City of New Orleans v. Canal & Banking Co.

The opinion of the court was delivered by Spencer, J. Paragraph 8 of section 1 of Act No. 8 of the extra session of 1878, approved March 26th, provides for the assessment of “ the shares of stockholders in all banks and banking associations in this State ; said shares shall be assessed at their value, after deducting from the capital stock of said banks and banking associations "all property otherwise assessed or exempt from taxation ; and said shares shall be included at such ascertained value, in the valuation of the personal property of such stockholders, in the assessment of taxes at the place where such bank or banking association is located, and not elsewhere, whether the said stockholder resides in said place or not.” It then requires the president of such bank to furnish a list, etc., of its shareholders, and requires the bank to pay to the tax-collector the taxes on said assessment on account of said shareholders, etc. It then directs that the “ method thus provided for assessing bank capital and shares of stock in banks shall be carried into effect in the assessment of the same for the collection of taxes for the city of New Orleans and the State payable in the year 1878,” and that the assessments of said property made in 1877 are canceled and annulled. Paragraph seventh subjects to taxation all property of banks “ over and above their capital stock.” Paiagraph sixth excepts from taxation the capital stock of banks,' K whose shares are assessed in the hands of the stockholders.” [160] The difference between this statute and former revenue laws is simply in the mode of taxing the same thing-. Heretofore, the capital was assessed against the bank. Under this act, it is assessed against its stockholders. There is no double taxation here ; for, as we have seen, when the capital is assessed to the shareholders, it is not assessable against the bank. The present suit is brought by the city to recover of the defendant the sum of $11,925 78, taxes of 1878, being the aggregate amount of taxes assessed against the stockholders on the value of their respective shares, and against the bank on property, in excess, “ over and above its capital stock.” In other words, the capital stock is taxed through its ultimate owners the shareholders, and the surplus of property held beyond its capital is taxed through the bank itself. The defense urged before this court addresses itself First. To the method adopted by the assessors in the ascertainment of the value of the shares of the stockholders, and- of the surplus over and above the capital. Second. To the constitutionality of that clause of paragraph eighth which directs that the method thereby adopted of taxing bank capital and shares shall be carried into effect for the taxes of State and city payable in the year 1878 ; and that the assessments of such property made in 1877 be annulled. 1. As regards the methods adopted by the assessors to ascertain the values to be taxed, we think the objection, even if well founded, comes too late. After assessments have been made, the law directs the rolls to be exposed and advertised for thirty days, and requires all persons objecting thereto to come forward and claim corrections. Ample opportunity and efficient means are provided to enable the tax-payer to have all errors corrected. If he does not urge his objections within the time allowed, he is thereafter precluded. It may not be amiss to add that the shares are assessed to the stockholders individually, and it may well be doubted whether the bank can disturb an assessment made against them. At all events, it cannot do so after the legal delays. It is not competent, therefore, for the bank now to dispute either the value of the shares, or the amount and value of its surplus. That is no longer open to dispute. This view dispenses us from the necessity of again considering the question, whether in ascertaining the taxable capital of the bank the assessors are bound to deduct from its capital stock all the legal tender and national currency held by the bank at the time of the assessment. That question was so elaborately considered by us in the case of the city of New Orleans vs. Canal Bank, reported in 29 A. 851, that .its further discussion would seem to be useless ; more especially as in that case the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed our conclusions. - [161] 2. It is argued that paragraph eighth is retrospective legislation, and, therefore, violative of art. 110 of the constitution of 1868. It has been usual for the legislature to levy taxes for the current year upon assessment rolls made in the preceding year. But we know no provision of the constitution enjoining it so to do. So far as we can see, it was perfectly lawful for the legislature to> adopt a different system, and to levy the taxes of 1878 on an assessment made in 1878. We understand that paragraph to provide that the taxes on bank capital and shares, collectible by the city and State in 1878, shall be calculated, assessed, and imposed according to the plan and method therein directed; and to this end it annuls the assessments made of such property in 1877, and directs an immediate re-assessment. Whereas in 1877 the assessment of this capital was against the bank, it now directs it to be made against the shareholders. It was in substance the assessment of the same thing, in a different way ; but without imposing any additional burden. The new assessment in point of fact gave as a result some sixty dollars less taxes than that of 1877. The rate of taxation was ad valorem, and the same as that on all other taxable property; and the method of assessment was applicable to all banks and banking associations. The real object of the change of method is manifest. Under the laws of the Unit'ed States, the capital stock of the national banks is exempt from taxation by any State or municipal authority ; but the shares of the stockholders in such banks are thought to be taxable. The purpose and effect, therefore, of the act of 1878, were, in reality, to lessen the burdens of taxation on the State banks, and other property holders of the State, by compelling the stockholders of the national bank to contribute to the expenses of the government, whose protection they enjoy. We are at a loss to understand in what sense such legislation is retrospective. The act was passed in March, 1878, and provides for the assessment and collection of taxes for 1878. Whether the assessors in point of fact adopted incorrect data, or overestimated the objects to be taxed, we are not at liberty to inquire. At all events, this assessment in 1878 yielded a less amount of taxes than would have been obtained from that of 1877. We are equally at a loss to perceive in what way the bank or its-shareholders are prejudiced. If the tax were levied on the bank, it would be paid out of its funds, and the shareholders would receive that much less. If levied on the shareholders and paid by the bank or by them, the result is precisely the same. The judgment below was for plaintiff. It is correct, and is affirmed with costs.