The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-20
TO ABATE
A Hundred Polls in
Clinton.
EXISTING EVIL
Places the Town Officials
at Their Wits End.

Clinton, Jam 19-Among the evils
that came upon this town with the pro-
iect for the metropolitan basin, the evil
of the transient, nom English speaking
laborer is not the least. This evil has
confronted the police department and
the Clinton Business Mems Association;
now it is up to the board of assess
ors.
1t came out today that at the meeting
of the board, in Town Hall, Saturday,
Tax Collector j. E. Harrity asked for
the abatement of some hundred poll
taxes levied against as many Italian,
Hungarian and Slovenian laborers in
April
The board considered the matter at
some length. Attorney Walter r.
Dame suggested that it might be pos
sible to collect from the state.
He thought that one of the provi-
sions of the law governing the en-
ployment Of contractors on the work,
might cover the point.
The board voted to refer the question
tn Town Solicitor Thomas F. Larkin
for an opinion in writing. The assess
ors have not received this opinion. 1t
is understood, however, that the town
solicitor is convinced there is no rem
edy from the state.
The provisions of the law that has
anyrelevance relate only tocertain mat
tiers of contract, in which the poll tax
is not included
The quality of the labor employed on
the metropolitan work is an aggrava-
ton to every man in the town. Mo-
body ever loses an opportunity to prove
this fact.
The board of assessors in directing
attention to this large deficiency in the
poll tax reckoning, are moved by more
than one motive. They want the town
to get its own, and they want to show
the undesirable character of the metro
politan contract labor.
The assessors feel that they may To-
cate and assess these laborers from
now until doomsday without obtaining
result in revenue.
The majority of them cannot speak
the English language. They have no
sense of responsibility to the state or
t. the community in which they live.
They are like the Irishmans flea, when
the tax collector looks for them. The
collector may be talking to the very
man that owes the tax, but the man
has no name that can be written twice
alike, ana he can change the name he
dodge his poll tax, or any old tax
Walter r. Dame talked with the cor
respondent OF The Spy on the subject
this afternoon. He said: II brought up
the question if these poll taxes might
not be collected of the state There
should be somebody to pay them. I
nave not looked up the law, but l I'M
derstand the town solicitor, to whom
we referred the question, for an opin-
ion, believes the state is not liable"
Some of the police, who have had
many dealings with the foreign labor,
say that their work, as well as the
work of assessing and collecting taxes,
would be greatly simplified if the legis-
lature would make the simple law that
before any laborer goes to work for any
contractor he shall be assigned either
name or number by the metropol-
itan commissioners. He must use this
name or number as long as he is en-
ployed, however he may shift jobs, or
move from one part of the work to an
other.
With such a rule, the police believe 1t
would be comparatively easy to trace
and locate any laborer, as it is not now.
At the next meeting of the board the
question will be further discussed. The
opinion of the town solicitor will prob
ably be presented.
1t was a bad bold and beetle browed
man who stopped 16 years old Alice
Kearns, at the cop of Wooden Mill hill,
on Main street, and took her purse
away yesterday He was bad, because
he robbed a little girl, and bold be-
cause he robbed her in neighborhood
which is by no means lonesome, and at
2.SO O'clock In the afternoon, when ev-
erybody was stirring.
Alice lives with her mother, Mrs.
Kof u
Bsar Main street. The girl took five
dollar bill, her mothers yesterday and
went down town to make some pur-
chases. She spent $1.35, receiving SO in
bills, and some small change. On her
way home, when she got to a point on
Wooden Mill HILL near the residence of
Dennis Donovan, she stopped to count
her money. She saw fellow coming
toward her, and instinctively slipped
the bills and part of the change into
her mitten. A half dollar reU.ained in
the purse. Her alarm was justified.
"Give me ten cents" said the man,
gruffiy.
The girl replied, with as much cool
ness as she could summon, Il haven't
10 cents"
you lie, you navel" responded the
man, with an oath.
He snatched the purse, opened it, and
took out the half dollar and the girls
rosary.
you can have these things he said.
"I'll keep the money" He threw the
purse and rosary contemptuously
away.
Alice protested that the money wasn't
hers.
"Pll have you arrested"
do" said the fellow land you'll
regret it,
He didn't threaten further, but he
walked off. Alice thought he meant
what he said and let him go. She
did nothing until she reached home.
She told her mother, and her mother
reported the matter to the police.
Chief Thomas Murphy is looking for
the fellow. There isn't much Likelihood
.------------------