The gross earnings of a business or company are the total receipts before deducting expenditures. Net earnings are the excess of the gross earnings over the expenditures defrayed in producing them, and aside from and exclusive of capital laid out in constructing and equipping the works or plant. State v. Railroad Co., 30 Minn. 311. 15N. W. 307; People v. Roberts, 32 App. Div. 113, 52 N. Y. Supp. 859; Cincinnati, S. & C.It. R. Co. v. Indiana. B. & N. Ity. Co., 44 Ohio St. 287, 7 N. E. 139; Mobile & O. R. Co.v. Tennessee. 153 U. S. 480. 14 Sup. Ct. 90S. 38 L. Ed. 703; Union Pac. R. Co. v. U. S.,99 U. S. 420, 25 L. Ed. 274; Cotting v. Railway Co., 54 Conn. 150, 5 Atl. 851.