St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-08-24

rPicayunai


fPicaSunal
sumo weeks sg" the picayuns. IN
commenting on the fact that the
poll tax law bad become practically
dead letter. aud that tie schools
Of the State ~ere deprived Of much
needed sssistsnoe by reason Of the
nou-collecti0u OF this tax. expressed
the opinion that the collection al
the tax presented ssriUus difficulties
which could only be removed by
further special legislation ON the
subject. stasinG in conclusion that
the law should either be repealed
or some practical method Of collect
ing it be devised.
Our esteemed contemporary the
Bottom Rouge Advocate claims that
the Picayune was mistaken in say.
ing that moro Legislation WIS need
ed to render the poll tax Law opera
tive and proceeds to qaote ut length
tho provisions Of the law on the
subject. In explanation. the Advo-
cate says:
OF eli other laws upon tho statnts
books Ot Louisiana. one Of the most
stringent aud free from ambiguity
in every particular il that regarding
the poll tax. The Picayune, in a
recent issue. gave uttsranos to q
popular idea that this matter need
oil additional Legislation OF backing
up Of some kind. = =
I'VE have taken the pains to re-
produce the laws. for they are oi
general Interest and are now oc
cupyiug the attention Of the courts
in several parishes.
In East Fsliciaua the sheriff ia
being sued upon these very points.
aud il in any parish tho Law has not
beoc executed and the poll tax ia
not collected. it 10 the fault Of the
School Board. for they are The
guardians Of this fund, and il il
their du'y to follow the tax collsc-
tor in the collection Of tho same.
I'VE know of no moro definite
or stringent enactmeuts. and would
be glad il our nsighbOr. the Plea.
yuns. could suggest some improve
meut or some method moro eifec.
tive. The wonder to % 10 that the
Legislature was able to 60 ~ Tar ss
it had done"
While We freely admit the strir-
gency of the law aud ito freedom
from ambiguity. and are. moreover.
not ready to altogether excuse the
smnli efforts that are made 10 col
lect the tax. still We cannot but per-
ceive that there are serious dihi
culties and obstacles in the way ol
full aud uniform collection. In
tho first place. . large percentage
of the people who serve on juriss
do not receive any compensation
whatever. and. moreover. the OK
emptious from the jury lAw are no
numerous that q full collection oil
the tax. by dsdncting from the jur,
pay Nd provided Ivy the iaw. would
Ls impossible. even il jury i.,ss
were u"if. 'rmly paid
The wav proposed by the Law for
collecting from tho great mass Ct
the people liable TO the tax would
bs to levy on movable property. a
matter that has after long expert
snce been f0und to he extremely
difficult. aud 10 tho case OF most ne
gros~. would 10 impossible.
The Ouly certain and sure way Of
collecting the tax would ts to make
it payable At tho registration Office.
and for that purpose registration
should be made compulsory before
each election. Such . Law would
serve the double purpose Of purify
ing thetballot and insulting tie pay
aent OF the poll tax.
We think the poll tax shoaid
either be abolished or come plan
devised by which il will fall equal
" upon oil. The universal opinion
SCENE to be that . poll tax receipt
should be made . prerequisite to
.~A:~- "a Az. 3. I~.l.S0>.. A.
best plan yet suggested. It would
not 10 objected to BY property
owners. Who have to ps, this tax
along With their other taxes. and Il
would he the meaas of compelling
many to pay Who have not been 10
the habit Of doing 20. and thereby
add thousands at dollars to our
public school funds.