People ex rel. American Surety Co. v. Campbell

The question to be determined is, what part of relator’s capital was used or employed within the state during the time in question. The total amount of the capital stock of relator was $1,000,000, and the comptroller assumed that it was all employed within the state. During the years for which the tax was so assessed it was shown that relator had $200,000 of its ■capital invested in real estate in Chicago, $121,187,50 of its capital invested in United States bonds, deposited under a deed of -trust in Pennsylvania, $60,500 of such bonds deposited with the minister of finance in Canada.

These bonds it was shown were so deposited and the real estate investment made to enable relator to carry on its business in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Canada. Were the bonds so deposited in Pennsylvania and Canada, and the $200,000 invested in real estate in Chicago, being a part of the capital of relator, employed ■within this state ? I think not. The $200,000 invested in real estate in Chicago is located out of this state, is taxable in Illinois, and a .part of the capital of relator placed in that state to enable it to ■there carry on business. It seems to me that such real estate may properly be deemed employed in Illinois. The way relator employs its capital is to keep it invested as a security for the benefit of those doing business with it. This $200,000 is invested in real estate in Illinois where those having claims against the corporation in that state can reach it. I think relator employed this portion of its capital in Illinois, and certainly did not employ it in New York.

So in regard to the bonds deposited in Pennsylvania and Canada. In the deed of trust to the Fidelity Insurance aud Safe Deposit Company, is the following provision, viz: “And whereas, •it is deemed expedient, and the said Surety Company is desirous

These United States bonds, a part of the capital stock of relator, were deposited in Pennsylvania and Canada-for the protection and benefit of its bond and policy holders in Pennsylvania, Canada or elsewhere. The capital of relator to the extent of said deposit was represented by United States bonds, and these bonds are placed as above. A creditor of relator in Pennsylvania or Canada can reach them in those places. The capital of relator to the extent of the bonds was located out of the state. The bonds in Pennsylvania were actually conveyed to the trustees and those in Canada were delivered to the minister of finance.

I think the papers show that the bonds in Pennsylvania and Canada were employed in those places. They were there to enable the corporation to do business, to give the corporation credit, and secure its policy holders, and those employed, and hence cannot be deemed to have been employed in this state.

I think these views are sustained by the case of People ex rel Edison Electric Light Co. v. Campbell, 138 N. Y., 543 ; 53 St. Rep., 184 . In that case the relator’s capital originally was invested in patent rights. It sold patent rights to various local corporations outside of the state taking the stock of such corporations in payment, and the principal question in the case was whether the stock of such local corporations held by the relator was capital of the relator, employed within the state. This general term held that such stock was a mere investment. That presumably the certificates were held by the' corporation at its office in this state. That such stock was not 'employed by the corporation out of the state, and hence should be deemed employed within the state.

This doctrine, however, was overruled by the court of appeals. The court held, page.546, “The stocks which relator took of companies organized outside of the state stood for so much of relator’s capital invested outside of the state. It took a portion of its capital, to wit; a portion of its patent rights and employed it outside of the state to purchase those stocks. Its property in those corporations, represented by its shares of stock was outside of this state, and was in no sense employed here. Those stocks had no situs here and were not taxable here under any system of taxation, which has ever existed in this state. * * * As_ to a domestic corporation it is sufficient to subject it to taxation under the act that its capital was employed within the state, and it is employed where it is kept and used for the purposes of the corpora tion.”

It seems quite clear that the real estate in Illinois and the bonds transferred in trust in Pennsylvania as well as those deposited with the minister of finance in Canada cannot be said to be kept or used within this state. Such property is required and used out of the state. In the case last cited the company held bonds

In the case referred to it was held that to entitle the corporation to exemption on account of that part of its capital stock invested in the stocks of foreign corporations, it was not necessary that such portion of its capital stock should be employed in business outside of the state. All that was necessary to entitle the corporation to exemption was that such portion was not employed within the state.

It is suggested by the learned attorney-general that the bonds of relator in question and the real estate in Illinois were subject to the claims of all creditors of the corporation, and that the income arising therefrom was received by the relator at its office in New York; The same, however, could be said in reference to the stocks of the foreign corporation referred to in People ex rel. Edison Electric Light Co. v. Campbell, supra. The stock referred to in that case was subject to all claims against the company, and presumably the income thereon was received by the corporation at its office in New York. It was also presumably received at that office and there used in the business of the corporation. It is to be inferred that all the business of the corporation was conducted at the New York office, and in doing the same the corporation used the income received from said stocks. .

I think the determination of the comptroller should be reversed, with costs to the relator.

Herrick, J., concurs.

The relator is a corporation organized under the second department of chapter 463 of the Laws of 1853, and the several acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, and has, since its organization, been engaged in the business for which it was incorporated, having its principal office in the city of New York.

The relator being liable to pay a tax into the state treasury for the use of the state under the provisions of chapter 361 of the Laws of 1881, and the several-acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto; on the 12th of November, 1891, forwarded its report to the comptroller, of which the following is a copy:

“New York City, Nov. 12, ’91.

“To the Comptroller of the State of New York:

“ Agreeably to law, as treasurer of the above company, I make the following report, viz.:

1. Date of organization of company, April 14,1884.

2. Total authorized capital of company, $1,000,000.

3. Whole number of shares of stock authorized, $20,000

4. Number of shares of stock issued, $20,000.

5. Par value of each share, $50.

6. Amount paid into the treasury of the company on each share, $50.

7. Amount of capital paid in, $1,000,000.

8. Amount of capital upon which dividends were declared, $1,000,000.

9. Date of each dividend, declared December 17, 1890, and June 25, 1891.

10. Amount of each dividend declared, $30,000.

11. Rate per cent per annum of dividends, six per cent

12. Capital stock employed in New York State, $618,750.

13. If not in New York state, where and how employed, $100,000 IT. S. reg. 4 per cent, bonds,cost value $119,750. Deposited with the Fidelity Ins. Co., Title Trust & Safe Deposit Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., $50,000 IT. S.- reg. 4 per cent, bonds, cost value $61,500. Deposited with- the Finance Minister of Canada, and the sum of $200,000 invested in real estate in the city of Chicago, 111.

S. S. Colville,

Treasurer.”

Subsequent to the filing of the report by the relator the comptroller imposed a tax in the following words and figures :

Comptroller’s Office, Albany, N. Y.

) j

“ The American Surety "Company, 160 Broadway.

In account with the State of New York, Dr.

“ For tax on franchise or business, based on dividends on capital stock employed in New York state, per chapter 542, Laws of 1880, as amended by chapter 361, Laws of 1881, chapter 151, Laws of 1892, chapters 359 and 501, Laws of 1885, chapter 353, Laws of 1889, and chapter 522, Laws of 1890, for the year ending November 1, 1891, as per report filed.

Dividend six per cent, on capital stock $1,000,000.

Tax one and one half mills (one-quarter mill for each one per cent, of dividend) $1,500.00.

The relator thereupon asked for a revision and readjustment of said account, for tax against said company before the comptroller, and after such hearing the comptroller made an order affirming the assessment and tax as originally fixed by him.

The main contention of the relator now is that from the original report and upon the evidence on such application for readjustment, it appears that a considerable portion of its capital was employed out of this state and was not therefore liable to taxation by the comptroller in this state.

This contention is based upon the fact that $121,187.50 of the relator’s funds or property were invested in United States bonds, which were deposited under a deed of trust in the state of Pennsylvania, $60,000 of the capital stock invested in like bonds which were deposited with the minister of finance in Canada, $200,000

This question seems to arise chiefly on the construction that is to be put upon § 11 and the other sections which were added to the provision of chapter 542 of the Laws of 1880, by chapter 501 of the Laws of 1885. The added § eleven provides that “ In maldng to the comptroller the report in writing, or certificate of estimate and appraisal of the capital stock of such corporation, joint-stock company or association provided for in the first section of this act, it shall be the duty of such president or treasurer thereof, as the case may be, to state specifically the amount of capital stock employed within this state of such corporation, joint-stock company or association.”

Added § 14 of this act provides that: “ The comptroller is hereby authorized and directed upon application to him made by any corporation, joint-stock company, or association, to make, settle and adjust all accounts against such corporation, joint-stock company, or association, for all taxes and penalties arising under the third section of this act, since the 12th day of May, A. D. 1882, by taking as a basis for taxation the capital employed within the state by such corporation, joint-stock company or association.”

This act was again amended by chapter 353 of the Laws of 1889 by inserting a provision in the third section as follows :

“ If the dividend or dividends made or declared by such corporation, etc., * * * during any year ending with the 1st day of November, amount to six or more than six per centum upon the par value of the capital stock, then the tax to be at the rate of \ mill upon the capital stock for each one percentum of dividends so made and declared.”

It is not clear but that the provisions of the added §§ 11 and 14 in the act of 1885, so far as they relate to the taxation of the capital employed in this state was not repealed by the provisions of § 3 of chapter 353 of the Laws of 1889 above quoted.

But as the learned attorney-general does not seem to have discussed the effect of that amendment we are inclined to examine the question as it is presented by the proof under the provisions of the Laws of 1885 above referred to. What then must be the effect of the language of §§ 11 and 14 of chapter 501 of the Laws of 1885, which in effect provides that the tax 'must be upon the basis of the capital employed within the state.”

Was the entire capital stock employed in this state within the meaning of this act ? The principal office was in this state, and dividends were declared,in this state, all of its assets were subject to its liabilities, which were constantly being created in this state. Suppose it had given its guarantee to the amount, the same amount of its deposits in Pennsylvania, as a basis of doing business in that state; would that have reduced its assets in this

Under such circumstances, it seems to me, that the situs of such securities would still be in this state, where their owner resides, and to whose control they are at any time subject. ■

The same would, I think, be true of the railroad securities in Texas, and the deposits in the Dominion of Canada. Let us take for illustration the government bonds required to be deposited in the Federal treasury, as security for the circulation of the banks. Could , the bank making such deposit claim for obtaining immunity from taxation upon its stock, that because of the deposits of such collaterals, its capital represented in fact by such bonds was , not" within this state, and it was not employed in this state, and had no situs here, and was for that reason exempt from taxation?

It is true that the method of taxing the stock of banks and other money corporations is quite unlike that of taxing corporations of the character we are discussing. But there is similarity in this, that the corporation is located in a state, "and its deposits, as collateral security for its circulation, are or may be entirely in a different territory or jurisdiction.

The bond remains the property of the bank, and may be redeemed by the bank, and the return and retirement of the circulation secured by it. The bond represents the capital of the bank and the interest of the stockholder in it. So in the case of the corporation under examination, the bond, either government or railroad, represents the capital of the corporation and the interest of the individual stockholder, and its situs would seem from analogy to be controlled in the one case as'in the other by the location of the principal business, and the capital stock in both cases would seem to have its situs where the bank or corporation is located.

We are cited by the learned counsel for the relator to the case of People ex rel. Davis Colby Co., 66 Hun, 143 -146 ; 48 St. Rep., 817 , as one supporting its contention. It is true that that was a domestic corporation, incorporated under the laws of Hew York and authorized to do business in this and other states. But during the year for which the tax was imposed it moved its office for the transaction of business to the state of Pennsylvania. It made no sales within this state during the year; it manufactured nothing within the state; it occupied no premises, paid no rent, and employed no men within the state during the year.

It did no business within the state during that year. It manufactured ore roasters, kept a bank account, employed servants and paid them outside of the state. Upon these facts this court held that the entire business and capital was employed outside of the state, and under such circumstances could not be taxed by the comptroller in this state.

In this case the court held that establishing an agency in this state, and selling by sample, goods manufactured in the state of Connecticut, carried with it to this state no part of the capital stock and could not be deemed an employment of the capital stock of the Connecticut corporation in this state.

“ It might selPits whole product by sample from an office in Yew Yo¿k to be delivered to the purchaser from the factory and yet not employ any part of its capital within the state.” It is therefore apparent that the mere transaction of the business of a corporation in another state, is not the employment of its capital there.

It follows that the mere transaction of business by this company in Pennsylvania, Texas and Canada was not the employment of its capital there. The case last cited also holds that if the foreign corporation kept on hand within this state, goods from which it sold, and made shipments in the usual way or money deposited here, and used in its business to that extent, it would be employing its capital here, which would be the subject of taxation.

But it will be observed that the relator had no goods or money in other states or country which it used in its business.

There does not appear to be any authority to pay one dollar of its guarantee or indemnity bonds out of. the government bonds deposited in Pennsylvania or Canada, or the railroad bonds in Texas, in the management or conduct of its business in those foreign states. We are, therefore, of the opinion that in depositing these securities out of the state the relator did not remove its capital stock beyond the jurisdiction of the state, but that it still continued to employ the same in the transaction of its business in this state. There does not appear to be any law or statute regulation in Pennsylvania under which the relators could deposit their bonds in the insurance department, or any other department of the state government, as a condition for doing business in that state, and the bonds would not, therefore, be taxable in that state within the principle of the decision of the case of the People v. New Eng. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 26 N. Y., 303 .

Yor have we been able to find any evidence in this case of any •statute or law of the province of Canada or of the state of Texas requiring the deposit of their collaterals in' those jurisdictions.

Assuming as we must in the absence of proof that the law of that state and province are like our own on this subject, the case referred to in 26 N. Y., 303 , supra, would govern. But if we are wrong in our conclusion, that the deposit of these securities outside of the state did not take that amount of capital stock out

The comptroller was, therefore, authorized to hold that such deposits were only for safe keeping or investment in aid of its business carried on in this state, and that the income from the same was realized and used in such business. People ex rel. Postal Tel. Co. v. Campbell, 24 N. Y. Sup., 208; 53 St. Rep., 790 .

We are, therefore, of the opinion that the tax was properly imposed in this state as to the capital claimed to be employed by the relator in Pennsylvania, Texas and Canada.

The remaining question is as to the property of" this company-invested in real estate in the state of Illinois.

Was the property invested in that state employed in this state ?' It was leased by the relator and rents remitted to the home office-in New York, was not occupied by the relator for offices or in any other way for the transaction of its business, except to give-some kind of local credit in that state to the relator’s business-transacted there. While it must be conceded that this case is not. free from doubt we are inclined to the opinion that the relator ha» failed to establish that the assessment was erroneous. •

In this proceeding the onus is upon the relator to affirmatively establish the error. The rule upon this subject is settled, that when a corporation is subject to taxation under this act, the determination of the comptroller as to the assessment and tax, unless clearly shown to be erroneous, will be sustained People ex rel. American Contracting & Dredging Co. v. Wemple, 129 N. Y., 558 ; 42 St. Rep., 400 .

On the whole we think the determination of the comptroller must be confirmed, and the writ of certiorari quashed, with fifty dollar» ($50) costs and disbursements.

Determination of the comptroller reversed, with $50 costs and printing and other disbursements.