Majority
Headnote
Taxes—Joint stock associations.We might very well rest our decision in case upon very satisfactory opinion rendered in the court, below, because we think that the reasons given in that opinion for the conclusions therein reached are entirely sufficient.
But it might be said if we contented ourselves with that statement that we had overlooked the case of The People ex rel. Platt v. Wemple, 117 N. Y., 136 ; 27 N. Y. State Rep., 341, upon which great reliance seems to be placed by the counsel for the appellants, it being claimed by him that the grounds upon which the court below based its opinion are shown by this case to be unfounded.
An examination of that case will show undoubtedly a use of' language apparently inconsistent with that which was employed by the learned judge in his opinion in the case at bar; but it will be seen that there is a distinction in the language without any difference whatever in the position. ■
The learned judge stated that the true test is whether a body is natural or artificial. “It is artificial if created by statute or called into being by compliance with statutory provisions ; it is natural when solely the creature of private contract.”
In the case cited the court of appeals say, that the body resulting from the agreement for the formation of this joint stock association is an artificial body.
It is perfectly evident that what they meant by that is that the unit resulting from the agreement of the several individuals associatinf themselves together is an artificial body; the word “artificial ” in that case being used for the purpose of distinguishing this unit formed by this aggregation of individuals from an individual called a natural person.
The learned judge in the court below used the word “artificial ” in his decision in the case at bar in an entirely different sense.
He stated that a body was artificial which derived its wh right to exist from statutory enactment, and he called a body natural body which existed because of a private contract.
In other words an artificial body draws the whole of its lift from the state; a natural body from its inherent right to exist de^
It is further to be observed that all that the court of appeals decided in that case was that joint stock associations are organized under the laws of the state.
The court were interpreting an act entitled as follows: “ An act for raising taxes for the use of the state upon certain corporations, joint stock companies, and associations,” by which it was provided that “ every corporation, joint stock company or association whatever now or hereafter incorporated or organized under any law of this state, or now or hereafter incorporated or organized by or under the laws of any other state or country, and doing business in this state, shall be subject to and pay a tax, etc.” Laws of 1881, chap. 361.
It was claimed upon the part of the relators that they, not being a corporation, were not subject to a tax, although joint stock associations were mentioned; and all that the court decided was that under the provisions of that act the relator, a joint stock association, was liable to taxation because they were organized under the laws of this state, in that their agreement of association permitted them to do those things which they were entitled to do only because of the existence of special statutes upon the subject. That, in the opinion of the legislature in this legislation, joint stock companies were not incorporated seems to be established by the fact that chap. 542 of the Laws of 1880 upon this subject was amended to insert the words “ or organized ” in addition to the word “incorporated.”
The language of the act of 1880 was “ every corporation, joint stock company or association whatever now or hereafter incorporated under any law of this state.” It is clear that it was deemed by the legislature that this did not subject joint stock associations to this taxation, although mentioned in the title, and they thought it necessary, because such companies were not incorporated, to use the words “or organized.” And the court held that because of the use of those words, they being organized under the laws of the state, they were subject to the taxation therein provided for.
In the case at bar it is sought to tax the relator as a corporation pure and simple under the Revised Statutes, which provide that all monied or stock corporations deriving an income or profit from their capital shall be liable to taxation upon their capital in the manner therein prescribed.
This is certainly going far beyond anything even hinted at by the decision of the court of appeals in the case of Plait v. Wempte.
It seems to be assumed by the counsel for the appellant that every association of individuals formed pursuant to or under the laws of the state must necessarily be a corporation. That this claim cannot be sustained is evident when we reflect that all limited partnerships are formed under the laws of this state.
All parties have a right, as these joint stock associations have a right, to form a partnership by agreement But the latter have
There are no provisions of the statute regulating the formation of such associations, but they are authorized by statute to enjoy certain privileges not belonging to copartnerships, strictly speaking, provided the statute is complied with.
We think, therefore, that the judgment appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.
Bartlett, J., concurs.