Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-11
The Great Virginia Moral FAX
Bill.

The following is the text of the bill Of
fered by Mr.. c. U. Williams, of Richmond
in the Virginia legislature to tax swear
ers, tobacco chewers, liquor drinkers and
snuff takers:
Be 1t enacted By the General assembly OF
Virginia, l. That u yearly tax OF s. be and
the same is hereby imposed upon every
male inhabitant of the Commonwealth over
the age OF fifteen years who does, or may
hereafter drink as a beverage amy wine,
spurious or malt liquor, and a like tax OF
So upon every male innabitant over the
age aforesaid who does or may hereafter
chew OF smoke tobacco or take snuff, and
yearly tax OF S. upon every male inhabl-
tant oyer the age aforesaid who does or
NAV hereafter indulge the habit of profane
swearing which said taxes shall be paid to
the collector of State license taxes for the
county, city OF town in which the party IL
able therefor may reside, between the 1st
day of April and the LIST day of May in each
year, while this act is in force.
2. Every male inhabitant Of the Com
monwealth over the age of fifteen years
shall be liable to the tax herein imposed
upon the drinking as a beverage OF wine,
spirituous OF malt liquors, unless he shall,
between the LIST day of April and the 1st
| day of May in each year while this act shall
| be in force, file with such collector an afli-
| davit. made before him OF some officer au-
| thoriZed by law to administer Oaths, set
| ting forth that the atliant has not for a Pc
| Rod of twelve months next preceding the
date of such affidavit drunk any wine,
spirituous or malt liquors. except in case
| of actual sickness and us 4 remedy there
| for. and that he does not intend SO to do
| for the period OF one year thence next en-
suing.
Sections and 4 are Identical with sec
| ton 2, except that the use of tobacco and
profane swearing are respectively suDStl-
| tuted for the use OF wine, &c.
| 5. The said collectors shall list all of the
| male inhabitants within their respective
districts on OF before the 31st day of March,
1876, and the said lists shall be revis ID and
corrected by them annually there after in
| the month of March, while this act shall be
| in force.
6. The said collectors shall post upon the
front door of the county OF corporation
court of their respective counties or cor
porations on the first day OF the March term
thereof q copy of this law, together with a
notice stating the time and place when and
where the taxes hereby imposed will be re-
ceived by them; and may give such other
notice thereof as they deem eXpedient; pro-
vided, that the cost of such additional no
tice shall not exceed the sum of ten dollars
for any county, city, OF town where the
same may be given.
T. The collectors Of State license taxes in
each county, city and town shall return to
and file with the Auditor Of Public Ac-
counts a copy of the list required to be
made out in the fifth section Of this act:
and all attidavits led with him for exemp-
tions, as hereinbefore provided for, and
shall pay into the treasury all taxes collect
ed by him under this act at the time pre-
scribed by law for the payment into the
treasury of State license taxes.
8. II any person liable to the payment OF
any tax herein imposed shall fail to pay the
same as hereinbefore provided, a penalty OF
20 per centum upon the amount thereof
shall be added by the collector, who shat
proceed to collect the tax and penalty by :,
levy upon the property of the persons Liable
for the payment of the same, in the manner
which now is OF may be hereafter prescribed
by law for the collection Of Delinquent
taxes.