The intangible assets tax of 1905 was made to apply not only to railroad, ferry, bridge, and turnpike or toll road companies, but also to wharf, telegraph, interurban railroad, express, packing house and pipe line companies, chair and all other car companies, except sleeping, palace and dining car companies. It was provided, however, that upon compliance with this tax law the gross receipts tax law should not apply.2 The companies other than the railroad generally elected to comply with the gross receipts law. The difficulties experienced by the state tax board in determining the intangible property of the companies and the greater simplicity of the gross receipts tax led to a change in the law in 1907, by which only railroad, ferry, bridge, and turnpike or toll road companies remained subject to the intangible assets tax, the other companies being brought under the gross receipts tax.3

2 Message of Governor Lanham, January 12, 1905. Laws of 1905, p. 351.

3 Laws of 1907, p. 469. Report of the Tax Commissioner, 1906 and 1908 The franchise and other intangible properties of the companies not subject to the intangible assets tax are taxable, though there is no special method provided for ascertaining and assessing them. Laws of 1905, p. 357. Rev. Civil Stats., 1911, art. 7414. Dallas v. Street Railway. 95 Tex., 268 (1902).