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Show THAT POLL TAX VILLAINY By Nemo. In the state of Utah, and in most all of the other states and cities of this country, we still cling to that old heathen custom of exacting from all able-bodied men a toll, or tax per head, which is known as poll tax. This iniquitous burden is one of the fossilized remains of the ancient Ceasarh , who through tyranny and despotio rule imposed by capitation upon all able-bodied males, the task of building roads to Home. The nobility, no-bility, however, were exempted from this degrading employment. In this enlightened and progressive age, there is not a single substantial reasom why this unjust tax should exist, ex-ist, It is a penalty for being strong and possessing a sound body; a tax upon good health. Why, in the nameof Heaven, Bhould a young Btrong man be required to give two or three days of his time in tinkering tink-ering up the highways, regardless of I whether he is the owner of a cart, wagon, carriage or an automobile? He may walk the streets with his dinner din-ner pail in one hand, and his pick or shovel in the other, but if he dare to be a strong man and under fifty years of age the law will compel him, for that reason, to keep the roads iu repair re-pair ; while the young autoist, who has the gout or rheumatism in his toes from high living or dissipation, may spin over the highway, yet, like Solo-man's Solo-man's lily, he toils not for its maintenance. main-tenance. There is no other improvement, or state euterprise that is thus supported support-ed by taxing the muscle and good health of the citizen. As well might the law require a capitation tax to build jails, court houses, school houses, state capitols. or to pay the salaries and expenses of running the government. A rail road corporation does not impose im-pose a per capita tax upon its army of employees, to keep its road bed in repair re-pair ; or require them to donate two or three days work for that purpose. They employ a section gang with a boss, to see after this brauch of their business. ' The only just and equitable manner of keeping the roads and streets in re- nair. is hv a mVHnne derived frnm a tax on the owners of property, and expended ex-pended under proper supervision, as all other public enterprises are manaaged. All other improvements are made and provided for levying the bureen upon the wealth, and not upon the health of the people. If the same system was adopted for keeping the roads in repair, that is universally universal-ly used for all other public or private enterprises, we would have far better roads, and we would not be imposing an antiquated, unjust, and villainous burden upon the gifts of Providence. It is about time to abolish this Peonage, which has no Bupport in reason, justice, common sense, or Holy Writ. |