing before the town board of review, under section 86 of the Eevenue law, or to the county board, under the 97th section of the same act. These boards were invested with full power to relieve all persons applying to be relieved from grievances by improper assessment. But if these objections were waived, does the bill allege facts in other respects sufficient to require the granting of the relief sought ? It alleges that the personal property of appellee was assessed at his residence, and that he paid the tax extended on that. He does not allege or claim that he made and furnished a list of his taxable property to the assessor, nor does he claim that he gave in any personal property at his factory, whether the engine and boilers, or other personalty he admits to havq been subject to taxation as such; nor does the bill allege that the engine and boilers were assessed as a part of the real estate to which they were attached, nor that their value was in any manner considered in fixing the valuation of the real estate; nor does it allege that the engine and boilers were twice assessed, but it is alleged they were permanently attached to the real estate, and were, as to him, a part of the real estate; that the real estate was assessed, and he paid the tax assessed upon it, and draws the conclusion, from these premises, that therefore the engine and boilers were twice assessed, and he had already paid the tax on them. The conclusion does not logically follow from the premises. The 25th section of the Revenue law requires all persons to make out and deliver to the assessor a schedule of his or her personal property required to be listed for taxation. The form of the schedule is given in that section. The sixth item is: “Every steam engine, including boilers, and the value thereof.” For the purposes of taxation these articles are made and required to be listed and valued as personal property, and it is made the duty of the owner to so return, and the assessor to so list and value them; and the assessor having no power to treat or value them as a part of the real estate, and having listed them as personal property, we must'presume he did his duty. But it is contended that all permanent fixtures become and are a part of the land, and pass with it; that the engine and boilers are such fixtures, and therefore the presumption is they were assessed and valued as a part of it. This is doubtless true at common law, and is true as between grantor and grantee, but for the purposes of taxation the legislature has changed the rule. It is, however, as we understand the argument of counsel, contended the legislature has no power to make such fixtures personal property. It is conceded that the legislature is invested with and may exercise all governmental power, unless restricted by the State constitution, dr the power has been delegated to the general government, or the Federal constitution has prohibited its exercise. No reason is perceived why the General Assembly, if so disposed, may not declare every species of property personal, and subject it to all of the incidents of personalty; or why it may not, for the purposes of taxation, require any portion of real estate, or any of its parts or accessories, to be listed, taxed, and sold for the payment of the taxes thereon, as personal property, and authorize the person purchasing to detach and remove the parts, whether it be standing trees, crops, or even windows or doors of houses or dwellings. The power no doubt exists, and the legislature is the sole judge of the necessity and expediency of its exercise. As appellee has totally failed to show any grounds for relief, the court below erred in overruling the demurrer, but should have sustained it and dismissed the bill.' The decree of the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded. Decree reversed.