The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-14
POLL TAX IN NORTH CAROLINA
TOWNS.

The poll tax levied in North Caro-
| template. Think of it. men and
| brethren: the poll tax levied by the
city of Raleigh is $3.50 Add to that
i the State and county poll tax and a
citizen of Raleigh pays $6.45 as poll
tax. The same thing is true in Will
mington. Charlotte, Asheville. Green's
| boro and other large towns.
What is the result of levying such a
| high poll tax in Raleigh? 1t is that
very many people pow no poll tax at
! all and the tax collector has to garnl-
shee for much that is collected. 1t
| is a serious tax upon q day laborer
and others enjoying small incomes
a tax that all escape who can do so.
In the city of Norfolk the city and
State poll tax is only $3.50 year. In
Raleigh and other North Carolina
cities too much of the burden of its
government is placed upon those who
own no property, and because of the
high rate many wholly escape the
payment of poll tax.
Raleigh ought to look forward to
the time when it can wholly abolish
municipal poll tax and live upon its
privilege, license and property tax. 1t
is. perhaps, too much TO come to that
at once, but we believe the city ought
right now to lit assessing any such
poll tax as $3.50. and make it a
uniform tax of one dollar upon every
person and see that it is collected.
There will be less attempt to evade a
poll tax of one dollar than the pres
ent burdensome tax and it is prob
able that in the long run the city
would get more money than it gets
from the present outrageously high
assessment The cost of city govern
ments have increased steadily
and rapidly. and it is time to
poll tax to one dollar and get the city
government upon a more economical
basis.
In amending the charter Of the city
of Raleigh it would be well to bear
in mind few facts:
airy 90, 1904, total tax levied on prop
erty and polls was $SS.126.62. and of
this amount $1S.43S.64 was then uncol
lected according to report to the
Corpora ton Commission under date
of June IS, 1904. Other collections
have since been made.
The finance committee made Il re-
port under date of August %, 1904,
in which it was stated that poll tax
had been collected at that date from
only Gil out of the 1909 polls listed
for taxation, i. e., S9S had not paid poll
tax at that time. $5,533.20 was levied
on polls. Deducting % exempt and
6 errors and Gil who had paid and
there was uncollected at that date
$3,232.SO of the tax levied on polls.
For the fiscal year ending February
2S. 1903, total tax levied on pre- erty
and polls was $S4.253, and of this
amount 16.410.11 was reported as un-
collected after end of fiscal year. OF
the total levy s6.672 was levied on
polls and S5.024 of this was reported
uncollected.
Number Of polls listed in fiscal year
ending February IS. 1902. 1919: num-
Der of polls listed in fiscal year end
ing February IS. 1903. 1868: number
of polls listed in fiscal year ending
February %. 1904. 1887: so that Raj
eigh had 2S2 less polls in 1904 than
in 1902.
Why is there such u large amount
of the tax which is levied annually
uncollected? If it is the fault of the
charter this is the time to correct it.
If it is not the fault of the charter
who is to blame?
Why continue to levy a poll tax
which is collected out of too many of
those charged with it?
No city or town outside of North
Carolina is permitted to levy such tax
as is levied in towns in North Caro-
lima.
In Norfolk the total poll tax is $3.50
State and city. In South Carolina and
Georgia cities and towns are not per-
mitted to levy any poll tax. The
State DOll tax is ST.