gross receipts tax

A tax upon the gross receipts of a railroad or canal company is very manifestly a tax upon the railroad company, measured in amount by the extent of its business, or the degree to which its franchise is exercised. It is not a tax upon transportation, or upon commerce. The gross receipts of railroad or canal companies, after they have reached the treasury of the carriers, though they may have been derived in part from transportation of freight between States, have become subject to legitimate taxation.