Collins v. Chicago

6 F. Cas. 118, 4 Biss. 472

Opinion

DRUMMOND, District Judge.

The material facts in this case are that the city caused to be assessed, for the payment of taxes, under the law of Illinois, the stock of the First National Bank of this city, as so much capital in the aggregate, with the intention of having the tax levied on the sum total of the capital stock of the bank. Plaintiff, a non-resident stock-holder, has applied to have the assessment set aside as illegal.

The assessment is in violation of the acts of congress authorizing the existence of national banks. The capital stock of the bank, as such, cannot be assessed under state authority. The only way that such stock can be reached is to assess the shares of the different stock-holders in the same manner that assessments are made in other cases against property owned by the citizens and inhabitants of the state.