The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-09
AN EDUCATIONAL TAX.

During the session of the Legislature In
1877 the DEMOCRAT urged the repeal OF the
present law requiring the registration OF
voters as q proper step In the direction OF re-
form. Our suggestions were 80 far acted
upon that Legislative committee examined
the question and sustained our conclusions
but found bar to their adoption In the State
constitution. Consequently the matter was
dropped, and the expensive and inefficient
registration system was necessarily con-
tinued.
just at this time the discussion Of this
question OF registration Is opportune. The
constitutional convention, to meet In April,
will be called upon to examine the work
ing of the election machinery now In opera
ton, and there can be no doubt that the ne
cessity of very material changes will be die
covered. In nc respect will there be found as
great q a need for change rs In the present
method OF qualifying voter for casting his
ballot.
The system of registration is founded upon
the theory that fraudulent voting Ia thereby
prevented. Dear experience has taught
the people of Louisiana that the theory
Is false one. The political trickster,
the ballot-box stuffer and the unscrupu-
lous registrar could not have devised
plan more suited to their peculiar methods
than this same registration system. Under
1t the most garing frauds may be perpe-
trated against the sanctity OF the ballot-box.
By It's operation the honest voter has seen
the value OF his ballot destroyed by the In
PRODUCTION OF spurious votes and the verdict
- fbn httf hn utah Ia
practices OF the poll-holders. In fact,
the system 80 reeks with fraud that 1t
has become almost impossible for the party
In power. II 1t makes use of the facilities az
forded by the registration laws. to be de-
feated at the polls. The people Of the State
need no argument upon this point. The
practices followed during the administers
lions OF Warmoth and Kellogg are fresh
In the memory of every citizen, and are con-
elusive as to the fact that the opportunities
for election frauds are vastly increased under
the registration laws. Dead men have been
voted by thousands, men who never had
existence have been counted for the Republic
can Ticket and many thousand white citizens
were yearly DISTINGUISHED because the Gov
errors appointee refused to allow them a
| chance to register by remaining away from
various parishes.
SO much for the fraud theory. There is
still another serious objection to the system.
1t costs the taxpayers 100000 or $4,000 every
| election year. which would be burdensome even
| II the registration OF voters accomplished the
object claimed for 1t. But as 1t actually en-
courages election frauds the attendant ex-
pense Is at once an oppression and an out
| rage.
| The remedy for this state OF things Is
simple. Let the convention obllterate the
registration OF voters from among the re-
quirements OF the voting qualifications, and
| In It's stead provide that each person when
he presents himself at the polls shall be
armed with tax receipt as well as his ballot.
Let the tax for which the receipt Is given be
known as the educational tax, to be devoted
exclusively to the maintenance Of the free
school system OF the State. This tax should
be fixed at from 81 to So SO. The highest sum
would probably be the best. Frauds in the
use OF the tax receipts could be prevented
by the right Of challenge at the polls.
In this way the exercise Of the franchise
would not only be simpified, but frauds
would be prevented election expenses would
be greatly reduced, the honest vote of the
State, and that only, would be cast. and the
free schools would secure fund which would
be ample for their maintenance throughout
the year, when combined with that now at
the disposal Of the Superintendent of Public
| Education.
| This will be one Of the most interesting and
| important questions of reform that the con-
vention will be called upon to settle 1t must
grow In favor as 1t is better understood Pub
lie sentiment has already decided that a
change is necessary, and the one suggested
must be accepted as covering the case
/ poll tax for educational purposes cannot,
In the very nature OF things, be unpopular. In
this instance 1t will purify the ballot box while
1t educates the poor children OF the State. 1t
will, besides, act equally upon every voter,
and this is what no tax levied by the State
now does.