The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-09
OF Union ON
POLL-TAXES
Attorney General Anderson
Answers Inquiry.
1T is a LENGTHY PAPER
In Response to a Resolution offered in
the House by Mr.. Charles T. Bland.
Major Anderson Gives De-
tailed Opinion.
1T is a LENGTHY PAPER

In reply to resolution Of the House
OF Delegates, offered by Hon. Charles T.
Bland. OF Portsmouth, as to when poll
taxes will be- payable as prereaqiisie iqr
following follow elaborate opinion. which was
READ IN me chase CITY f Vs Nay 4 1909
To Honorable J. F. Ryan.
Speaker Of the House OF Delegates OF
sir.-1 have tho honor to submit my
the House OF Delegates calling for my
the Constitution OF the State relative
requisite to the RICH, to vote after Jan
Before considering the several enqi-
ries propounded. It will be well to re- 90
OF the Constitution. no person can vote
in Virginia unless he shall be first reg
Of the IN
necessary also to distinguish the require
ments as to the payment Of poll taxes
ter ana as 10 the veer
registered after January 1. 1904. from the
requirements in that regard as to the
The only v pc persons 10 whom mt the pre-
payment OF any poll taxes applies as a
prerequisite to the right to register are
5 n9ss yh l. 1 sRpS h0f registration al'er
NOT REQUIRED.
There Is no such requirement as to the
registration Of those who are entitled to
BE- pPon the m naer 9s
registration ordinance adopted by the
Convention.
suffrage plan embodied in the Constitu-
sections aS % and Of S that rlse my
answers to the several enquiries pro-
nO1lndad will he betfpr llndnrGtnO0
now proceed to restate those enqui-
ries and to answer them in their order:
requisite to the right to vote. begin to
accrue?
10 this my answer is as follows:
traitor after January i. 1so7s. It begins
assessable in, 1901: for. by section 20. he
registered. to have paid to the proper
officer all State poll taxes assessed or as
aganst him under this or the
next preceding that In which he offers
"A person, applying to register during
Pei tax Of 500 for each Of the
sEans and mn the s sfate p e farmer aR Of for
the year 1903. assessed or assessable un-
der SECTION 17s of the present Constitu-
o
son OF age or residence legally liable to
be assessed. Z
PERMANENT ROLL
ID AS to a person registered in 1902
or 1903 on the permanent roll. this re.
auirement begins with the poll tax of
$50 for the year 1903. assessable under
scrIbing- the payment Of capltation taxes
assessed under the present Constitution
only as prerequisite to the right to
any election.
In 1905 the voter, registered after Jan,
uary 1891 must have Pa1d the Pol
years 1902. 1903 and 1904.
Before being allowed to vote at any
@ % must paid the ss po fares
Constitution. namely. those for the years
After 1906 the requirements in respect
to the preravment of poll taxes will be
the same as to the voters registered be-
those Registered after that date =
2. rs 1t necessary that poll taxes for
the three years preceding 1904 be paid
in in :nai:S.' - e''1s'' : 'A' i'SA' so''
This Inquiry has already been answer
ed In my response to the preceding ques-
"A person not registered In 1902 or 1903
desiring to vote In 1901 must have paid
FL State poll axes as assessed ,hrs or
y
to 1904 before he can be registered, and
he must be registered before he is en-
titled to vote.
a person registered in 1902 or 1903 must
the year 1908 assessed or assessable
against him under the present Constitu-
3. IF the poll tax becomes effective on
and after january, 1904. at what time Is
the poll tax, as prerequisite to the
right of suffrage shall mot be abrdged?"
My answer to this inquiry Is that by
the provision of section 81 the person Of
ferIng to vote at any election after jan
| uary l. 1904. must have paid all State
Kim under the present Constitution dur
Ing the preceding three years, at least
six months before the election and If
he was not registered In 1902 or 1903 by
the terms of section 20. he must at some
paid all State poll taxes assessed or as
sessable against him under the former
Constitution as we'll as the present Con-
stitution, during the three preceding
It must be observed. however. that by
diers who served In the war between the
states are exempted from the payment
| of any poll taxes as prerequisite to tho
| right to vote.
WILLIAM a. ANDERSON,
fagtF Attorney General.
Join s. EGGLEsToN.
Private Secretary.
MR., CRAIG APPOINTED
Will Fill Vacancy in the Office of the