The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-10
CONSTITUTIONAL.
CONVENTION
Interesting Debate Over the Poll
Iax Question Which Had
Been Settled.

DOVER Del, March 9-The Delaware
poll tax is hard to eradicate. A month
ago the Constitutional Convention agreed
after long debate to remove the poll tax
as a prerequisite Of voting but to put in
its place uniform registration fec Of 81
to be paid by the voter when he registers.
To-day. when the report OF the Committee
on Revenue and Taxation was taken up
for further consideration, the poll tax was
lugged in by substitute motion, on the
part of Mr.. Martin, supported by Messrs.
Cooper Lavender and johnson. The
argument advanced was that the revenue
Is necessary.
The report of the committee specifically
invested the General Assembly with power
to authorize the counties and incorporated
towns to levy and collect taxes. The con-
vention thought this superiluous, and
agreed to strike it out. The next proposi.
ton empowered the General Assembly to
levy poll tax, not exceeding ST. which
was to be applied exclusively to public
school purposes.
There was no objection to the poll tax,
but to its exclusive use for public school
purposes DR.. Cooper earnestly defended
the proposed use of the money, since such
an application OF it would facilitate its
collection. DR.. Pratt, the chairman, took
the same ground
The section was amended, however, so
as to out out the exclusive application
phrase, and then Mr.. Spruance offered
this substitute for the whole section-
Section V.--The General Assembly
may provide for laying an annual capita
ton tax for the use of the several coun.
ties, which shall be uniform, and shall
not exceed ST."
WANTS POLL TAX, TOO.
H. -.
opposed to a registration fee, offered the
further substitute, as follows
The General Assembly shall provide
for poll tax Of 81 per annum on each
male citizen of twenty-one years Of age
and upward, and no citizen shall be regis
tered or vote at any general election un-
less such poll tax and the arrearages there
of shall have been paid; but such poll
tax may be paid at or before the regtstra.
ton"
This proposition would double the charge
now proposed for mans vote. The sec
| ton agreed upon provides that voter
shall pay 81 biennially when he registers.
Mr. Martin proposes that voter shall pay
dollar annually orpay biennially when
| he registers.
Mr.. Spruance regretted that this quos.
| ton of Il poll tax as prerequisite of vot.
| ing should be brought up again. II Mr..
Martins proposition should prevail now,
| the speaker felt that his usefulness was at
an end. TIE convention had been called
| largely to remove the evils that grew out
| Of the poll tax as prerequisite Of voting
1t had solved the problem. Now, the con.
vcntion should not permit the Considers-
| ton of this question again.
Mr. Martin said that If his substitute
should be adopted he would then move to
strike out the proposed REGISTRATION fee OF
| ST. 1t would cost the State just thirty
cents more to register q man; 80 cents to
| vote him, or sixty cents for the whole
process. What is the balance of forty
| false prctenseY The speaker wanted a
tax levied which was known by its proper
name.
| Mr.. Lavender proposed to amend the
Spruancc substitute so as to make it read
Not less than 81 instead of Not to ex
coed 81 DR.. Cooper could not see the
objections to Mr.. Martins substitute, be-
cause it permitted the payment of tho pol
tax at the regiEtfation window, which
would do away with assessors, delinquent
laws and collectors.
Mr. Clark said all this taxation was
aimed at the poor day labor, when Their,
were bonds and mortgages and persona
property that could be taxed. To exact
dollar for every election from the poor
man is enough in all conscience, DR.. Prat
said tho poll taxablcs of Kent are s476
who at 81 80 apiece paid an annual tag 0
Sl2,7H
Taking off the commissions and til,
losses leaves $9,7ls 81 rs the actual incom
from poll taxes. The speaker felt bounC
to support the original proposition of
registration fee of 81 and would also sur
port the second proposition Of a poll ia
| not to exceed ST.