Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-10


in Virginia. It is surprising fact that
unde Chis new law II ] 2 per cent OF
the total State tax on personal proper
~ and incomes will be paid 60 these
new officials who make the ASSESS
ments. The law for years has allowed
per cent to traasurers Tor collectin z
delinquent taxes, which are presume
bly, hard co collect, but this law pays
| at once IL Ia per cent. to the assessor
upon the amount he assesses, whether
it is collected OF not, and fur her 8
per cent. must be paid upon the taxes
not paid voluntarily"
This is not Republican journal say
ing this. It comes from a Democratic
iournsl,-one of the leading advocates
Of the 'JIm Grow" Car Bill and the
LAND Grsbbers" Law.
1t was in favor of this humiliation of
the colored citizen and robbery OF the
prop -rtY owner, but opposed to meas
| ure which is not as ubiquitous as eth.
or OF these measures.
1t remarks:
"If the passage ef this law ia not q
fair example OF the cohesive power OF
public plumber what is7"
That's righ' Heat them hot "Broth
er" TIMEs. We got our dose few
weeks ago, and we feel comfortable to
see you baking and kicking in taking
yours. 1t says:
Besides all this, under this infa-
nous law the private business OF every
citizen will be unnecesnsrily aud ruth.
los olu
are not only empowered to summon
| this man or that who may know some-
| thing about his BeIghbor's affairs and
compel him to testify under oath, but
are required to keep their re turns open
for public inspection for thirty days.
The United States incoms-tsx law,
which created such commotiou in the
country, did not have this detestable
feature. but made it unlawful for any
officer or agent of the Uoited States to
divuige or make known in any manner
whatever the business of those whose
Income he assessed, and violation of
| this law was punished by fine not ex-
ceeuiDg 81 COO or by imprisonment not
exceeding one year, or both, at the dis
| erection of the court. But ia this Virgin
ia law. by section 3, the results OF the
| investigation OF the commissioner shall
he entered into books which shall be
kept open TO public inspection. The
object II this is to invite the criticism
| of any one who may be pleased TO pry
into his neighbours affairs,
Il Is iDconceiveble that an honorable
government, seeking the welfare OF it's
citizens, can tolerate, much less desire,
to offend its citizens unnecessarily and
to encourage espionage and extort'on !"
We held this opinion several weeks
ago. You didn't agree with US then,
but we note that you have fl >pped over
to our side of the controversy now.
When the "Jim Grow" Car Bill was
passed, it was ''inconceivsbie that sn
honorable government, seeking the
welfare of its citizens, could tolerate,
much less desire, TO offend ITS citiz ems
unnecessarily"
You advocated the "Lsnd Grabbers"
law. don't forget that please.
But the TIMES clinches the matter
when it sums up the argument as fol-
lows:
THE Legislature refused TO pass the
Glass bill because it ives said that this
would put spies on tie office hold ers
OF the State. Butt passes this per-
sUnal-sll parts of the State who will
pry into the at airs of private tax-psy-
ers and annoy them and then write in
book for the inspection of the public
| eli that in spying they have found out.
1t txonerAtes the public servants aud
those who handle the public money
from any effective accountability, but
hires men to hound the private citizen
and expose his personal business to the
curiosity OF all the courthouse busy
| bodies.
| A more detestsble contrast between
| what should have been done and what
| was done has never occurred in the his
| tory OF Virginia, save when under the
infamous reconstruction acts the wisest
state smen of The Commonwealth were
6isfran chised and the cornfis I'D Ne.
groes were given the right to vote. The
Underwood b ack and tan convention
Of thirty years ago did nothing more
sordid and radical than did this Legis-
lature when it passed this bill which
our Governor has signed."
Grin aud endure it. Brother, it might
have done worse. You are yelling at
the Negro even in the midst OF your
misery.
Put your hands In your pocket. and
fight it in the courts, and let the su
preme Court OF Virginia emphasize
whas we already know-that this legis-
ture was the most outrageous gather
ing OF ringsters, ever ssembled TO en-
danger and disturb the rights of q free
people.
| MORR ABOUT THE SERVANT GIRL