Bottling Corp. v. Lee

4 Am. Samoa 499
CourtHigh Court of American Samoa
DecidedNovember 10, 1964
DocketNo. 190-1964
StatusPublished

This text of 4 Am. Samoa 499 (Bottling Corp. v. Lee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering High Court of American Samoa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bottling Corp. v. Lee, 4 Am. Samoa 499 (amsamoa 1964).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

MORROW, Chief Justice.

Plaintiff Bottling Corporation filed its complaint demanding that “(1) This Court issue a declaratory judgment that the Defendant, Governor H. Rex Lee, has an obligation under law to approve Plaintiff’s application for tax exemption and/or that (2) This Court issue a judgment and order in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus requiring .the Governor to grant approval of plaintiff’s application for tax exemption as the law requires so that a certificate may issue for the tax exemption as provided for by the Industrial Incentive Act, Chapter 26.01, Code of American Samoa, 1961 edition, Public Laws 7-37.”

On or about May 10, 1962 the Bottling Corporation applied for the tax exemption as set forth for new businesses under the Industrial Incentive Act. The principal parts of the Act pertinent in this case read as follows:

“Sec. 26.0101 — PURPOSE: In order to establish a firm foundation for self-government and to assist the people of American Samoa to attain the maximum possible self-support, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of American Samoa to attract new capital to American Samoa; to encourage the establishment of new businesses, to the extent that suitable facilities are available; and to promote and develop in American Samoa an economy suited to the needs and resources of the territory and its people. To achieve these objectives, exemption from the payment of taxes, customs duties, and business license fees imposed or levied by the Government of American Samoa may be allowed to new businesses in American Samoa. The Government of American Sa[502]*502moa will regard each such certificate of exemption as being in the nature of a contract between the Government and the person or corporation to which the certificate is granted, and it will take no action to impair any rights granted by such certificate except as hereinafter provided.”
“Sec. 26.0102 — TAXES EXEMPT: 1. From and after the date of approval hereof, all persons or corporations duly qualified to do business in American Samoa and constituting new businesses within the meaning of this title may, upon application therefor and the granting of a certificate on the basis thereof, as hereinafter provided, be granted a ten-year graduated exemption as set forth below from the payment of taxes, customs duties, and business license fees imposed or levied by the Government of American Samoa:
“The first through the fifth year — 100% exemption
The sixth through the seventh year — 75 % exemption
The eighth through the ninth year — 50% exemption
The tenth year — 25 % exemption
“2. The rate of taxes, customs duties, and business license fees which are in effect on the date a person or corporation applies for a certificate of exemption shall, if the certificate is granted, be the rates which apply to such person or corporation during the period in which such person or corporation is entitled to the percentage of exemption described in subsection 1, of this section.
“3. Notwithstanding subsection 2, hereof, if the rate of any tax, customs duty, or business license fee is, at any time during the period in which a person or corporation is entitled to such percentage of exemption, lower than it was at the time such person or corporation applied for a certificate of exemption, such person or corporation shall, during such time, pay the prescribed percentage of such lower rate.
“4. The exemption described in such subsection 1 hereof shall relate to the particular new business conducted by the person or corporation to which the exemption is granted, and no new additional exemption shall be granted with respect to such particular business by reason of the subsequent operation of such business by a different person or corporation.
“3. No exemption from the payment of taxes, customs duties, or business license fees shall apply to or be granted to any officer, director, or employee of such new business, so long as he is em[503]*503ployed by such new business, nor shall anyone doing business with a person or corporation which holds a certificate of exemption be regarded as qualifying for an exemption by reason of its doing business with such exempt person or corporation.”
“Sec. 26.0108 — TAX EXEMPTION BOARD: The provisions of this title shall be administered by a Tax Exemption Board of five members. The said Board shall include the Attorney General of American Samoa, who shall be the Chairman, the Treasurer of American Samoa, and three residents of American Samoa who shall be appointed by the Governor and who shall serve at his pleasure. All applications for exemption shall be filed with the said Board. In the performance of its duties hereunder, the said Board shall exercise the following powers:
“1. Conduct hearings, after due notice to all interested parties, with respect to applications for exemption. At the conclusion of such hearing, the Board shall determine whether the applicant for exemption is a new business within the meaning of this title. No later than 60 days from the receipt of the application, the Board shall submit the above determination to the Governor. The Governor shall, within 30 days, determine whether the business is a new business as defined herein and he shall approve or disapprove the application on the basis of such determination: Provided, That the Governor may also determine whether such new business is in the public interest and, even though a business is determined to be a new business, a certificate of exemption may be denied if it is determined by the Governor that such new business is not in the public interest. In the event the Governor approves an application, there shall be issued by the Attorney General within five days following such approval a certificate providing for such exemption. In the event the Governor does not act within 30 days, the determination of the Board will be final and if such determination is favorable to the applicant, the Attorney General shall issue a certificate as provided above.”

The Governor referred the application for tax exemption to the Tax Exemption Board. On October 2, 1962 the Board reported (Exhibit C of Plaintiff’s Complaint) to the Governor as follows:

“A meeting of the Tax Exemption Board has determined that the Bottling Company of Samoa is a new business under the provisions [504]*504of the industrial incentive law. The recommendation of the Tax Exemption Board however is that the Bottling Company should not be given the Tax Exemption as prescribed by the industrial incentive law. The reasons for this decision is that there will only be approximately ten new jobs open to the Samoan population. Although there will be a capital investment of around $75,000.00, it is not felt that the payment of the taxes would be a bar to this Corporation doing business in Samoa.”

By letter (Exhibit B of Plaintiff’s Complaint) dated October 16, 1962, Mr. Carpenter, the Bottling Corporation’s President, wrote the Governor as follows:

“In regards to our meeting of October 12th, we are pleased to submit the following information:

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Related

United States v. Fisk
70 U.S. 445 (Supreme Court, 1866)
Panama Refining Co. v. Ryan
293 U.S. 388 (Supreme Court, 1935)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
4 Am. Samoa 499, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bottling-corp-v-lee-amsamoa-1964.