The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-07-01
ANOTHER CHAPTER.

It is q merciful freak of some inf1u-
ence that the whole volume OF laws
passed by the last Legislature was not
turned upon the people at once. We
get breath between surprises. as the
unexpected develops. The latest out
rage discovered in the way OF an Act
by that august body is the law for
collecting taxes.
Here are the sections referred to:
Sec. 81. That it shall be and is here
by made the duty of the sheriff OF each
county In the State to make dillgent
inquiry and report to the judge at each
term of the criminal court held in the
county following the time when the
license tax and taxes provided for in
schedules A, B and G of this act should
have been paid as to whether or not
such license taxes or other taxes have
been paid by all persons or corporations
liable for the same, and to make out
list of delinquents. And it shall be the
duty of the Judge to submit the list OF
the delinquents to the solicitor to the
end that such delinquents may be pro-
secuted for such defalcation in the
manner provided in the next section OF
this act.
Sec. So. That such persons or cor
porations who are liable to pay the IL
cense tax or taxes provided for in sched-
ules A, B and G of this and the ma
chinery act, and shall fail to pay the
same as provided by law shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, and punished by a
fine not exceeding five hundred dollars
or imprisoned not exceeding six months,
and the sheriff shall be allowed by the
Judge such compensation for making
such report as he may deem just and
proper, to be paid by the county.
The Wilmington Messenger explains
and pays respects to the law in the fol-
lowing pungent paragraphs:
cit is law that compels the tax
payers, one and all, to pay every cent of
their taxes before the fall term of the
court-that is before the first superior
court that meets after the first Monday
in September. The law is mandatory.
The act is most vicious, most oppres-
siye. It compels the sheriff to report
the list of all delinquents- who have
failed to pay by the time specifed-to
the Judge presiding. It shall be the
duty of the judge to at once submit the
list of delinquents, OF those failing to
settle by the time indicated, to the
solicitor for prosecutions. The failure
to pay the taxes by the time indicated
Is made misdemeanor at law. The
penalty is very severe and very un-
reasonable. The delinquent shall be
fined not more than $500 or shall be
imprisoned, at the option of the Judge
mind you, not exceeding six months.
The sheriff shall be paid by the county
for his services in executing this act of
OPRAOo6AOu hA10 Oul4d&sOs
"Since the days OF Barons-under
tho Foudal- 9ystom-theru has been
nothing so unwise, so senseless, so
arbitrary and oppressive except under
some despotism or paternal govern
ment. We do not know if the tsar had
any hand in this internal trap for hard
up people-this medieval system of
violence for the hewers of wood and
the drawers of water.
GLOW can the farmers pay their taxes
by the time indicated September?
Can they get their cotton and tobacco
into market by then? But few can get
their cotton and not one his tobacco.
Then this ungracious, vile law forces
the farmers to sell by given time
whether it be favorable time or not.
However deprecated the market he
must sell at least part of his cotton
crop or 60 to Jail or pay big fine.
However viewed the law is an out
rage. 1t is every way worthy of the
asses who framed it. It was conceived
in stupidity, passed in mallgnity and
Its execution will be crime. thought
to be dead letter from the start"