Dunlap v. State
Dunlap v. State
Opinion of the Court
Section 1, subsec. 62, of the revenue law (Acts 1915, p. 509) provides a license “for each penny-in-the-slot machine $5.00.” Section 1 of the act requires the payment of the amount of the license, and section 7 provides a penalty for violating the requirements of the law. The prosecution was begun by affidavit, and on the trial in the circuit court the solicitor filed an information based upon the affidavit, and properly charging the offense; to this information the defendant filed demurrer, raising the question of the constitutionality of the section under which the proceedings were had. In view of the undisputed evidence in the case, we take it that a determination of the demurrer involves the whole question presented.
‘.‘We may be pardoned for saying that where persons use a penny-in-the-slot machine for the purpose of selling chewing gum, they do it as a business. This is common knowledge, of which we cannot be supposed to be ignorant.”
The license is charged for the use of the machine as a business, and therefore the fact that an ad valorem tax is paid on the value of the machine itself would not make the license double taxation. 13 R. C. L. 486. Not being prohibited by the Constitution, the power to tax occupations, trades, businesses, etc., resides in the Legislature. Jones v. Paige, 44 Ala. 657; Cousins v. State, 50 Ala. *441 113, 20 Am. Rep. 290; Goldthwaite v. City Council, 50 Ala. 486; City Council v. Shoemaker, 51 Ala. 114. The power to tax includes the power to license, and to compel the payment of the tax as a condition precedent to engaging in the business. City Council v. Shoemaker, supra; Ex parte City Council, 64 Ala. 463.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Dunlap v. State.
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- 13 cases
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- Published