Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-03
Beyond Willing Endurance

n the departments OF the city government
l arc to be permitted hereafter TO pay the
taxes OF their employees with blanket checks,
1t is irconceivable that other large employers
OF labor, who desire to exercise the same
privilege. will be denied It. The City
Treasurer, as collector OF taxes, owes no
duty to the street-cleaning force he does not
similarly owe to the force at the American
Locomotive Works. the motormen and con-
duc'orS of the Virginia Railway and Power
Company or any other aggregation Of men.
Moreover, tho City Treasurer owes no duty
to men in the mass he does not owe to men
as Individuals. If he can designate special
clerk to seek out in the records the amounts
OF the tax bills of 100 street cleaners he
can. and should, perform exactly the same
service for one doctor, merchant, preacher.
teacher or lawyer. 1t is gossip, indeed,
fh"; in the cases of some favored persons
TIL las been done. They have been allowed
10 write the Treasurer's Office for the amount
OF their tax bills, have received the informa-
ton asked and have paid by check But no
announcement that this would be allowed
mas ever been made to the general public.
The ordinary taxpayer knew of no way to
discharge his obligation TO tho State, within
t"e time liked by law, save TO fall in line
with other unfortunates before the door of
the Treasurer's Office and wait some weary
hours for his turn 10 arrive
II any departure from this rule was to
nave been permitted, it ought to have been
mace uniformly applicable to all citizens
mere should have heen no favoritisnl
Every taxpayer should have enjoyed exactly
the same rights and privileges.
1t is not fact. although it has boen an
honnced as fact, that city employees are
required, in order to hold their jobs, to nay
State taxcs--the taxes that is which supplied
inc excuse for the recent remarkable per.
lofmahce The City Code provides that no
person shall "be elected 10 any Office or en-
ployment in the service of the city who shall
DC delinquent in the payment to the city OF
any bill for taxes, water or gas" There is
nothing here about taxes duo the State
Similarly tho City Auditor and others who
dlsDurse public funds are required to with
mold wages due any employee on the first
pay day In July Of each year, unless the en-
poEee first exhibits "a receipt in full from
the collector Of taxes for his taxes due the
vHy tor the previous year" Here also the
limitation to city taxes is unmistakable
AS a matter of fact. although the DOLL tax
Is distinctly and distnctivey State tax. the
state does remit portion Of it to tho locali-
t'eS' ahd as 10 this portion the poll tax de-
nquent may be said 10 be DELINQUENT to the
city. While this construction is doubtful il
IS perfectly clear that street cleaners are up-
oeT no duty to pay other State taxes which
Is not shared by all citizens.
This discussion, however, Is merely anvil,
larry to the principal point in the controversy
between the City Treasurer and the general
public That point is that a department of
inc city government was allowed a yalua BILE
privilege which was denied taxpayers gen
orally ana that this discrimination was shown
"hilc hundreds OF mon and women were be-
ING kept from their employment for hours
al Il time and being subjected to other and
grave Inconvenience and loss. THIS dfscrin-
'hat!oh' Whatever its motive or inspiration,
passes. as We have already said. the bounds
Of willing endurance