The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-26
is NOT A PAUPER CLAUSE
DISQUALIFICATION ALREADY EXISTS
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
II IL the Application Of tho Great Prin-
eiplo Of Taxation and Representation.
What Other States Require.

the State senate 10 his enort 20 submit
a poll tax amendment to the constitution
In 1853 he again mhdo the same effort In
the State senate, and gain failed by
small majority. He submitted a minority
report, then spread on the senate journal
on July 10, 1888, IN which the poll tax
amendment Is discussed. 1t will be seen
that no was not after the worthless negro
nlone, but the worthless and corrupt Of all
races. The negro was not even referred
to. Judge Terrells views as given iu
1853 are as follows;
Hon Marion Martin, President Of Senate.
Committee Room, Austin, February 10.
lss3.-'rhe senato joint resolution No. -
proposes the payment Of a poll tax for
tic benefit Of public free schools as
qualification to vote In this Stute rhe
undersigned respectfully dissent from the
adverse report made thereon By the com
Inittee on constitutional amendments. Tue
Joint resolution proposes 10 limit the cleo.
live franchise 10 those who pay poll
taX before voting, 20 be evidenced by the
receipt OF the tax collector, which shall
he stamped as voted when the vote Is
cast aud then returned TO the owner.
Section ], Article T. OF the Texas cOusti-
tuition provides. The following classes OF
persons shall not vote In this state, VIZ:
All puupers supported by the county No
matter bow Intelligent or patriotic that
pauper may be NOR does Ii matter IN what
bHttle for his country be was disabledl, lie
eau not vote, because the curse of poverty
iB upOn him. lie joint resolution proposes
10 correct this. ana wipe from the statute
that property qualification.
kut " goes further, aud requires all
those Who ara able TO earn an honest living
10 do something Tor the support OF the
government while enjoying it5 protection
and benefits W requires eucb citizen.
whose children are being educated by the
taxes paid 10y other men, to contribute a
rol' tax " less than 81 TO help in tnat
lhndlple work. TO nay 50 small sum n
within the power az every nbleaboidied
man, aud though ita payment by hin Is
but a small evidence that he takes an in.
tute1 IN public au4irF, II IS SOME e,idence
A requirement 10 ply Il hatmonizes our
system ~ state government with tue the
DRY old ne the revolution Of 20 that "ta1U-
tlon ana representation should 60 hand tu
hand This wae the battle Cry ct the ulbt
revolution
The undersigned can not subscribe to
the theory thai al rhe burdens Of govern
ment should he visited on those whose in
dn5try has accumulated property The
prohigate aud vicious enjoy equally With
the Industrious the protection OF the laws
the free education or their children. and
the administration Of Justice and they
should not ieapordiEe by their votes the
excellency OF those laws, unless they con
tribute something 10 support government,
and thus show an interest IN It's sdmiuls
tration.
The Joint resolution. does not propose 10
dsfrnnchise those who fail 10 nav prop
erty tax, for the simple reason that prop
eity, when taxed, can be seized by the
ta1 collector AND sold ond payment Gnu
thus be compelled.
Tile comptroller's report shows that the
| school poll tax. delinquent and unEolleCted.
for The year 1889, was. ever 500 00o That
amount would furnish four mouths lnstruC-
tign n 200o0 children OF those delnqueuls
II the proposed change in the constitution
should have no other effect than 20 induce
those who have paid that tax TO pay II in
nj "a 70 fhuf far.@ De-,
dustrious element in society whose property
| is taxed 10 make up the deficiency
The character ~ those who should have
paid that delinquent poll tax Gun not be
J disguised They consist chiefly Of the
thriftless, idle and semi-vagrant element
OF society of both races, whose number, as
shown by the above figures, Is alarming
They are often the fathers Of children fol
whose educntlon others are taxed and use
the elective franchise reckless Of results
contributing nothing To support tho gov
| eminent. lite stability for them has nc
I charms and on election Iuy they are plant
/ tools OF designing men. In many place;
4 they are so Numerous that our best either
| viii not become candidates Fur position.
az trust because they VIII not resort to tn,
! r0eans deemed necessary 10 secure the ele
ment known as the floating vote
IRE Joint resolution proposes that the pay
! ment OF thu poll tax SHAH be made before
! the election. Thus some security ia foun
! Ia the fact that no one would attempt Il
control the vote Of corrupt man by al
vancing money 90 pay his poll tax far y
advance Of his vote II proposes also tha
! the collectors certificate OF the tax pay
ment shal he stamped when the vote Il
cast. and this affords security agaius
The tax collector ~ ans county can fur
| niah startling revelations concerning Tho
character Of these delinquent taxpayers
They often represent the extremes OF so
ciety The bankrupt husband, living II
| luxury, pays an ad valoren tax on property
Of his wealthy wife and laughs NJ the enfor
a. MaNTA - fNENNa "a NVsH asNN
| negro who has but one horse Is cOmpelle,
20 my II, for its collection can be enforce,
by the sale ~ his horse; while the vicious
| and reckless OF both races who own moth
Ing aud constitute the most active elernen
| at elections escape its payment altogether
II property qualification u feared ~
llkely at some time to follow the adoption
OF the proposed amendment. Il ia respect
fully suggested that the State constitution
| Ia article IL, section 10 already contains a
II Is there provided that no one but tax
| payer In city or town can vote 10 lev!
tax for school purposes II n system q
local taxation for schools shall he e1tende,
to rural districts, the same rules must h
adopted, Of property would be counscate,
under the taxing power by the votes o
those who have children and own nothing
II Is believed that all OF your committe,
concede this 10 be true.
The undersigned can not subscribe to tn
doctrine that the payment OF a propert.
tax Is necessary 70 qualify one 20 vote II
city or school district, and yet not evel
I
votes for governor and state Officers. I'm
less II be true that the good OF society
more Involved In local elections than Il
general elections where the higher inter
ests OF the lives, liberty and property o
all the people Of the whole State are In
VOWED.
The proposition contained In the Join
resolution is not new and IS recognized Il
the constitutions Of nearly all OF the hes
governed States.
In Georgia the citizen can not vote un
less he has paid all OF the taxes due L
the state. CONSTITUTION OF 1859.
The constitution OF Tennessee prohibit
every citizen from voting who has not pail
a poll tax. Constitution of 1870.
In New Hampshire no one can vote VIII
does not pay taxes TO support the govern
ment, and this has been the law Their
since 1TaS.
In New Jersey, as In Texas, no paupe
can vote.
In Pcnnsyivania no man can vote VIII,
has not paid state or county tax at leas
ono month before the election.
In Rhode Island no one can vote who 4
not really and truly possessed OF real IS
tate Of the value OF SlSt above all incuni
hrances.N and his deed must have beer
recorded az least ninety days before tn
election.
In Connecticut the voter must be OF goo,
moral character, md must have paid
county tax before he offers 20 vote. lt'on
stituticn Of 1871.
The tendency to relieve the ballot no,
from the incubus Of vice and i9norance 4
shown nv tho constitutions 90 other states
Ia Massachusetts the voter must be All
q wrlte his own name and reDd IN IN
StDte. while Missouri. Colorado and Fioria
Al ncvind in the nenr f,,f,,e.