The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-04
k&axssxssas Ss Ss 4 s Notes by the WaySide.
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I v | The time for payment of poll tax for | 1901 under the new Constitution has ex- pired and I hear great many inquiries | as to the extent and meaning Of that provision. It is asked if those who have raiied to pay the poll tax for the past year are forever barred under the pres | ent Constitution. from voting, and will they be able to exercise the right of suffrage until that law is changed by another Convention or by amendment .en payment of poll tax in the Constitution Is as follows: .I
 Article VIII. Section 17s-To entitle a person to vote at any election by the people, he shall have resided in the State at least two years, in the County one year, and in the precinct or ward three months, immediately proceeding the eiec- tion at which he offers to vote. and he shall have been duly registered as an elector, and shall have paid on or before the first day of February next preceding the date of the election at which he of fers to vote all poll taxes due from him for the year. 1901. and for each subsequent year.
 Sec 194-The poll tax mentioned in this article shall be S1.50 upon each male in- habitant of the State, over the age of q years and under the age of 45 years, who would not now be exempt by law; but the legislature is authorized to increase the maximum age fixed in this section to not more than 69 years. Such poll tax shall become due and payable on the first day of October in each year and be- come delinquent on the first day of the next succeeding February, but no legal process, nor any fee or commission shall be allowed for the collection thereof The Tax Collector shall make returns of poll tax collections separate from other col lections
 Sec. l95-Any person who shall pay the poll tax of another, or advance him mon- ey for that purpose in order to influence his vote, shall be guilty of bribery and upon conviction therefor shall be impris- oned in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years
 This is the only reference to payment and collection of poll tax. The question now is can those who have failed to pay 1t this year for 1901, pay 1t up in future and be allowed to vote in future cleo tions? It Is certain that those who have Tn any elections this year. If before the elections in future years they shall be allowed to pay poll tax due for 1901 and suosequent years then they can vote in eiections following that year. For in- stance. the next gen eral election for State oHcers will occur in 1906 If by the first gay or February of that year a person has paid all the poll tax Gne for 1901 and all subsequent years up to February 1, iSo. he will be allowed to vote in cleo tons Of that year if he has registered and is otherwise qualified under the suf- frage provision of the Constitution. Those Wno nave failed to pay poll tax for 1901 then have only disqualified themselves on that account from voting in the cleo tions for this year.
 The work of registratio, under +b. new Constitution can be begun now at any ume. the only requirement. being twenty days notice of attendance at the dtnerent voting precincts in the various counties Of the Registrars. The work must be finished in all the counties by tne first day of August, 1902 and the HSt must then be made up and no one registered between the first day of Au- gust lse, and the Friday next preceding the day of election in November, 1902. on Friday and Saturday next preceding the day of election in November. l902. the Board shall sit In the court house Of each county during such days and shall register all applicants having the qualifications prescribed herein. who shall nave reached the age of 21 years after the first day of August, 1902, and who snall prove to the reasonable satisfac- tion of the Board that, by reason of physical disability or unavoidable ab- senee from the county, they had no op- portunty to register prior to the first day ot August, 1902, and they shall not on such. days register any other person. The list thus made up shall constitute the legal voters in elections this year. The permanent list shall be made up and filed by the first day of February 1903. the work of the Board then being al an
 
 law for all future registration.
 No candidates for Governor have yet been announced in opposition to Cover nor Jclks for the Democratic nomination this year. That there are a number of gentlemen who are being urged to run by partial friends and a faction of the party there seems to be no doubt. but the fact that none of them have. as yet. yielded to the importunities, makes 1t very sure that they are not very san guine of a successful result It would be great thing for the future unity and harmony of the party In the State. if under the new Constitution there would be no factious opposition in the next State Convention to the present State officers. serving their first terms. There would be nothing to stir up strife in con- tention in the party and with such a condition the party would emerge from the election thls year stronger than ever before. It is not certain that there win be such a condition, however. but the prospect now is that there will be other candidates and bitter, factional fight all along the line.