The Portland daily press., 1865-02-02
The Poll Tax Question.

The State Senate have taken action on the
question Of poll taxes Of most remarkable
and unheard.of character. Under the exist
ing laws Of the State, certain proportion of
the taxes Ii allowed to be assessed upon polls,
provided the poll tax shall not exceed two
dollars. In most of the Western States-per-
haps all-no such thing as poll taxes is known.
y Is assumed that every man is equal before
the Law except in his requirements; that II no
one is taxed for his poll, perfect equality is
observed, and that property, beyond the I'M
mediate wants Of the person and his family
beyond what is legally exempted from taxa
tion-should bear the burdens Of the govern
ment,-municipal, state and national.
g There is much strong argument to be urged
in favor of this view, as any one may learn by
entering into CONTROVERSY upon the subject
with almost any we'll posted western man. In
our State-in fact in all the Eastern States
different idea prevails, and we assume that ev-
cry man, independently Of his acquisitions,
should pay something for the common support;
hence our system of poll taxes.
In the Senate proposition has been intro
duced, and carried through that body, author
izing and directing that one-sirth of all the
taxes, without limitation as to amount, shall
be assessed upon polls, and the remaining
Ave-sixth upon estates, or the property of the
State. Is it possible that our wise men at
Augusta have looked this proposition fairly in
the facet We can hardly believe they have
duly considered the results which hinge upon
this proposal. .... ~o.
We have taken pains to inquire at the AS
SCISSORS Office, in this city, to ascertain what
would have been the result last year, had
such law been In force, and we find that in
this city, with such q law, poll tax last year
would have been, at least, TEN DOLLARSl
If this proposition becomes a law, poll taxes
in this city next year will be considerably
above this figure, because the amount of taxes
to be assessed will be increased In larger
ratio than the number ofpoils. AY.TTTV
In other cities and large towns the result
win be similar, though perhaps not quite up
to this high figure, while in the country the
change from former times may not be SO great
Nv" IA tA1O uduC VI IcdcOu 10 ~ rlSut VI re-
quire young man, sweating ten hours day
to earn his first hundred dollars, to pay a tax
so large as this? Is it right to impose such
tax upon the poor man who has to delve
from dawn till dark to provide the scanty
necessaries Of life for his wife and dependent
children? Is It right to impose upon the
penniless burden that can only distress
them, and make them look upon their Govern
ment as q cruel despotism rather than q kind
protector against unjust burdens?
We are glad to see that the House refused
| to endorse such strange proposition, and
amended it so at to limit the poll tax at three
dollars, which is an increase of fifty per cent.
upon the existing law, and which, it seems to
US, is as much increased burden as large
classes Of our people should be called upon to
bear. We don't want a policy framed with
| admirable fitness to drive from the State its
working material; its bone and muscle. This
legislation to favor the rich while it Expresses
the poor,will never be popular; never should
be popular. .
We trust, therefore, that the good sense Of
the House will prevail, and that the PROPOSE
lion ofthe, Senate may be allowed to sleep
the sleep that knows no waking. fisi