Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-03-24
GALAvERAs CHRONICLE.
State Pon Tax.

State Pon Tax.
The proposed amendment to the State Con-
stitution, offered by Mr.. Hawes. providing
that NO person shall be entitled to vote at any
election in this State, unless he shall have
paid poll tax Of not less than two. nor more
than Eve dollars. passed the Senate on Tues
day, by vote of 81 to 9. This is an i'm
portant measure, and if adopted will greatly
increase the revenue of the State. But there
will be a numerous class of inhabitants liable
to pay poll tax who will not be affected by
the amendment. In some of the Eastern
States laws have been enacted prohibiting
any male inhabitant over 81 years of age
from commencing alsuit at law unless he pro-
duce poll tax receipt for the current year.
We publish below portion of the law now
in force relating to the collection of poll
taxes. 1t will be seen that the tax collector
is empowered to levy upon and sell. after one
hours verbal notice. any property belonging
to a delinquent. But Notwithstanding this
stringent provision, past experience has pro-
ven that the tax Is not collected from more
than one-third of the number required by
law to pay it:
Section So Of the Revenue Law reads as
follows:
"SEc. So. Each male inhabitant of this
State, over twenty-one, and under sixty,
years of age, and not by law exempt, shall
pay poll tax for the use of the State and
county. of two dollars provided, the same
be paid between the first Monday of March
and the first Monday in August; but if said
poll tax is not paid prior to the first Monday
in August, it shall be three dollars; and
seventy-fve cents of the extra dollar shall be
paid to the County Treasurer for the School
Fund of the county, and twenty-five cents
be retained by the Tax Collector as fees,
in addition to fifteen per cent. on the first
two dollars, which it shall be lawful for
him to retain as compensation for the collec-
ton of said poll tax.
"SEc. 81. No person shall be deemed.
or held. to have paid his poll tax, unless he
be able to exhibit receipt therefor. issued
from the Office of the Controller of State. or
otherwise prove the payment of the same.
"SEc. IS. Any person, or persons. who
shall pass. sell. or transfer, or attempt to
pass. sell. or transfer, or who shall forge, or
fraudulently issue. any receipt, or receipts,
for poll tax. contrary to the spirit. or
intention, of this act. shall be guilty of
felony, and on conviction thereof shall be
imprisoned in the State Prison. for not less
than one year, nor more than two years.
"SEc. 66. To enforce the collection of
poll taxes, as provided in this act, the Tax
Collector may seize SO much of any and every
species of personal property, whatever,
claimed by any person liable to, and refus-
ing. or neglecting, to pay his poll tax. or
property in the possession Of or due. from
any other person, and belonging to such per-
son so refusing to pay such poll tax, as will
be sufficient to pay ouch poll tax and costs of
seizure, which costs shall not exceed three
dollars; and shall, and may, sell the same,
at any time. or place, upon giving verbal
notice. one hour previous to such sale and
any person indebted to another, liable to pay
poll tax, but who has neglected, or refused.
to pay the same, shall be liable to pay said
tax for such other person, after service upon
him by the Tax Collector, of a notice in
writing, stating the name, or names. of the
person, or persons, SO liable and owing poll
tax, and such debtor may deduct the amount
thereof, with the costs of serving said notice,
which shall be one dollar. (and for which he
shall be equally responsibility from such in
iebtedness.
"SEc. 81. The Tax Collector, after hav-
ing deducted the poll tax for which such
property was sold. and the necessary fees and
costs of sale, shall return the surplus of the
proceeds of the sale to the owner of the prop
erty; delivery of the possession of the
property by the Tax Collector to any pur-
chaser. at any such sale. snail be sufficient
title in the purchaser, without execution o
certificate of purchase thereof by the Tax
Collector.
"Szc. SO. If any person shall give to the
Tax Collector. or his Deputy, false name
or shall refuse to give his name, he shall be
guilty Of misdemeanor, and shall be arrested
on complaint of the Tax Collector, or his
Deputy, and upon conviction, before Jus.
tice of the Peace, he shall be punished by Z
fine of not less than ten dollars, or more thar
one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment fol
term of not less than two days, nor mor'
than three months. or BY both fine and i'm.
prisonment.
SEC. 50. Active members Of fire com.
panies shall be, and are hereby. declared ex.
empt from paying poll tax.
The BAnsHxD CoxsPIRAroRs.-The Bos.
ton Evening Transcript has an item sbou
the banished conspirators "Late intelli.
gence from the Dry Tortugas says that DR.
y II