The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-17
DELINQUENT P0LL
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tContsnued from First pags.)
]
It week, provides for, the coiiec-
on OF delinquent capitstion taxes as
ther taxes are collected. 1t instructs
ierks of the courts TO make lists OF
II deiinquents for submission to the
rcasurer for collection by due pro-
IS of law; makes capitation taxes
hen upon personal property as well
- upon real estate. and provides for
! compensation to the clerks.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Pen
| nington, of 4-se Nounty, provides that
! tayment OF the fees to clerks shall
\ ,e from the State Treasury. rather
! han from the treasures OF the local.
| lies. was adopted. as was an amend
| ment by Mr. Myers. of Richmond. de-
| signed to prevent undue compensa-
| zion. Pointing out that the same de-
| linquents for each of several years
| might he copied by the clerk and be
counted az that many names, Mr.. My
ers offered an amendment providing
| that each name should be copied but
once, and IT was adopted.
other Measures.
The House bill providing for the
/ collection of other delinquent taxes and
| repeating the so-cailed "land grab
bers' law, was passed by on motion,
| because the bill had not been printed.
| Monday the House will take up and
discuss the license tax bill.
| The deliquent poll tax bill is re-
Farded as one OF the most important
! of the many supplemental tax bills
that will come before the extra ses-
sion of the General Assembly. The
/ MI, ny wealth of virginia Hoses
enormously each year by the failure
I of citizens to pay this tax-loses not
/ only In money. but loses the votes OF
I many good citizens. who, neglecting
to pay the tax. lose the franchise.
Loses to Richmond.
I In the city OF Richmond alone 1t
/ Is estimated that more than $1,000
In delinquent taxes is due. The pay
ment OF the poll tax a requisite
to the franchise became effective
shortly after the proclamation of the
new Constitution. framed In 1902. Such
delinquent taxes, under provision
( of the Constitution, are not colie4-
ible until they are three years past
due. the provision being inserted to
safeguard the efforts OF the makers
OF the Constitution 10 keep the negro
off the poll books. 1t was feared that
| II all the collection OF all such taxes
/
groes their taxes paid, would qualify
for the ballot Taxes. therefore, are
| coilectible sow only for the years
| from 1903 TO 1919. inclusive.
| According 10 the last report Of the
! Auditor of Public Accounts, poll taxes
to the amount of S7,044.sbS.50 are rs
! sessed for that period. of which amount
So 697. 7o2.24 are delinquent Deduct
ing delinquent taxes afterwards col
ne tF
to the state and localities of $2,57s,-
+. 4ss26 or this amount. the state loses
two-thirds. Which goes to the sup
port of the public schools, and the
localities lose one third.
] A little less than half this amount
is owed by negroes and Il part of it
by whites making less than $50
month. Eliminating all amounts whose
collection is Impossible undesirable,
under the Lowry bill. IL is estimated
there is at least "A million dollars In
back capitation taxes that could be
collected hy the enforcement of such
"A law. Of that amount the schools
would receive S687. 600
what Commission Says.
The Lowry bin supplements the tax
ommission's bill, which, insofar as
the collection of delinquent poll taxes.
liz concerned is admittedly inadequate.
We recommend says the commas
sion's report. that section 636A of
the Code, providing that the capitation
tax should be lien on real estate, be
repealed. BY constitutional provision
this tax cannot be collected until
three years after 1t Is due Very little
of it is afterwards collected by pro-
cess OF law or voluntary payment
and the fact that Is such a. lien causes
endless trouble and expense in the
The commissions report says, how
ever, that If the extension of the lien
be desired the proposed bill will pro-
vide a feasible means 10 collect such
IA can be collected" Not more than
10 per cent OF the delinquent taxes
can be collected by this means in the
opinion of the commission.
The bin to which reference is made
is that abolishing the so-called land
grahhers' act and substituting there
for system of sales of delinquent
lands to satisfy the Hen of the Com
, monwea l;h, and OF the counties and
cities. for taxes. 1t is now on the
House CALENDAR and in scheduled for
consideration Monday.
Lesner's Bfu.
, Senator Lesner has a bill, which has
been sent to it's third reading i'm the
Senate, repeating section 636A of the
Code Mr. Lowry's bill sent to it's en-
grossment b. the House yesterday. not
only retains delinquent capitation
taxes as lien ON real estate, hut ex-
tends Them to be Hen on personal
pr, nerty.
Until tho Senate passes the Quinn
resolution directing an investigation
; of school book prices. said Speaker Cox
yesterday. the House members OF the
investigating committee will not be
! appointed.
The resolution requesting the House
: Finance Committee to report TUESDAY
the tax commission and segregation
bills was adopted without opposition.
/ Delegate Norris and Others strongly
supported II.