Peoples Savings Bank v. Monongahela River Consolidated Coal & Coke Co.

Opinion by

Henderson, J.,

It is clear that prior to the passage of the Act of July 15, 1897, P. L. 292, both the capital stock of a savings bank and bonds of a corporation, owned by the bank, were subject to state taxation. This was shown by Wilkes-Barre Deposit & Savings Bank v. City of Wilkes-Barre, 148 Pa. 601.

That case was based upon the act of 1885, supplemented by the act of 1889. The distinction was pointed out between the capital stock of the corporation and its shares of stock; the former representing the property of the company, and the latter the interest of the holder thereof in the corporation. It followed from this distinction that there was a like distinction between that part of the capital of the bank invested in interest bearing bonds and the shares of stock, and the validity of the taxation of each was sustained. Emphasis was placed in that decision, however, upon the language of the act of 1889, giving exemption from “ local taxation.”

The act of 1885 granted exemption from all other taxation under the laws of the commonwealth. The addition of the word “local ” in the act of 1889, makes it evident that the intention was to limit the exemption to taxation for local purposes.

The last proviso of the first section of the act of 1897 not only exempts the institution from local taxation, upon compliance with the requirements of the act, but relieves it from the obligation to make a report of its personal property to the local assessors, or county commissioners, for the purpose of taxation, and expressly declares that it shall not be required to pay any taxes thereon. The first section of the act deals wholly with the subject of the tax of four mills upon the personal property of the bank, and plainly exempts such property from other taxation when the tax is paid as provided therein. It is conceded that mortgages given by individuals to the bank are not subject to taxation, and it was the apparent purpose of the legislature to place all mortgages owned by such institutions in the same class.

The provision of the act of 1889, for the retention and payment of the tax by the corporation to the state, relates to the collection merely and does not impose the tax. There is but one tax with two methods of collection. The tax is actually paid by the holder, whether the obligation is that of a corporation or an individual, and the retention of the four mills by the company issuing the obligation is not payment of the tax by that company. It acts merely on behalf of the commonwealth in making the collection, the burden falling on the owner of the securities. In Fox’s Appeal, 112 Pa., 337, the power of the legislature to impose double taxation was recognized. It was held, however, that the exercise of such power was not to be presumed in the absence of a clear intent. We are of the opinion that the conclusion of the court below is the correct one under the statutes.

The judgment is affirmed.