New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-06-28
PROPOSED POLL. TAX LAW

Democratic caucus has declared Tor
poll tax reform.
4 bill in accordance with this
declaration was submitted to the
caucus last evening and approved,
with instructions to Chairman
Bcale, of the caucus committee, to
introduce it III the Senate at once.
This bill is probably one of the
strongest documents ever presented
to any Legislature
The provisions of the act are 4
soluto. There is no possible 4 "
by which one can dodge its pay
ment All possibility of escape is
cut off, and poll tax, like death,
with the enactment of this bill will
become a certainty.
The poll tax, under this bill, is
due from Dee. 81 Of ono year until
the same date Of the succeeding
year, and como what will, the
Sheriff must either collect 1t or be
come personally responsible,
through his surities, for It's pay
ment.
The law, when finally enacted,
operates as lien against any and
all property whatsoever character,
and a garnishment against the sal
ary or wages of an employe who
owns no property. The sheriff is
furnished list of those subject to
pay poll taxes in his school dis
trict, and is authorized and en-
powered to levy on and sell at auc
ton any property of any person
refusing to pay the tax prior to
the first Saturday in February OF
each year, the cost Of sale not to
exceed s. in each ease.
Any employer who has had a
man in his employ for sixty days
or moro is, under the provisions OF
the act, forced to pay the tax of
such employe, same to be deducted
from his pay, on producing receipt
for same, said receipt to be turned
over to said employe. For failure
to collect and remit said tax to the
sheriff or tax collector, said en-
ployer becomes liable for payment
Of same.
The Sheriff may also levy on the
crop or any personal property of a
delinquent, which may be sold ac-
cording to the terms of this act.
A laborer who has not paid his
poll tax and got receipt is pro
hibited from instituting suit for
wages until it is paid.
The collector must keep sep
arate book for the poll tax, with
the name, amount and date on
which it was paid, and shall remit
same to the treasurer of the parish
school board not later than the
first Saturday in each month.
The assessor must furnish to the
school board each year n list of oil
persons liable to poll tax in the
parish and on failure to do so is
subject to fine of 5000 and re-
moval from Office. The same ap-
plies to the assessors and tax col.
lectors in the city of New Orleans.
The collector shall make his final
returns on the last Saturday in
February of each year, with list
showing all persons who have paid
their poll tax aud those who have
not, giving reasons why taxes were
not collected. This applies tC
sheriff and tax collectors alike, and
il satisfactory cause is not citet
why the tax is unpaid they become
: liable for it on their official bonds
The sureties of a sheriff or Ia,
collector are not relieved from re
! liability until the school board ii
satisfied the tax cannot be collect
,, ed. Clerks Of courts are required
!, to aid in the collection Of said tax
This act is not effective until TIN
l question of repeating the presen
= law is submitted to the qualified
voters of the State for their ap
: proval.
On motion of speaker Sander
the report Of the committee wa
; approved, also the action of tn
D chairman Of the caucus in increas
3 ing the number of the commltte
to draft the bill from five t.
eight.
Speaker Sanders, in explaining
the operations of the law unde
the new bill, states that the sheril
is made liable for the entire list ol
polls in his parish, rs furnished b.
the assessor, who makes his re
turns to the sheriff in October o
each year.
The bill in no way affects tn
compensation Of the sheriff o
assessor, as provided under tn
present law.
Senator Beale was directed t
introduce the bill in the Senate q
once, and the caucus adjourne'
g,pa l.a