Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-01-26
WOULD ABOLISH
THE POLL TAN.
Tho Richmond Journal says:

the hlcUIllOllu cOuA iAsNt 'SS
"The Legislature is devoting time
and thought to bills providing for
collection of the poll tax. The Jour-
mel would infinitely prefer to see
among our lawmakers sentiment
in favor of abolishing the tan
"Thc poll tax simply is a tax upon
the right of suffrage. Formerly It's
object was to eliminate undeSlrableS
from the electorate. This element
has been. eliminated. UndeSirables
are not prohibited from participating
in elections in Virginia through the
legal requirement that all applicants
to vote shall have paid all poll tax
assessments six months prior to cleo
ton day. That which keeps litter
ates, white and colorcd, oil the poll
books in Virginia is the provision of
the law requiring that application
for registration shall! be made in
person By the voter and III writing,
setting forth the date Of his birth
and his age ut his last birthday.
"I.ct the poll tax be abolished. 1t
would be well to provide for its pay
ment by persons who do not pay any
other tax, for it is well that every
voter should have some substantial
interest in government. But to en-
force the payment Of poll tax by
men who pay heavy State and city
or county taxes on property is a
hardship. Many thousands OF sub
stantial citizens are disqualified from
voting through non-payment Of the
tax, not rs result Of their lack Of
interest in public affairs or desire to
evade payment, but through failure
to remember to do so six months be-
fore election day.
"Men should not be pena!ized for
participation in elections. 1t would
he better to punish them for failure
20 do so. IN the old days there WAS
q law on The statute books of Viz
ginia providing for the imposition OF
fine upon every citizen who failed
to cast his vote on election day. We;
should like to sec this made the law
today. II would he Il far better law
than our present one taxing the cit
izen who would exercise the highest
privilege Of the freeman
While the farm>ys of the present
state laws may have done things
they should not have done and left
undone things they should have done
has long been apparent, the Gazette
has always thought they were not
remiss in the matter Of suffrage.
The Journal. however, is looking at
the present conditions under lenses
through which we are unable To see
at present. The fact that Il large
taxpayer forgetS or neglects to pay
his capitation tax is no excuse for
him. When he knows he will be al
lowed discount by prompt pay
ment he manages not to forget. Be-
sides. the capitation tax is invariably
put on the bill for his real estate. and
when he pays ore he necessarily docs
the other.
II is estimated that about two
thirds Of the vote Of most cities is
cut off by the law compelling the
payment of capitation taxes six
months preceding elections. This
docs rot iegislate mans vote away.
Should nc comply with the law he
has the same privilege of those who
/ dc. lie deliberately DISTINGUISHES
himself hy failing to pay what he
justly owes us Il citizen of the com
monwealth
Under present conditions a class
who virtually paid nothing towards
the state or city. Yet had most TO say
on election days. is made scarce OH.
such occasions. The electorate is,
in the main, composed Of the vest
pocket character. whose votes cannot
be- purchased and who have an in
terest in public affairs. We see no
good reason why the requirement
should not be continued.