The leader., 1897-02-10
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL
Things That Were Done, Seen
and Heard Last Week.
rrcspondence of The Leader

The collection Of the poll tax has
come in for as much discussion
hereabOuts during the past week
as did 'free silver" last summer
and fall. Interest IN the subject
has been revived by the CLAIM or
suggestion that the calling of an
extra session of the Legislature de-
pended on the amount of poll tax
collections very largely. The pub
ication of the speech made by ex,
Chief Justice Campbell before the
Supreme Court bench in advocacy
OF the collection Of the poll tax by
distress and sale of personal prop
erty, has also put some folks to
thinking, and has doubtless pros
elyted number to the belief that
the poll tax was intended 10y the
Constitution builders as a revenue
measure rather than as a means o.
eliminating the pestiierous negro
from State politics. Attorney Gen
eral Nash has held all along
that the poll tax is collectable as
other taxes are, and without pre-
suming to express an opinion one
way or the other ol a matter where
in Judge Campbell takes one view
and Senator George the other, l do
not hesitate to say that had the Su-
preme Court decided the poll tax
was collectable by seizure and sale
of the poorman's bed, pots and skill
let's the demand for an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature could not be
based on the empty treasury. 1t
will be remembered that the ruling
of Attorney General Nash was in
force until a few weeks ago, and
thousands of taxpayers paid their
poll, their impression being they
could be made to pay it. Thus it
is that S6S,427 more has been COL.
leeted this year en account of poll
taxes than was collected last year
the total poll tax reported collect
ed up to January Is, the last re
ported, was s2o5,so4. This sum is
retained by the counties where col
lected aud is deducted from the
amount the counties are entitled
to under the the general distribu-
ton. The polls reported collected
by your county are so,G4O.7O; from
your separate school district S277.-
40; all of which will be deducted
from the pro rate share Of
the January distribution to
which your county is entitled. The
total State appropriation TO the
common school fund is a92S, 500
one third OF which is distributed in
June.
Chancellor Conn decided very
interesting case, that OF tue Co
Iumbian Climber Company VS.. W.
%. Cook, IF Utica 20 cut long
aul roundabaut stogy sllorti Ar.
Cook had.purcnasoti the Mississippi
right to sell the Climber, or rather
stamp puller, and was making
money hand over fst. His neigh.
bors seeing it was . s'good thlng,aa
requested that they ns permitted
to spush it along,n Cook Lad
power OF an attorney from the
patentee to sell any other States,
his compensation to be 80 per cent.
He a-reed with his neighbors 6
form joint stock company, asid
after it was chartered sold them 10
States for 90, 900, thus making !nr
himself. rs he thought, ~ ,oO0.
But a mighty howl went mp from
l the other stock holders when they
learned that Cook had made sll that
nancy of them, and he and q friend
or two who shared these profits
were fred ont of the company, the
row was earned into the church
4 and all Utica was in stew. Suit
was entered to compel Cook to pay
for his stock and to turn his com
missions lrto the company treas
4 ury. all OF which he declined to do
4 JetIre tsdnp. says, however, sas'
I he mast do 10th. being liable ass -
.spfomcter" Of the enterprise. 4sill