Leahy v. State Treasurer of Oklahoma

Decision Date02 March 1936
Docket NumberNo. 599,599
Citation80 L.Ed. 771,297 U.S. 420,56 S.Ct. 507
PartiesLEAHY v. STATE TREASURER OF OKLAHOMA et al
CourtU.S. Supreme Court

Mr. C. S. Macdonald, of Pawhuska, Okl., for petitioner.

Messrs. C. D. Cund, of Duncan, Okl., and C. W. King, of Oklahoma City, Okl., for respondents.

Mr. Justice BRANDEIS delivered the opinion of the Court.

Leahy brought this action in a court of Oklahoma against the State Treasurer and others to recover $11.99 paid under protest as state income tax. He is a duly enrolled member of the Osage Tribe of Indians, and has long held a certificate of competency. As such member he is entitled to receive, from time to time, his pro rata share of the income of the restricted mineral resources of the tribe held by the United States for the tribe under the Act of June 28, 1906, c. 3572, 34 Stat. 539, and later legislation. The tax challenged is upon such income paid to him. Leahy claims that it is void because laid by the state upon a federal instrumentality. The trial court overruled the contention and entered judgment for the defendants. On the authority of Choteau v. Burnet, 283 U.S. 691, 51 S.Ct. 598, 75 L.Ed. 1353, its action was affirmed by the Supreme Court of the state, three judges dissenting. 49 P.(2d) 570. We granted certiorari because of the constitutional question presented. 296 U.S. 572, 56 S.Ct. 381, 80 L.Ed. 404.

The facts are substantially the same as those presented in Choteau v. Burnet, supra, which upheld a federal income tax on a like payment. The applicable statutes and decisions are discussed there. As Leahy was entitled to have the income paid to him and was free to use it as he saw fit, no reason appears why it should not be taxable also by the state.

Affirmed.

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16 cases
  • Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Texas Co Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Magnolia Petroleum Co
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • 7 Marzo 1949
    ...L.Ed. 1353; Superintendent of Five Civilized Tribes v. Commissioner, 295 U.S. 418, 55 S.Ct. 820, 79 L.Ed. 1517; Leahy v. State Treasurer, 297 U.S. 420, 56 S.Ct. 507, 80 L.Ed. 771. 22 At note 18. 23 Distinguishing Jaybird Mining Co. v. Weir, 271 U.S. 609, 46 S.Ct. 592, 70 L.Ed. 1112, on the ......
  • Clanahan v. State Tax Commission of Arizona 8212 834
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • 27 Marzo 1973
    ...or not the State can be said to have imposed a forbidden tax on a federal instrumentality. See, e.g., Leahy v. State Treasurer of Oklahoma, 297 U.S. 420, 56 S.Ct. 507, 80 L.Ed. 771 (1936); United States v. Rickert, 188 U.S. 432, 23 S.Ct. 478, 47 L.Ed. 532 (1903). To the extent that the tax ......
  • CONFEDERATED SALISH & KOOTENAI TRIBES, MONT. v. Moe
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Montana
    • 4 Febrero 1975
    ...Government, may tax an Indian's pro rata share of income from a tribe's restricted mineral resources. Leahy v. State Treasurer, 297 U.S. 420, 56 S. Ct. 507, 80 L.Ed. 771 (1936). Lessees of otherwise exempt Indian lands are also subject to state taxation. Oklahoma Tax Comm'n v. Texas Co., 33......
  • Mescalero Apache Tribe v. Jones 8212 738
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • 27 Marzo 1973
    ...Government, may tax an Indian's pro rata share of income from a tribe's restricted mineral resources. Leahy v. State Treasurer, 297 U.S. 420, 56 S.Ct. 507, 80 L.Ed. 771 (1936). Lessees of otherwise exempt Indian lands are also subject to state taxation. Oklahoma Tax Comm'n v. Texas Co., 336......
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