The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-11-12
THE SPECIAL SCHOOL TAN.
New Orleans Democrat.l

New Orleans Democrat.l
The Democrat has been waiting
patiently to see if the tax collectors
intended to enforce act l20 Of the Leg
islature, levying the poll-taN provided
for by article POS of the constitution,
the proceeds of which are to be special.
ly devoted to the schools in the vari.
GUS parishes of the State, the tax in a
parish to go to the schools i'll that
special parish.
We have heard of no movement to
that end, and VIC desire in the interest
of the school teachers to insist that
this law, which is one of the most
stringent framed by the Legislature,
and which provides Il much needed
throughout the State, shall be rigidly
enforced. 1t is Il direct tax it is true,
but it is one which is entirely just and
equitable and which every good citizen
should feel it Il privilege to pay in the
interest of education and of society at
large.
There are forty or fifty thousand
people in this city alone from whom
this special school tax should be col
lected, and not one Of whom we VEN
ture to assert, would nurmur against
its payment when informed of tho ben
eticent purpose for which it is to be
appropriated. Our city schools are in
great need and, outside of the appro-
priation of 100000 made for them by
the Council, this poll tax is their prin-
cipa1 resource, and every dollar of it
should be collected and applied to the
payment of the 400 teachers, who
would. be able to teach With better
heart and hope the $4,000 children con-
tided to their care.
The education of these children and
the prompt payment of the teachers
who have for years been subjected to
all sorts of fartiships and privations is
a matter of such great movement that
our citizens cannot afford to offer the
slightest obstacle to the collection of
the special tax authorized by the con-
stitution itself and levied by the gene
raj assem- bly,.
The support of the schools is a duty
that every one interested in the COM
munity and desirous Of elevating the in
teliectural status Of our people should
regard as sacred, and we trust that our
tax collectors will at once bestir them
selves in collecting this tax, which was
due and eXigible from the moment the
act levying it became law, and from
which there is no possible escape.
The tax collector cannot receive his
! quietus until he has made full and
satisfactory returns of this tax, which
under the provisions of the act, is con-
stituted II lien on the real and personal
property Of whatever kind of the tax.
payer.
This privilege is perpetual ana fol-
lows the property in all changes into
other hands, aud cannot be satisfied
until payment is made. section 3 OF
| the act is of an exceedingly stringent
character. 1t provides that, in order
! to insure the collection of the poll tax,
employees arc made liable for the
taxes of their employers, and i'm effect,
makes the receipt Of the tax collector
showing such payment legal quit
tance to the amount paid in settlement
of claims for services.
If the employer ncglccts or refuses
to collect this tax from his employees
before the last day of the year, his pro
pcrty may be seized and sold to satisfy
the claims of the State against all per
sons liable TO the tax who may hav,
worked for and been paid by him for
Il period not less than ninety days dur.
ing the year.
| Every male inhabitant in the city
and State over tWcnty-Onc years Of age
| is liable for and must pay this tax
there is no escape from it and there
should be no desire to escape.
| At the present time the German en-.
! Dirc is rCHrCSpntptl abroad Inv I consul.