XVI REPORT OF THE

should detect some deficiency in the laws, or difficulty in their opera-
tion. If so, it will be for the Legislature, at its next session, to
cure the defects and render the whole perfect.

Table No. 20 exhibits the amounts of unpaid State Taxes due
from various incorporated institutions, amounting in the whole to
the sum of $82,174.53.

These accounts are engaging the special attention of the Depart-
ment, and it is hoped that a large number of them may bo realized
during the current year.

Table No. 21 contains the names of a number of corporations and
companies, which are indebted for State Taxes, but the amounts of
which are not accurately ascertained. Some of them are defunct
bodies and incapable of payment at this time; others, however, arc
abundantly able to pay when the amounts cau be ascertained with
certainty.

TAXES ON GROSS RECEIPTS OF RAILROAD COMPANIES.

The Act of Assembly passed at January Session, 1872, Ch. 234,
establishes the rate of taxation upon the gross receipts of Rail Road
Companies in this State, at one-half of one per cent. This tax, small and
apparently trifling as it is, will, it is believed, amount to $50,000.00
per year on all the roads, but as the Act does not require the re-
turns to be made until the first day of February, I bave no precise-
data from which to ascertain the amount with certainty.
TAXES ON FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.

Section 58 of Article 3 of the Constitution, having made it the
duty of the Legislature "to provide by law for State and Municipal
taxation upon the revenues accruing from business done in this State
by all foreign corporations,' the Legislature, at its last Session,
passed an Act (Chapter 355) "to authorize the issuing of licenses
to Telegraph Companies, and Express and Transportation Compa-
nies not organized under the laws of this State, to transact business
therein," fixing the license for said Companies at $300.00 for the
agent at the principal office, and $2 for subordinate officers, and at
the same time, directing that if one per cent, of the gross receipts
from business transacted in this State by said Companies respec-
tively, should exceed the amounts of said licenses, the excess also,
should be paid into the Treasury. These Companies having here-
tofore made their profits in this State without contributing in return
therefor to the support of the State government, arc now disinclined
to pay for their licenses, and intend to resist the execution of the