The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-10-14 00:00:00, page 4

For railing the additional Sum of Five Millions Seven Hundred Thousand Dol-
WHEREAS Congress, by their resolution da
led ne twenty-fiift day of May last, bave requi
red n addition to the funis heretofore by them requi
red that the further sum of forty-five millions of dollars
should be railed within these United States, and paid
into the continental treasury on or before the firft day
of J nuary next, and have assigned the sum of five mil
lions 'even hundred thousand dollars thereof as the quo
ta of this ftate:'
AND W HEREAS it is the desire of the repre
sentatives of the freemen of this state to comply with
the said resolution of Congress :
Be it ena&ed, and it is hereby enabled, by the repre
sentatives of the freemen of the commonwealth of
Pennfylvaria in general assembly met, and by the au
thority cf the fame, that the laid sum of five millions
seven hundred thousand dollars shall be raised, levied,
coll &ed and paid within the current year over and a
bove the sum o four millions of dollars required to be
raised by an adintitled "an aft for raifiogthe supplies f r
" the year one thousand seven hundred and fevenry nine,
cd shall be raised, affefTed and taxed in the city of Phi
ladelphia and the several counties of this state accord
ing to the me hod and proportions fall >wing, that is to
fay, for the city and county or Philadelphia the sum of
feveohundred and nine thousand and fevenry-five pounds
nine shillings and seven pence ; for the county of Bucks
the ium of onehundred and forty thousand two hundred
and forty.eight pounds seven (hillings and fix-pence;
for the county of Chester the sum of two hundred and
twenty-five thousand one hundred and thirty-three
pounds fourteen (hillings; for the county of Lancaster
the sum of three hundred and four thousand fix hun
dred and ninety th ee pounds and three pence; for
the county of Northampton the sum of eighty-eight thou
sand two hundred and eighteen pounds ten (hillings and
one penny ; for the county of Berks the sum of one hun
dred and fifty-three thousand two hundred and forty
five pounds (even (hillings and eight pence; for the
county of York the sum of one hundred and sixty-nine
thousand seven hundred and fifty four pounds twelve
(hillings and two-pence; for the county of Cumberland
the sum of one hundred and fifty-nine thousand five
hundred and fifty five pounds two (hillings and fix
pence; for the county of Bedford the sum of for y
eigih thousand three hundred and sixty-three pounds
eight (hillings and seven pence; for the county of
Northumberland the sum of eighty-two thousand two
hundred and forty pounds sixteen Killings and five
pence ; and for the county of Wcftmoreland the sum of
fifty-nine thousand seven hundred and forty-three pounds
two (hillings and fix-pence.
And be it enabled by the authority aforesaid, That the
commiffioneis and assessors of the cry and county of
Philadelphia, and of every county in this state, (ball
meet together on or before the second day of November
next, at the ufcal p^ace of meeting, and (hall then and
there issue their warrants under their hands and feZs,
to the township, ward o diftr& ass ffos of each town
ship ward or diftrift within their refpe&ive counties, re
quiring him, the said township afleffar, to make a fair
return in writing, on a certain day to be by them ap
pointed, of the names and firnames of all the taxable
inhabitants and single freemen within their refpeCtive
townfllips, wards or dilids, together with a fair and
true return of all the estates, real and personal, and
in wha r county floated, made taxable by this a&, and
to whom such estates refpedively belong. And to en
able the commissioners and county assessors to do the
Hr deft justice in quotaing the several townships, wards
and diftrids, within the city and each county of this
state, the laid ass (Tors are hereby impowered and re
quired to administer to each taxable within their re
fpedable towifhip, ward or diftrid, an oath or affir
mation in the following words:
" I, A. B. do swear, (er solemnly, sincerely and
“ truly dec are ard affirm,) that the return which I
" have made is a just and true return of all my taxable
'' property, real and personal, and in what county
“ situate: and that the sum of money by me now re
" turned is all the ready money which I have in my
“ hands or pff Him, or which an, person or persons
“ has in his or her hands or poffeffiou for me, to the
lars for the current year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by JOHN DUNLAP, in Market-ftreec
An , A C T
" best of my knowledge and belief; and that I have
“ not direftly or indired'y parted with or disposed of
" any ready money or other property on any condition
“ exprefledor implied to have the fame returned to me,
" with intention to avoid paying the tax thereupon."
And if any person or perlons (hall refufe or negled to
give in a return as aforefaid, every such person or persons
so refuting or neglecting (hall for every such offence for
feit and pay a sum equal to the tax at which such persons
shall be rated ly this aft, to be levied and collected by
the collect r of the proper township by virtue of a spe
cial warrant, which the commissioners of the city and
proper county a+e hereby impowered and required to
grant, and shall be paid into the treasury of this com
monwealth.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That if any person shall neg'e&to make returns upon
oath as aforefaid of ail and every trad or parcel of land
he or (he shall p.ffefs within this state, to the township
aff.ffoi of the place where such perlon shall dwell or
reside, so that the fame cannot be taxed according to
the true in ent and meaning of this a& ; all such lands
so omitted (ha I be liable and fubjed to pay all such tax
es the next or any subsequent ff ffinent, which the
far p e lands ought to have paid had they been duly as
sessed as by this ad is directed ; andrif any such trad or
parcefa&nd so returned (had be firuated out of the ci
ty or county where such person and township assessor
shall dwell, then the commissioners of such city or coun
ty or some on^of them, shall as soon as conveniently
may be, tranfinit a copy of such return to the comroif
fioners of the rcunty where such land shall lie.
And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That
the commissioners of the refpe&ive counties (ball have
power to appoint township assessors, in case of removal
by death, disability, refufal or negled, or where the
townfllips neglect to eleft.
And be it further enaded by the authority aforefaid,
That when the commissioners and county assessors shall
receive the returns of the township, ward or diftridaf
feffo s, as before directed, they the said commissioners
and county assessors shall forthwith proceed to quota
their several townships, wards and diftrids in the city
of Philadelphia and several counties, in proportion to
the quantity and quality of the property returned as
aforesaid
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That the commissioners of the city of Philadelphia and
several counties, shall within fix days after quotaing the
t wrifhips, ward^ and diftri&s as aforefaid, furnifh the
assistant afleffor of each township, ward or diftrift, with
a nue and fair tranic ipt of the quota or sum of money
justly c argeable upon such township to which such aflift.
ant off.ffa doth belong.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That the township, ward or diftri& assessor of each town
fh:p, ward or diftrid within this state, with the assist
ance of two freeholders of the proper township, ward
or difirid appointed by the commissioners and county
affefTois of the city and proper county, for that pur
p fe, shall, within three days after the said assessor shall
become possessed of the quota or sum of money so asses
sed, levy and affels the fame equally and impartially on
all and every person, and on all the estates, real and
personal, within their township and made taxable by
this aft.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid,
That the,following enumerated articles shall be and are
hereby^made taxable, and no other, viz. the time of
Servitude of all bound servants above the age of four
teen years; all negro and mulatto slaves above the age
cf twelve years ; all horses and mares above three years
old ; al! horned cattle above three years old ; ready money
in hand, plate, pleasurable carriages, and all lands held by
deed, warrant, location or improvement, houses and lots
of ground, all grist mills,faw mills, fulling-mills, flirting,
mi'ls, hemp-mills, oil-mills, fluff-mills, and paper-mills;
all forges, furnaces, bloomaries, diftiilaries, fugar-houies,
breweries, tan-yards, tanned leather, ferries, and all
wares and merchandize, and all profefficns, trades and
occupations.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That all and every the enumerated articles aforefaid,
shall be valued at and for so much as they would, bona
fide, fell for or are worth, (ready money in hand ex
cepted,) and such a rate or rates levied and assessed
thereon as will amount to the sum of money quotaed
upon the city of Philadelphia and the several counties
townships, wards and diftri&s wiihin this state.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid.
That each single freeman, not otherwise taxed by this
a&, who is of the age of twenty-one years and upwards,
and has been out of his apprenticeship fix months, shall
pay a sum not exceeding thirty pounds, nor under five
pounds ; and that all trades, profeffions and occupati
ons, (ministers of the gospel of all denominations ard
fchooi-mafiers only excepted,) dial! be rated accord
ing to the diferetion of the commissioners and assessors
of the proper county, having due regard to the profits
anfing from them.
And be it further ena&ed by the authority aforefaid.
That all ready money shall be liable to and pay three
pence in the pound; and the sums arising from the tax
upon money shall not be confideied as part or included
in the several quotas, but shall be considered as a se
parate fund for (applying deficiencies, if any Ge or
may happen ; any thing in this ad contained to the
contrary in any wife notwithflanding, and shall be
paid into the public treasury, to be hereafter disposed
of by some future assembly.
And be it further enabled, That the date treasurer
shall have for his trouble in receiving and paying the
fame, the sum of seven (hillings and fix-pence for every
hundred pounds; and the county treasurers shall have
fifteen (hillings for every hundred pounds, and the said
two freeholders in each township, ward or diftri& in
this state, shall have for their trouble and expence in per
forming the duties by this aft requited, the sum of
sixteen dollars per day, and no more.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That the commissioners and county assessors within the
city and several counties in this state, and the assessors
of the several townships, wards and diftri&s of the city
and several counties, shall have for their time and ex
pence in performing the duties required of them by
this aft, as follows, viz. the commissioners the sum of
twenty dollars, the county assessors the sum of twenty
dollars, the towfhip assessors the sum of sixteen dol
lars, per day, and no more. And the collector of each
township, or diftrift, shall have for his trouble and ex
pence in colleaing the monies to be raised by virtue of
this a&, the sum of fix pence for every pound.
AND WHEREAS sundry persons had let their
houses and lands on long leases, which are not yet
expired, and have re erved rent thereon payable in
current money, which by reason of the depreciation
thereof are not in many cases fufficient to pay the taxes
laid on the demised premises : for remedy whereof
Be it ena&ed by the authority aforefaid, That io
all cases where leases have been made of any lands or
tenements before the firft day of January, in the year
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy.
seven, which are not yet expired, and when the rent
is payable in a sum of money, the tenant shall over
and above the rent in the said lease referred pay all
public taxes which the leafed premises (hall be liable
to pay during the continuance of such lease.
And be it further enafted by the authority aforefaid,
That the a& for railing supplies for the year one thou
sand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and every article,
clause, matter and thing therein, except what is herein
altered or supplied, (hall be and is hereby declared to
be and continue in ull force and virtue, 'till all and e
very the sum and sums of money hereby imposed shall
be raised, levied, collected and paid.
Enabled into a Law at Philadelphia, on
Sunday the tenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN MORRIS, Junior,
Cleik of the General Assembly.
JOHN BAYARD, Speaker.