The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-17
CITY NTELLIG ENC E.
THE MILITIA TAX.

The Report of the Military Board of the
First Division-The Re eipts and Expen-
ditures.
The Military Board of the First Division have
published settlement concerning the operations
of the Militia Tax law, with the receipts and
expenditures from May 2, 1870, to May 2,
1871. The Board of Managers say
AS to the present militia law OF this State, its
many imperfections freely admitted and re-
peated efforts have been made to change its cardl-
nal principle OF supporting the militia by commu-
tation tax, to that OF limiting the number of men In
appropriation for their support, but thus far
without avail, although by this means the
its collection as tax, and the odlum incurred
thereby, would at once be avoided. While this law
exempts from either personal service or an equiva-
lent in lieu thereof the aged and inhrm, those who
have already served i0 the armies OF the United
States or speclGed number of years in the militia,
vet to secure the benefit Of exemption from either
the duty or the tax it is necessary 1t should be ap
piled for, and the failure to make such appncatlon
0uence has been the real cause OF much of the
senseless clamor against some Of the employees OF
Strict precautions have been taken TO prevent the
possibility of any misapplicaton Of the military
fund. The Receiver cannot use one cent collected,
but must deposit it to the credit of the fund in the
Fidelity Insurance Trust and safe Deposit Company,
from whence it cen be drawn only by the Division
Paymaster upon orders signed by the Recorder of
the board, and his checks must he countersigned by
the OF he % 9oaTa Og1S e s can ue pS
allowed by the company, which is constantly accu-
mulating for the benefit OF the tund between the
periods of its distribution.
The following is the report of the Receiver of
the Military Board
OFFICE OF THE RECEIVER OF THE MILITARY
BOARD, No. 721 SAMSON STREET, PHILADELPHIA,
NAV O. 1S71.-Major- General G. NJ. Provost and
Members of the Military Board 1st Division N. G.
OF Pennsylvania-General:- I'm accordance with the
resolution of the Division Board, passed April 10,
1871 the undersigned would respectfully present
summary of the workings of the Military Tax Office
on the completion of the first year of its institution
act of Assembly approved ADril IL
During the year the total receipts from all sources
have ben has 5eep IN the Fdev psT
ance, Trust, and Safe Deposit Company: the total
expenses of all kinds for the year amount to
s5593'27 In the item OF clerk hire would call your
attention to the fact that s12l5 of the amount est-
mated as necessary by the board for the proper
other items about $3.50 for postage stamps and ad-
vertsing having been expended solely for the con-
yenience of the citizens, to advise them Of their
liability, will, under the present arrangement, be
likely to be reduced during the coming year.
In the item Of rent and gas are included not only
the expenses incurred for this office, but also those
which arise from the use Of the rooms for division
and brigade purposes
or the $500 expended for printing and stationery
nearly two-thrds of the amount has been incurred,
as was the expense for postage and advertising, for
the benefit of the citizens liable for the tax 1t has
been my aim in carrying the Office to mitigate as
much possible the harsh features OF the law under
which the Communication Tax is collected.
Many defects existing in the present law, such as
incorrect enrolment by the assessors, and other
matters arising from causes not under the control OF
the board will it is hoped, be remeded by the pas
sage of the supplementary act now pending in the
Legislature; While the law itself being better under
stood by the citizens will, trust no longer meet
with the unreasonable opposition OF past years.
The discrepancy which exists between the total
number of citizens enrolled as liable for military
duty by the assessors, and the number who pay the
Commutation Tax, is best exemplfled by compar-
son of figures of the Eighth ward:-
Total number enrolled d......................2 .2565
Number PAID. ...''....,.'...' $40
Exempt for service and disability ..... .... 1sl
over age. Z6O
RelnOVeu oot
-1640