PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. Since the first edition of this work appeared, several thousand cases have been decided by courts of last resort in this country, involving questions of importance in the law of taxation, and the time seems to have arrived for bringing together the results of the cases under the appropriate headings. This has now been done, and the author has reason for believing that this work is very considerably improved thereby. In the original edition pains were taken to present in as clear a light as possible the fundamental principles underlying the law of taxation. This involved the necessity for expressions of opinion on some points not yet covered by authoritative decision; but the author is happy to believe that on no important point have the subsequent decisions shown him to be in error. He therefore offers the new edition to the public in confidence that it will not only be found convenient for professional use, but also a reliable presentation of the results of judicial thought on this very important subject. THOMAS M. COOLEY. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, January, 1886. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Definitions: Taxes, subsidies, duties, imposts, tolls, Taxing power an incident of sovereignty, Taxes on foreign and interstate commerce, Taxes in abridgment of privileges and immunities of citizens, Taxes violative of treaties, State restraints on power to tax, CHAPTER IV. |