The recent Harvard economics Ph.D. alumnus (1907), Charles Phillips Huse, substituted for his thesis advisor, Charles Jesse Bullock, to teach the course on public finance in 1909-10 that was focussed on the theory and methods of taxation. We begin with Huse’s major life and career dates and follow that timeline with links to material from nearly a decade of courses on public finance taught at Harvard at the start of the 20th century.
The new transcribed content of this post includes a course description, enrollment figures and the final examination questions.
P.S. Two impressions that he left on his students and included in the Boston University yearbooks of 1924 and 1927 have been appended to the timeline. Note the hint given to future cohorts of students: “…[Huse’s] unchanging method nets a return of old quiz questions yearly rejuvenated on each anniversary of their first propounding”
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Charles Phillips Huse
Timeline
1883. Born March 3 in Worcester, MA. Attended Springfield High School. Springfield, MA.
1904. A.B. Harvard.
1905. A.M. Harvard.
1907. Ph.D. Harvard. Thesis: The Financial History of Boston from 1822 to 1859.
1908-09. Instructor in Economics, Dartmouth College.
1909-11. Instructor in Economics at Harvard.
1911-14. Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Missouri.
1914-20. Assistant Professor of Economics, Boston University.
1920-53. Professor of Economics, Boston University.
1958. Died July 13 in Belmont, MA.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Professor Huse economizes on our nerves as he never did on ice cream or time. His peculiar humor relieves a mental struggle with Gresham’s Law, and his unchanging method nets a return of old quiz questions yearly rejuvenated on each anniversary of their first propounding. This holds true in the long run. That will be all for this time.
Source: Boston University Yearbook, The Hub 1924, p. 32.
One of the greatest and most worth while experiences in Dr. Huse’s life came in 1910 when he went to Washington to aid the National Monetary Commission. His task was to read the volumes written by the Commission and, as each volume was published, to prepare press statements for the newspapers. Partly as a result of the work of this Commission, the Federal Reserve Act was passed. While he was in Washington he had the opportunity of seeing the public buildings and of taking trips into the surrounding country to places of interest.
Source: Boston University Yearbook, The Hub 1927, p. 18.
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Some earlier public finance exams
at Harvard
1901-02. Economics 7a and 7b. Financial administration; taxation [undergraduate] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1902-03. Economics 7b. Theory and methods of taxation [undergraduate] taught by Edward Dana Durand.
1902-03. Economics 16. Financial History of the United States taught by Prof Henry Brayton Gardner of Brown University.
1903-04. Economics 16. Financial history of the United States taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1904-05. Economics 7a. Introduction to public finance [undergraduate] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1904-05. Economics 7b. Theory and methods of taxation [undergraduate] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1904-05. Economics 16. Financial history of the United States taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1905-06. Economics 7. Public finance [undergraduate] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1905-06. Economics 16. Public finance [advanced] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1906-07. Economics 16. Public finance and taxation taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1907-08. Economics 16. Public finance and taxation taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1908-09. Economics 7. Public finance [undergraduate] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
1908-09. Economics 16. Public finance [advanced course] taught by Charles Jesse Bullock
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Readings in public finance
used at Harvard
From 1906: Selected Readings in Public Finance edited by Charles Jesse Bullock (Boston: Inn & Company).
From 1910: Short bibliography on public finance “for serious minded students” by Bullock
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Course Description
1909-10
7 2hf. Public Finance, considered with special reference to the Theory and Methods of Taxation. Half-course (second half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 10. Dr. Huse and an assistant.
This course is for undergraduates exclusively, and cannot be elected by graduates. As stated in the title, much attention is given to the subject of taxation, which will occupy about one half of the time of the course and will be studied with special reference to federal, state, and local taxation in the United States. The remainder of the time will be given to such topics as governmental expenditures, governmental industries (including some study of the relation of the state to railways and other public-service industries), public debts, and financial administration.
The course may, with the consent of the instructor, be elected by students who are taking Economies 1 in the same year.
Source: Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. VI, No. 29 (23 July 1909). History and Political Science Comprising the Departments of History and Government, and Economics, 1909-10, p. 52.
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Course Enrollment
1909-10
Economics 7 2hf. Dr. Huse. — Public Finance considered with special reference to the Theory and Methods of Taxation.
Total 124: 1 Graduate, 28 Seniors, 37 Juniors, 33 Sophomores, 9 Freshmen, 16 Others.
Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1909-1910, p. 44.
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ECONOMICS 7
Year-end Examination, 1909-10
- What has been the public land policy of the United States? Do you favor the retention of any part of the public lands? Give your reasons.
- Explain the two distinct grounds on which progression has been advocated, giving your opinion of each.
- Discuss the incidence of a tax on the net profits of a monopoly; on a good produced under competitive conditions; on real estate.
- Compare the British and Prussian income taxes, as to the method of assessment and the rate.
- What has been the experience of the United States with income taxes? Are you in favor of a federal income tax? If so, why? If not, why not?
- You are a resident of Boston. Your property consists of real estate worth $50,000, which is mortgaged for $10,000, and personal property amounting to $900,000, made up of the following items: shares in New Jersey corporations, $500,000; shares in Massachusetts corporations, $200,000; bonds of Massachusetts corporations, $200,000.
- Send the assessors a true declaration of your taxable property.
- Forget to send it. Tell what items are likely to be assessed and at what figures, giving your reasons in every case.
- —
| Capital |
$100,000 |
Real Estate |
$50,000 |
|
| Debt |
$100,000 |
Machinery |
$50,000 |
|
| Merchandise |
$100,000 |
|||
|
$200,000 |
$200,000 |
You are a partner in this Massachusetts company. How is it taxed as a partnership? How would it be taxed as a Massachusetts corporation, assuming the market value of its stock to be $125,000? Would you advise incorporation?
- A war of long duration will begin in 1915. You are called upon now to reconstruct the federal tax system in preparation for the war and to finance it when it comes. Justify the policy you adopt.
Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 9, Bound vol. Examination Papers 1910-11; Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics,…,Music in Harvard College (June, 1910), pp. 43-44.
Image Source: Boston University yearbook, 1927.