CHAPTER 17

PROPERTY AND CORPORATION TAXES

REFERENCES.

_Brooks, R. C._, The German imperial tax on the unearned increment. Q. J. E., 25: 682-709. 1910-1911.

_Bullock_, Chs. XI, XV.

_Compton, W. M._, Recent tendencies in the reform of forest taxation. J. P. E., 23: 971-979. 1915.

*_Hamilton_, Readings, 560, 561.

_Robinson, M. H._, The Federal corporation tax. A. E. Rev., 1: 691-723. 1911.

*_Source Book_, 130-137.

_Tucker, R. S._, The British taxes on land values in practice. Q. J. E., 29: 794-819. 1914-1915.

_United States Bureau of Corporations_, Report on the taxation of corporations. Pts. I-IV. 1909-1912. Special report on taxation. 1913.

_Young, A. N._, The single tax movement in the United States. 1916.

QUESTIONS.

1. A recent newspaper item says: "This is the year real estate is assessed. Turn the cow loose in the front yard, tear down the fence, make things look generally dilapidated, for it will be money in your pocket." What does this indicate regarding taxation?

2. The parts of an estate divided into fifteen equal shares by expert real estate agents were soon after assessed variously from $900 to $2850 for purposes of taxation. What does this indicate? (From Sumner's Problems.)

3. Explain how and why the general property tax has been breaking down in the United States with reference to the taxation of public service corporations.

4. What is meant by the separation of state and local revenues? What advantages do the advocates of separation claim for their plan? What is your judgment with reference to its advisability?

5. What is meant by the proposition that a single tax on land values is paid for all time by the one who owns the land at the time the tax is first imposed?

6. How does Massachusetts tax interstate railroads running through the state? What defects, if any, do you see in the Massachusetts plan?

7. Can taxation be used to secure some of the profits of large corporations?