Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1907-06-14
OF
POLL TAXES
State Senator MaChenDis-
CuSSeS Defects of the
Present Statute.
(Lynchhurg News. ,
Editor of the Ne,x


II is unfortunate that just before
every primary election il is charged
that some candidates are paying, or
causing To be paid, the poll taxes of
voters. 1t is TO be hoped that such
charges are not true in any case. The
Constitution provides that the poll
taxes shall be paid by the voters
personally AT least six months be-
fore the election at which they offer
To vote. The debates i'm the cnvention
which framed the Constitution show
that this period WAS fixed because
it was not thought that any candi-
date would pay these taxes that long
before the election. But rs primaries
are being held five or six months be-
fore the regular elections IL is posi-
bic for candidates TO pay these taxes
almost Immediately before the pri-
marieSwhich really select the Officers
and representatives i'm many parts OF
the State.
1t was evidently intended by the
Constitution that every voter should
pay his own tax, but the Legislature
has failed TO make that intention
effective. The writer introduced II
series Of bills with that object Mt the
last session, but, i'm the rush of other
business, they were not fully con-
sidercd. IL is earnestly desired that
the right-thinking people and papers
| IN, l.,
and vigorously demand the enact
mcnt of law which will prevent, as
! far as possible, the corrupt payment
of poll taxes. The old poll tax law
became a prolific cause OF corruption,
and the new one will have like
effect unless carefully safeguarded.
1t would seem that now while the
candidates for the General Assembly
are being nominated is the proper
time 10 agitate this matter and for
the people To require every candidate
To pledge himself TO support a meas
ure with that purpose.
The poll tax should be required to
Ice paid a least some months before
the election so 10 have it paid AT
least some months beforethe primary.
! The treasures should be prohibited
from receiving the poll tax of any
person rendered 10y another unless the
| latter presents written authority tC
be filed i'm the office OF the treasurer
and open To public inspection. Under
! the law now i'm force, rs continued by
| the Attorney General, the treasures
are bound To receive the tax no mat
ter who tenders il.
The payment of the poll tax of any
| person by another for the purpose OF
securing or influencing that person $
vote should be made misdemeanor
punishable by fine, Imprisonment and
disqualification for Office. Any per-
son who allows his poll tax To b,
paid corruptly should be similarly
| punished, and not allowed 10 vote
afterward.
against bribery known as the Banks
dale law would apply 10 the cases,
for il is very broad and sweeping
statute. Ii would he interesting II
the grand jurieS would summon some
treasurers before them and also "A few
hundred of those whose taxes are said
10 have been paid 10y other people. y
few indictments would furnish an
excellent opportunity To test the pre-
sent law fully. If il is found mad
equate other laws should be at once
passed. Every payment of anOther's
poll tax may not be corrupt, but the
practice is sure 10 have corrupt ten
dency. n good man may sOccaionall ~
err in that way through excess of
zeal, but bad man is more apt To do
50 through malice aforethought.
Every self respecting Virginian
ought TO be willing to pay his poll
tax for the privilege of voting. 1t is
"A legal and moral obligation for him
TO pay il whether he votes or not. \
man who is too mean TO he willing,
or too worthless 10 he able, TO contri-
butte dollar and fifty cents a year TO
support the public schools and the
local government is an undesirable
citizen and should not be permitted
TO vote.
Above all things, the people should
set their faces sternly against the cor
rupt use of money in elections. 1t is
debaSing and demoralizing alike to
the people and 10 their representati-
YES. If it is permitted poor man