The Constitutional Limits of the Tax Man
A territorial court judge rules that forcing business owners to open their private books to the County Assessor is unconstitutional.
The indictments against George W. Harris and A. Mackintosh, bank presidents, for alleged failure to make certain exhibits to the County Assessor, as demanded by that officer, were quashed, the judge holding that the Territorial law, in so far as it permitted or required assessors to pry into people's private affairs, was unconstitutional.
“The Territorial law, in so far as it permitted or required assessors to pry into people's private affairs, was unconstitutional.”
Privacy rights regarding financial data versus state tax oversight remains a cornerstone of American civic debate. This 1884 decision highlights the early, fierce frontier skepticism toward government intrusion into private commercial interests.
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