Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-05
Editors Letter Box
Voting and Poll Tax.

Editor Kennebec Journal:
l read the communication in the
Journal Saturday morning regarding
the poll tax, with interest. Your COR
respondent shares very common mis-
understanding regarding the poll tax
in Maine. According to the revised
Statutes, poll tax in Maine has no con-
nection with voting. The poll tax is
levied on all males 81 years or age or
over whether aliens or citizens, voters
or not. # women should be granted
the vote, poll tax might or might not
be levied on them at the discretion of
the Legislature. They would not be
automatically taxed on becoming vot-
erS.
The following general facts regarding
poll taxes in the United States may be
of interest: Four states of the Union,
Oregon, Ohio, Maryland and California,
by their constitutions prohibit poll
taxes as contrary to democratic ideals.
twenty-five state constitutions either
impose a poll tax or authorize their
legislatures to impose one at need. In
nine of these 25 states the constitutions
read that the taxes may be levied on
all adults; that is, according to the
constitutions, the taxes could be col
lected from women although they are
not voters, if the legislatures saw fit
to exact payment. In nine states
maine among them) the tax falls on
all adult male inhabitants whether
voters or not. In only six states can
the poll tax possibly be construed as
a prerequisite for voting. In four of
these it is levied on all male citizens;
in the other two on all electors: lie. in
only two states (Rhode Island, and Ok
lahoma) will women be obliged to pay
a poll tax by the mere fact of their en-
reimbursement. OF the eleven full Suf-
frage states, seven levy no poll tax
whatever Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
and Idaho are permitted by their state
constitutions to levy such taxes. In
Wyoming where women have had equal
political rights, privileges, and duties
with men since the first organization of
the territory, all adults regardless of
SEX whether voters or not, pay poll
tax. In Idaho the legislature may levy
poll tax at need on all adults, whether
voters or not In Nevada the poll
taxes are levied on all male residents
between the ages of q and SO, except
unciviliZed Indians in this state again,
the tax having no connection with vot
ing. In Utah, MALE citizens pay poll
taxes. The constitution has never been
amended to include women in the pay
ment of such taxes.
In fact, contrary to the general be-
lief the poll tax has very little con-
nection with voting. OF all the mil
lions of women in the United States
today entitled to vote, not one is pay
ing a poll tax simply for the privilege
Of voting. Should Maine enfranchlse
it's women in September, a special act
Of Legislature would be required to
impose a poll tax on them and as vot-,
ters, they would have something to say
as to whether or not they would pay
such a tax. Under present conditions,
it is quite within the power of the
LEGISLATURE to levy a poll tax on the
women of this State, iii saw tit to
do so, without consulting their wishes
in the matter at all. By all means let
the voters Of Maine take the matter
into consideration before voting on
Sept. 0 on the question Of Women Suf-
frage. but l trust they may take the
FACTS into consideration and not the
non existent bug -boos that oppon-
ents to suffrage sometimes trot out to
alarm the voters.
A Believer in Political Freedom for
Women.
Augusta, June 4.