KNIGHTS
v.
JACKSON, TREASURER AND RECEIVER GENERAL
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A Massachusetts taxpayer challenged a state law directing that income tax proceeds be used to reimburse cities and towns for increased school teacher salaries, arguing it imposed a special tax on a particular class without benefit to them in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court affirmed the state court's dismissal of the challenge, holding that the income tax was a general tax whose proceeds became part of the state's general funds that could lawfully be expended for education, and that the legislature's contemplation of this use did not transform it into an impermissible special tax for a special purpose.
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Mr. Justice Holmes delivered the ' opinion of the Court.
In Massachusetts taxes of a kind that used to be imposed by the cities and towns now are imposed and collected by the Commonwealth and afterwards distributed to the cities and towns to be expended for various public purposes. In this way are collected and distributed, with necessary exceptions, taxes upon the interest from debts, dividends from stock and from partnerships, Gen. Acts 1916, c. 269, § 2, and upon the excess over two thousand dollars per annum of income derived from professions and business, again with necessary exceptions, id. § 5(6), both as amended. Dane v. Jackson, 256 U. S.
589. The latter tax, under § 5(6), was increased one per cent, for the years 1918 and 1919 by an Act of 1919, c. 324, § 1. The validity of these taxes per se is not disputed. They make a comprehensive income tax. But by an Act of 1919, c. 363, the Treasurer and Receiver General is directed to set aside and pay over to the cities and towns from the proceeds of the income tax a sum sufficient to reimburse them for specified increases of salaries of school teachers, supervisors, superintendents and the like. Thereupon the plaintiff in error, a taxpayer, brought this suit, a petition for mandamus, to prevent the respondent from paying over as directed, contending that the Act' of 1919, c. 363, imposed a public charge upon a special class of property and persons not specially benefited by the services and for that reason was a taking of property without due process of law in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Judicial Court, waiving questions of procedure, held that the income tax was a general tax; that the proceeds of the tax became part of the general funds of the State; that these funds could be expended for education, and that there was no appropriation of such a character as to make the tax a special tax for a special' purpose or use. The petition was dismissed.
We see no reason for not accepting the views taken by the Supreme Judicial Court. The plaintiff in error asks us to connect the increase of the tax for two years by the Act of 1919, c. 324, with the reimbursement directed by c. 363, which he assails. This cannot be done, especially not for the purpose of attributing to the Legislature an attempt to achieve by indirection a result supposed to be beyond its power. The reimbursement from the general funds of the Commonwealth was lawful and to make it the funds must be provided. The fact that the end was contemplated, if it was, in this particular increase, is no more than was necessary in some form to bring about the result.
Judgment affirmed.
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Doyle E. Carlton v. Mathews, 103 Fla. 301 (Fla. 1931)…have been received by the counties and have become county funds. Chapters 14486 and 15659 may co-ordinate without directly, indirectly or contingently violating any provision of Article IX of the State constitution. See Knight v. Johnson, Treasurer, 260 U. S. 12, 43 Sup. Ct. 1, 67 L. Ed. 102. Terrell and Brown, J.J., and Campbell, Circuit Judge, concur.…1 / 2
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State v. Cone, 130 Fla. 158 (Fla. 1937)…ly political and legislative. United States v. Realty Co., 163 U. S. 427, 16 S. Ct. 1120, 41 L. Ed. 215; Guthrie National Bank v. City of Guthrie, 173 U. S. 528, 19 S. Ct. 513, 43 L. Ed. 796; Knights v. James Jackson, Treasurer and Receiver General, 260 U. S. 12, 43 S. Ct. 1, 67 L. Ed. 102; Mitchell v. Lowden, 288 Ill. 327, 123 N. E. 566, 567.” And again in the same opinion we said; “Section 1 of Article 9 of the Constitution provides that [*183] the Legislature shall provide for a uniform rate of taxatio…
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Carmichael v. S. Coal & Coke Co., 301 U.S. 495 (U.S. 1937)…rtunes or needs, the legislature may strike at the evil at its source. If the purpose is legitimate because public, it will not be defeated because the execution of it involves payments to individuals. Kelly v. Pittsburgh, supra; Knights v. Jackson, 260 U. S. 12, 15; cf. Mountain Timber Co. v. Washington, 243 U. S. 219, 239-240. “Individual interests are aided only as the common interest is safeguarded.” See Cochran v. Board of Education, 281 U. S. 370, 375; cf. Clark v. Nash, 198 U. S. 361, 367; Hairston v…
Previewing 3 of 4 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- F. S. Royster Guano Co. v. Commonwealth of Va., 253 U.S. 412 (U.S. 1920)
- Norwood v. Baker, 172 U.S. 269 (U.S. 1898)
- Loan Ass'n v. Topeka, 20 Wall. 655 (U.S. 1874)
- Green v. Frazier, 253 U.S. 233 (U.S. 1920)
- Int'l Paper Co. v. Commonwealth of Mass., 246 U.S. 135 (U.S. 1918)
- Dane v. Jackson, 256 U.S. 589 (U.S. 1921)