Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-08-13
FAILURE TO PAY
POLL TAX MAY
CAUSE ARRESTS
Belleyille Citizens Angry Over
Situation Which
Has Arisen.

w noieSale arrests OF voters through
out the township of Belleville. regard
less of who the delinquents are, for
failure to ply their poll tax will be
made soon, according to an announce
ment made by Tax Collector A. Howard
Osborne, of Belleville.
The insistent attitude of Collector
Osborne that every person in the town
ship shall pay his poll tax for the years
1907, 1903 and 1909, amounting to So for
every, man, is causing q sensation in
Belleville due mainly to the fact that
no real effort has ever been made to
collect the tax for over quarter of
century before this time. After Sep
tember ! the names of all those who
have failed to pay the money-over
1000 men are affected-will be sub
mitted to a duly authorized constable,
and if that officer is not paid the de-
linquent will be jailed without ado.
This situation. presenting itself as it
does just before the general election,
sets forth a most unique condition be-
cause already. various outspoken resi-
dents are saying that the Republican
Al IocACNllS 10 ICSPOh-
sible for this proposed drastic action
by Collector Osborne.
Political Results.
If present sentiment among some
continue to develop against this col
lection of head tax, it might be the
direct cause of political upheaval in
the township, some declare.
However, to those who utter these
statements is told the fact that Col
lector Osborne is himself about the
most prominent Democrat in Belleville.
and that his present stand in regard to
poll tax was forced upon him by
Democratic township committee little
over a year ago.
Mr.. Osborne says that at that time
the matter of why the tax was totally
disregarded, particularly by men who
are not property was advanced
by a member of the Township Com
mittee. Andrew L. Boylan, who was
them township counsel, was asked for
a legal opinion, and he said that under
the law the Township Committee had
the power to hold Collector Osborne
personally responsible for the collection
of the money. Since that time Mr.. Os-
borne set to work to complete a list of
those who had not paid their annual
dollar. and now he has it finished.
In the election of 1909 the Republic
cans gained majority vote In the
township body, and now there is only
one Democratic member OF the COM
mittee. e. William Beohtoldt whose
term expires this year and who is seek
ing reelection.
The Time Limit.
At first Collector Osborne intended
that Monday would be the time limit
to give the residents in arrears a
chance to liquidate and after that the
constable be put to work. Speaking oS
the matter he said that he has changed
his mind and that now he contemplated
sending a bill to every individual in
the place who has not paid. The col
lector says that each will have ample
time to have settled by the first of
September under that method and that
after that the crisis will come. A
singular feature in this connection is
that in about ninety-nine out of a
hundred instances the property owner
pays the individual assessment" be-
cause when he receives his regular
tax bill the farmer is always charged
and it is paid without comment. The
voter who does not own real estate
in the past has received absolutely no
bill or notice that the dollar was due,
and consequently the poll tax law in
Belleville has been regarded as a big
joke.
Osbcrne's Statement
When asked If he really meant 20
arrest men who would not get in line
Collector Osborne said:
Yes; arrests will be made without
a question in some cases by the con-
stable 1 deputize to perform the task.
However, 1 personally would like to
make arrangements whereby a man
who is in financial distress and who
shows a willingness to pay as well as
he can be shown some leniency.
"But in the case of a man who has
the ability to give up the necessary
three dollars and refuses he will be
marched to Jail.
IT am Inclined to think, though, that
when the officer places some of them
under arrest others will be frightened
into coming to my office to straighten
up their accounts without the solicita-
tion of the constable.
"I am of the opinion that If the law
was tested it would be declared un-
constitutional"
When Mr. Osborne was reminded
that the Belleville police station has
only three cells and would be over
taxed in the event OF extensive ar
rests being made, he said that the
prisoners would be hauled to the Es-
sex county Jail in Newark and there
locked up. He added that one proni-
nent Bellevillite will be the officer
authorized by him to do the work.
Twenty-four Years In Oflce.
Mr.. Osborne has held his position
for about twenty-four years consecu-
lively, and his father occupied the Of
flee for many years preceding him. He
is the only Democrat holding an Of
fetal position III the township and it
is declared that he will not seek re-
election again.
Charles Lyman Denison. chairman OF
the Belleville township committee,
speaking about the securing of the
poll tax said:
.As long as the law is on the statute
books / say enforce 1t. If the people
do not want it 1t is up to them to
have it abolished.
Il realize that probably the Repub-
licans VIII be blamed for the proposed
move by some, but as matter Of fact,
Mr.. Osborne was instructed by DEM
ocrntic township committee"