The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-01-03
GENERAL LAWSOF THE STATE Of TEXAS.
RELATIVE To THE PAYMENT Of
POLL TAX

flct Herewith and where in conflict,
this Act shall prevail; provided fur
Their that the inyalidity of any sec
ton Of this Act shall not affect the
constitutionality of any other sec
ton.
Sec. This Act shall apply TO
all elections in this State--general
special and primary.
Sec. SIT is declared that where
the word Soldier or the word Sail
Or or the word marines" is used
in this Act, it shall include ali enIis-
ted men and officers in the military
and naval service of the United
States in the present war.
Sec. 9.-Any one who is not in fact
a discharged soldier, sailor or ma
rine as these terms have been defined
in this Act who present himself at
any voting place to vote in this
state and represents to the election
| officers that he is a discharged SOL
| der, sailor or marine, or makes
the affidavit herein provided for dis
charged soldiers, sailors or marines,
shall be guilty of felony, and upon
conviction shall be punished by con-
tinement in the State penitentiary
for any period Of time not less than
two years nor more than five years.
Ten thousand copies of this Act
shall be printed in bill form, under
the supervision of the Secretary OF
State, delivered to each and every
County Judge within the State on
or before May 16, 1919. and three
| of Act haI no hxr
the County Judge of each County
in this State, delivered to the presi-
ding officer Of each election precinct
within his county, together with all
other election supplies to be used
at the election to be held on the
oath day Of May, 1919, And one
thousand dollars or so much there
of as may be necessary is hereby APP
propriated out of any funds not
otherwise appropriated to defra the
expenses of printing and distributing
said Acts as here provided.
Sec. 10.-Should any election Off
Ger or election officers declare that
they will on any election day, re-
fuse to let any discharged soldier,
sailor or marine, or to let discharged
soldier, sailors, marines. vote in ae-
cordance with the terms and proyis-
ions, of this Act, then, any such dis
charged soldier, sailor or marine
shall have authority to bring an orig
inal mandamus suit in the District
Court of the County of his residence,
or any court of Civil Appeals of the
Supreme Court, against any such
officer or officers, for the purpose
of compelling them to permit to
vote, in accordance with the provis-
ions of this Act and no appeal shall
| lie from the decision or Judgment of
such District Judge, or Appellate
Court, trying such case, and no Court
having jurisdiction to issue the writ
of mandamus provided for herein
shall upon proper application re-
fuse, to issue such writ and hear
said cause solely upon the ground
| that the jurisdiction herein confer
: ed is concurrent in other courts.
Section 11.-Refusai on the part
of any election officer engaged in
the conducting of any election ia
this State to receive, or properly
count the vote of any discharged
soldier, sailor or marine, entitled
to vote at any election under the
provisions of this Act. shall con-
stitute a misdemeanor, punishable by
Imprisonment in the county Jail not
to exceed twelve months, or by fine
not to exceed one thousand dollars,
or by both such imprisonment and
fine, at the discretion of the jury.
| Sec. 1.-THE fact that there are
many thousands of returned SOL
diers, sailors anr marines, and will
continue to be during this and the
next succeeding, who have been, I'M
der the law, denied the privilege
of paying their poll taxes. and whose
! avocations and privileges have been
, denied them by reason of being in
the army or navy, and the fact that
these citizens of the State should not
be made to suffer any further than
may be by the great calamity of
war, and the fact that important
, elections in this State are soon to be
I held create and emergency and an
imperative public necessity that the
constitutional rule requiring that
, be read on three several days be
suspended, and same is hereby sus-
, pended; and that this Act takes
t effect and be in force from and
after its passages and it is so enact
[ ed.
Approved May 8, 1919. Became ef
| fective May 8, 1919,