WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 165

NO. 6
(House Joint Resolution No. 2)

Joint Resolution requesting the several National Banks in
Maryland voluntarily to comply with the Maryland Sales
Tax Act.

WHEREAS, Section 5219 of the United States Revised
Statutes enumerates the methods by which states may levy
taxes on National banks; and

WHEREAS, at the time of the enactment of said section, there
were no State laws which levied sales taxes; and

WHEREAS, the apparent purpose of Section 5219 was to pre-
vent discriminatory and burdensome taxes on National banks;
and

WHEREAS, since sales taxes apply equally to all State banks,
trust companies and other financial corporations which might
be competitors of National banks; and

WHEREAS, there is no sound reason why National banks
should not properly share the tax burden with other tax-
payers of the State; and

WHEREAS, the American Bankers' Association has prepared
an amendment to Section 5219 of the United States Revised
Statutes to accomplish this purpose; and

WHEREAS, a Joint Resolution is being introduced into this
Special Session of the General Assembly of Maryland, asking
the Congresss of the United States to give the states which
have sales tax laws the authority to make such laws ap-
plicable to National banks; and

WHEREAS, it is understood that in certain jurisdictions some
National banks have voluntarily paid sales taxes, although
not legally obligated to do so; therefore be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the
several National banks located and doing business in the
State of Maryland are hereby urged and requested voluntarily
to comply with the Maryland Sales Tax Act, so as to share
the tax burden with other taxpayers of the State and so as
to avoid a tax discrimination against the State banks in Mary-
land; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State of Maryland be and
he is hereby requested to secure from the State Bank Com-