Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-25


constitutional Convention, when the
subject of poll or capitation tax was
brought up, il will be hard TO reach a
conclusion. Some Of the menlbers--a
minority. howeyer--we in favor OF n
substitute introduced by Mr.. Martin,
BY which every citizen would be
required to pay poll tax OF 81 for
the use OF the county in which he
residcs, and which required the tax
10 be paid at OF before registration, &c.
The substitute was, however, defeated
by vote OF 10 70 8. The committee
Of the whole succeeded in amending
the original section in sHreral par-
ticulars, but before vote could he
reached the committee arose and the
convention adjourned.
The morning session occupied very
little time. Secretary Jones made ap
plication for an advance OK $500 on his
salary, and bill of the photographers
was approved, after which the con-
vention adjourned until . p. m.
In the afternoon Chairman Pratt of
the committees on revenue and taxation
called up his report and moved the
adoption of section D as printed, which
was:
Sec. 5. The General Assembly may
also provide for leyying a capitation tax
upon every male citizen Of the State of
tho age OF q years and over, but said
cspitation tax shall not exceed the SUN
Of one dollar year and shall be used
exclusively In the county 10 which il
is collected and for maintaining the
roads ADD bridges OF such county.
DIR. Pratt wanted the amount OF tax
raised used exclusivel, in the hundred
instead OF the county, but this proro-
sition did not seem TO meet with much
favor. Mr. Biggs offered a further
amendment TO strike out all after the
word collected" in next to the last
line, which after some discussion, was
adopted.
Mr. Martin strenuously opposed the
whole section AZ printed in the report.
He contended that the system Of allow
ing men TO work out their taxes on the
public roads had resulted in farce,
and that the men who nail been allowed
to thus liquidate their indebtedness
never, in his experience or to his
knowledge, accomplished anything.
Several usually went together and had
Jolly time, he said. MIR. Martin then
offered the following substitute for the
section:
Every citizen of this State Of 81
years and upwards shall pay a poll tax
of 81 per annum for tae use OF the
county 10 which he resides. The said
tax may be paid at or before reeistra-
tion. but the same, together with the
arrearages thereof, shall be paid before
such taxable shall be allowed to reg
lister, and should he neglect or refuse
TO register. then the came shall DO col
lected as may he provided by law.
Sir. Martin defended the substitute
and claimed that il would not only
provide the necessary revenue, but
would also servo To obviate many OF the
d.niculties under which the people oil
the Stnte now laborsd.
DIR. Pratt said that only 10 per cent
oil the Democratic votere in Milford
hundred had their taxes paid for them,
which assertion caused laugh.
The vote on Mr. Martins substitute
resulted:
-DOnahoe, Horsey, johnson,
Martin and Sspp-5.
Nays-Burris, Cannon, Carlisle, CLARK,
EIlegood. Gilchriat, Hearne, Herring.
Moore, Pratt, Salisbury, Smithers and
Wright-l3.
An amendment previously offered by
DR.. Pratt, changing tho word county
to hundred, WAC rejected
Mr.. Eilegood succedod 10 having ,hC
eegtion further amended, b''' before a
vote was reached on tb" sectior a.
amended the committee arose and tt,
convention ,dioutned until this morn
ing.
Tho section as it now stands iP al
follows,
Sec. ). The General Assembly ghal
provide for Irvying and collecting /;
uniform cgpitation tax upon every NAL,
citizen OF ths State Of the age OF =
years and over, but saiu capitation ta1
shali be used exclusively in the count
In which it is collected.
Dover, March 10 The first hour o
the morning session Of the CouHtitu
tional Convention yesterday was con
snmel in tho discussion Of mutiul
made by Mr.. Bradford to the eiIec
that hereafter the convention hulI
night sessions on Monday, Tuesday
Wednesday, aud Thursday evenings
The proposition met with general fayo
and was aRresd to, therefore, begiuniu,
with noxt week, night sessions will b
held.
The further consideration OF sectio
Of tho report OF tho committee o
revenue and taxation was taken IN a
the first business. Various member
wantod the section amended, other
wanted it to stand as printed, while
few desired to eliminate the qupstiO
of Gapitation tag from tho Cunstitu
ton altogether aud allow the Gpnpri
Assembly to deal with the subject. MI
l}iags said that il tho latter Wer
decided upon, and tho law in regard |
capitation tax proved dissatisfaction
the Legislature Mt its next session couI
change the law very readily. II "
place this section in this Constitution
he Raid, and it fails to work, then "
will place the people in an ombarras!
ing position.
Tho section was discussed at lonGtt
and the morning hour had expire
before conclusion waE reached. III
section 80 iuaily adopted by tho con
mitice and reported back to tho cor
vuntiun is as followa:
The General Assembly shall prr
Tidp for tho lcvying and collecting
capitatiou tax from every male cIti2e
Of the State Of the age Of q years
upwards, and such tax to be Colecto
in any county shall DO unlfoFl
Throughout that county,
This completes the consideration
tho SECOND report of the committec.
The convention taen adjourned unit
80 p. m.
Az soon rs the convention reassen
bled Mr. Spruanco called up tho secon
report of the committee on iudIriar-
lie desired 10 consider section ], bl
Mr.. lIggs objected SAYING that sectir