The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-05
THE MILITIA TAX.
Some Figures In Relation ThcretO-Ths
Way ThinEs are Managed.

Some Figures In Relation Thcreto-Ths
Way Things are Managed.
There is n suspicion abroad that the militia
tax is . fraud. People desire to know where
the money which they have paid has gone.
Possibly for the fostering of our weakling regi-
ments small tax might be levied and collected
without much serious opposition. But when
the money which should go to our military
regiments goes to the Lord knows where, then
there is (and with reason) much opposition, and
the tax collectors will have their hands full in
securing the cash.
We happen to have the figures of the tax
"a, 173 persons by careful assessment were set
down as liable to military duty, and, of course,
required to pay the militia tax. The tax was
then 50 per man. Suppose the number, excud-
ing exemptions, to be 40, 600 men, there would
have been secured $50 000 and yet the receipts
of the collector at that time show tnat he paid
the sum of $7752'5S to the militia of the city.
The tax of the year 1868 was collected with
moro success, it having netted to our miliLia
some SOS, 600. OF the figures of which we will
have more to say bv-and-by.
The people now are interested in the bills
which have literally flooded the community,
calling for the payment of 81 05. The items
of the bill are
warrant. ........... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 20
Commission Observation-Disclosures. O2O
Penalty. Observation-Disclosures. 010
go O5
The additional $1'05 to the tax can be ques-
toned. The item of 75c. for the warrant is
uncalled for. No such warrant is ever issued.
The act of Assembly gives the receiver of militia
tax no such authority to issue such warrant,
and it never is issued. But the most imperti
nent charge in this little bill' is that of 20
cents for commission, when it is recollected that
the collector also receives his 10 per cent. COM
mission on the dollar.
He cuts in tive ways-ffteen per cent. on the
original tax and the twenty cents included in
the above bill Not copper of this s 05 ever
goes to our soldiers. 1t is the fee of the col
lector. The pretense of making these enormous
charges is that, because the Receiver of Taxes
of Philadelphia has q right to make them, the
military receiver has the same right. The act
of Assembly says nothing of the kind. A
special act of the Legislature authorizes the
Receiver of Taxes for Philadelphia to add these
cost to unpaid taxes on real estate only. No
such cost can be added even by him for the
recovery of a personal, such as a poll or a
militia, tax.
The charge of 81 O5 is therefore unwarranted,
and people will do well to hesitate before they
pay it.
In regard to the amount collected last year
the public have not been informed. The asses
sors' lists for 1870 contain some 10000 names,
and by little figuring, excluding eXemp-
tions and the pay of the assessors, the
amount which Mr.. McCammon should have re-
ceived can be very easily ascertained.
There was distribution last February, how
ever, but very beggarly amount was given
away. General Thomas brigade only received
one-half of the distribution, vi8.:-6215 cents
per man. The 9th Regiment did not receive
dollar, and the Provisional Brigade were paid
only at the rate of 6215 per man. We under
stand that another distribution of 81 per man is
now in progress.