Smyrna times., 1873-12-17

TIE TAX hAw-That the law passed by
the last Legislature, Chap. 372, page 345 &C.,
was and is legislative attempt to defeat the
Republican party at the next election no one
can, perhaps, honestly deny. That 10 50 far as
this scheme succeeds, SO far the revenues of
the State will be diminished, is matter Of little
moment to the Democrats, or at least to that
part of them who are financially benefited by
a continuance of the present state of affairs.
What matter to them if the revenues of the
State are very materially diminished, so they
get the emoluments of Office and can provide
for their " household I" What matter to them
if they do pay more taxes-they get the money
from their salaries to pay them with. If the
taxes are all paid, to be sure it will make their
burdens less, but it will give so many more
the right to vote next year that the Republi
can party will carry the election and then away
go their salaries with which to pay their taxes
and buy their bread and butter" besides.
This act provides (sec. I.) that the Collector
shall give public notice, within thirty days at
ter he shas have received his duplicate, of bis
readiness to receive taxes, stating his place of
do, all the effort he is required to make to col
lect the taxes until January, when he is again
to give public notice that he will be at GER
tain place at a certain time to receive taxes,
and if they are not paid then the law allows
him to return all who do not pay, delinqunts.
And that is not all; they are to be dropped
from the list for one year. How few Demo
crats, let US ask will be so returned deln
quents, and how many Republicans?
The collector has an easy time of it. We
remember when collectors had to render a stric
account of their doings when the committed
with whom they settled their lists had to b
perfectly satisfied that the collectors had use(
every means in their power to get the taxes
before they would allow any delinquent list
and if Mr.. Collector could ut or had mt s.
proved to the committee, out of his pocke
came the taxes he had neglected to collect
Why this radical change in the mode of treat
ing delinquencies? Why this surprising ler
iency to colectors2 Why this sudden lberalit
in the collection of taxes? 1t is for party ST
premacy. There is to be an election next year
and, as before stated, said sec. l. provides tn,
if any one fails to come up and pay up, even
he has never really had any notice, the gait
are shut and he can't get in, or rather on ii
voting list for nextyear. His name is drOppe
and he can't get on again for twelve months
just too late for the next election.
1t is 6ne law for collectors. They used
earn the per cent for collecting taxes, iut nc
they collect only those that give them
trouble and expense. The old hard work tn
collectors did is done no more, but the old b
per cent that collectors received is receiv
still. The old strict accountability Of coll'
tors for the amount of their list exists no mo-
as by Sec of said act il is provided that t
public notice given by collectors, as there
provided, shall be considered full peri
nance of their duties. That's all. A man m
be perfectly able to pay his taxes, but let h
go, if he wants to, says this suspiciously libe
law. And if he be a Republican go he v
for all they care. But think you many Den
Gratis will be thus returned delinquent? G
no, somehow, Democrats are always on t
list. And think you such law would ha
been enacted if there were Republican coll
tors to administer it Oh no. This law "
made that Democrats might administer
We warn our friends that it was made, is
tended, and will be used as weapon for C
ting off the voting list Republican vote
Democratic officials have their instructions
post their friends, to see that they are not
turned delinquents. Let US see to it, that
friends are posted also. We may thus be
abled to defeat the plans Of the enemy, a
when the Republican party has gained cont
of the Levy Court the Democrats will be lou
est in denunciation of this new Tax Law.