Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-12
WILL COLLECT POLL TAXES
FROM MANY OEL|NQUENTs
Thousands DO Not Know They Are
Now Delinquent and Sub
ject to Warrants.
NO NOTICES HAVE BEEN SENT
Failure to Qualify In Time to Vote
Does Not Relieve Male Citizen OF
Duty OF Paying Poll Tax-Hulce
Makes Statement.

Lee Il. Hancock. delinquent capita
ton tax collector. appointed under
chapter iSS Of the Acts of Assembly
OF 1916. is preparing to collect by gar
hiSnee. distress warrant or other pro-
cecdinss. about 10000 DELINQUENT pol1-
''N p'iis "hich arc now past due three
EearS or more. In the majority or
cases, II is stated, no notice OF any
Kind has been sent TO any of these
parties by CITY Treasurer Pace. and
many OF them do not know that they
were assessed for poll taxes in Rich
mona or that they are now dclinuuent
Under the act. Mr.. Hancock is to be
allowed "a per cent Of the amount coll
ircted as his commission. He and his
ucPnti"S yesterday entered vigorously
on the campaign for tho collection Of
past-due accounts now in their hands
ScNeraI hundred paid at once on pres
chtation. saying that il was the first
animation they had that they were due
In any amount.
In many instances. individuals owe
nv" years back taxes to the state
hut In the majority Of cases from one
10 three years taxes are unpaid. col
lcctor Hancock is receiving taxes and
issuing receipts AT his Office i'm tho
old dominion Trust Company build
ing. Ninth and Main Streets but lie has
deputy at work in each ward of the
city. who will call personally on tho
N
obtained.
Collector Hancock saws m, de,i,
au.nts are responding checrfully 10 the
cali TO settle up: that most Of them
realize that the new law makes nav
mcnt y! these taxes compulsory and
holds tho collector responsible for fail
urc I" levy on the delinuucnt's real and
personal property or SarnIshec salaries
and wages when such processes are
necessary to enforce collections
POLL T&NES MUST III: PAID
WHETHER ONE VOTES or NOT
Many people evidently mad the i'm
preston that tho payment OF poll taxes
was merely a prerequisite Of voting:
that IL. If they did not care to qualify
tn vote. they need not pay poll taxes.
The courts have held to the contrary,
however and all male citizens over
twenty one years OF age. whether vot-
erS or not, ar" assessed for poll taxes.
Failure 10 pay six months before cleo
ton forfcits the right TO vote, but
does not relieve the citizen from the
obligation to pay the tax.
CITY Collector Herbert iiulcc vcs.er-
day made the following announcements:
All real esta,. and personal tax bills
viii become delinquent February !. and
additional interest VIII DE imposed on
and after that date.
Real csta," owners should have paid
their taxes in June. or before July l.
som" paid III part and were given SIX
months in which u pay the rest. PEN
a!ttcs are attached to taxes that were
not paid. either wholly or In part by
July ! These taxes must hc paid he
fore February !. or additional interest
will he included in the bills as added
penalty.
Biils Tor taxes on personal property
are now due and must be paid this
month. II they arc not paid by Janu-
airy ]. penalty VIII be attached one
month later. all personal and real estate
property bills. that have not been pa id
VIII become delinquent. and subject
To a further penalty