BEST METHODS OF TAXATION. 787 



franchise is regarded in this way, as belonging to real estate, or as 

 forming a taxable entity apart from other property, it would be 

 simpler to reach it through a corporation tax in one of the many 

 ways open for applying that tax. 



Enough has been said to demonstrate the extremely faulty con- 

 dition of tax methods in the United States. Uniformity is highly 

 desirable, but equality of burden is even more to be desired. The 

 advances in this direction have been few, and accomplished only 

 partially in a few States. The machinery for making assessments 

 is only a part of the problem, as the intention of the law, the spirit 

 of the act, is of even higher importance in securing justice and mod- 

 eration. If these essays, incomplete as they must of necessity be, 

 have led to a better comprehension of the chaotic condition exist- 

 ing now and of the difficulties to be overcome, their object will have 

 been attained. The remedy may be left for time to effect. 



In connection with the celebration of the centenary of the death of the 

 naturalist Lazaro Spallanzani, at Reggio, Italy, in February last, a booklet 

 has been published containing articles on various asi:)ects of the life and 

 work of Spallanzani and matters associated with him. Among the au- 

 thors represented are Mantegazza, Ferrari, and others well known in 

 Italian science. 



substructures, and superstructures, erected upon, under, or above, or affixed to the same ; 

 all wharves and piers, including the value of the right to collect wharfage, cranage, or 

 dockage thereon ; all bridges, all telegraph lines, wires, poles, and appurtenances ; all sup- 

 ports and inclosures for electrical conductors and other appurtenances upon, above, and 

 underground ; all surface, underground, or elevated railroads, including the value of all 

 franchises, rights or permission to construct, maintain, or operate the same in, under, above, 

 on, or through streets, highways, or public places ; all railroad structures, substructures, and 

 superstructures, tracks, and the iron thereon, branches, switches, and other fixtures per- 

 mitted or authorized to be made, laid, or placed on, upon, above, or under any public or 

 private road, street, or grounds ; all mains, pipes, and tanks laid or placed in, upon, above, 

 or under any public or private street or place for conducting steam, heat, water, oil, elec- 

 tricity, or any property, substance, or product capable of transportation or conveyance 

 therein, or that is protected thereby, including the value of all franchises, rights, authority, 

 or permission to construct, maintain, or operate in, under, above, upon, or through any 

 streets, highways, or public places, any mains, pipes, tanks, conduits, or wires, with their 

 appurtenances, for conducting water, steam, heat, light, power, gas, oil, or other substance, 

 or electricity for telegraphic, telephonic, or other purposes ; all trees and underwood grow- 

 ing upon land, and all mines, mmerals, quarries, and fossils in and under the same, except 

 mines belonging to the State. A franchise, right, authority, or permission, specified in this 

 subdivision, shall for the purposes of taxation be known as a ' special franchise.' A special 

 franchise shall be deemed to include the value of the tangible property of a person, copart- 

 nership, association, or corporation, situated in, upon, under, or above any street, highway, 

 public place, or public waters, in connection with the special franchise. The tangible prop- 

 erty so included shall be taxed as a part of the special franchise." The reason for classing 

 franchises as real estate was that under the existing laws of New York a franchise could 

 not be assessed as personal property, as the bonded debt could then be deducted, leaving 

 little or nothing to be taxed. 



