Refusal to Pay $4.05 Impost May Result in Jail Sentences.
Darby, Pa., —
Six women out of 300 who defied the local tax collector and refused to pay a personal tax of $4.05, still were holding out against the payment of the impost.
Unless they pay the tax, says S. Robert Shaw, the collector, he will be forced to send them to the Delaware county jail until they meet this obligation to the borough.
Despite the resistance of the little band, a majority of the housewives of Darby chose to pay the tax in preference to going to jail.
Many of the women who decided to pay brought their babies along to the tax collector’s office and at one time there was a string of baby coaches outside the door.
Harry W. Shein, deputy collector, had his troubles in trying to find some of the delinquents.
There was no response to his call at several of the homes and there was nothing for him to do but pass on to the next delinquency.
He found Mrs. Margaret Lytle at home.
She was busy doing an odd job in jainting.
“Jainting”? You got me.
“I’m the tax collector,” said Shein.
“So I see,” said Mrs. Lytle.
“What will my husband do if he comes home and finds no supper?” asked Mrs. Lytle.
Shein had no reply to this and again warned Mrs. Lytle that non-payers of taxes will go to jail.
Another woman, who is reported to have failed to pay her tax, asserted she was laughed at by her friends when she paid her tax in former years, and she would not be laughed at any longer.
The tax has been imposed to complete the new Darby high school, and is part of $5,000 that is needed.
All the men apparently have paid the tax.
Media, Pa., — (U.P.) —
Darby’s tax war, which threatened jail for several score of women who refused to pay an annual personal levy, assessed through a law, continued with several hundred women dodging irate collectors or barricading themselves in their homes against them.
None of those whom Borough Tax Collector Robert Shaw threatened with jail if they had not paid their taxes by last night, were behind bars .
Many of them paid, according to the collector, and others had, for the time, disappeared.
The borough is levying the tax to get funds to complete the new high school.
Madia, — (U.P.) —
The $4.05 personal tax which scores of women in Darby borough defied constables and collectors in refusing to pay, even under threat of being jailed, had amounted to $7.41 for the recalcitrant ones, Collector of Taxes Robert Shaw announced.
The additional “ante” came about through the court costs of issuing and serving summons and commitments papers by constables — when they were served.
The original tax Shaw explained, was $3.85 with a 20-cent fine for delayed payment, and now an additional $3.36 for court costs.
Committment papers were to be served , Shaw said, on those who persisted in defying the tax collector.
The law, passed in , levying an annual personal tax on all voters has not heretofore been enforced against women in Darby borough.
Here is another example from the previous year from a town about 70 miles from Darby:
Lancaster, Pa., —
After spending eighty-five hours in the county jail because she refused to pay $6.82 in personal tax, Mrs. Anna Beck, 32 years old, of Murrell, this county, was released .
The tax collector of the district, M.B. Hacker, appeared at the jail and signed her release.
He stated that “a friend” had paid the township tax.
The tax collector declared that he has had trouble with Mrs. Beck before and was determined to make a test case of her refusal to pay.
“If I had not collected this tax I feel sure there are many others in he district who would have refused to pay,” he stated.
He acted, he said, under an old statute which gave him the right to seize the body of any one refusing to pay taxes.
Mrs. Beck was obdurate in her refusal to allow her relatives to pay the tax, but the long hours in jail apparently changed her mind.
Lancaster, Pa., — (AP) —
Mrs. Anna Beck, of Murrell, who would rather “stay in jail until dooms day” than pay a township tax of $6.82, was still a prisoner in county jail although her tax has been paid.
Claiming, that women should not have to pay taxes, Mrs. Beck, the mother of a year old child, willingly went to prison .
She would not pay the tax, she said, and ordered that no one pay it for her.
Her husband and friends pleaded with her, but she was adamant.
, however, a neighbor called at the tax collector’s home and paid the necessary amount.
The payment was made to a member of the collector’s family, who then telephoned the jail and asked that Mrs. Beck be released.
The jailer refused to do so, stating that under the law, the collector, who had placed Mrs. Beck in prison, must appear in person and sign her release.
The collector, it was learned, is visiting in another section of the state and no one knows when he will return.
Until he comes back, the jailer said, Mrs. Beck will remain in prison.
One of the great unsung tax rebellions in America was widespread, grassroots tax refusal among women in Pennsylvania in .
Because the resisters did not hold rallies or pickets, did not issue petitions or manifestos, and did not (as far as I can tell) have formal organizations or hold meetings, they have mostly vanished from the historical record.
But their rebellion was widespread, broadly-adopted, and very disruptive to the authorities.
I’ve covered this a bit before, but I’ve since found a few more reports from the press at that time.
First, from the New Castle [Pennsylvania] News:
McKeesport Women Don’t Want To Vote, Refuse To Pay Tax
M’Keesport, . — “Why should we pay taxes in order to vote when we had nothing to do with suffrage for women and don’t want to vote and will not vote?”
Such, in effect, is a [greeting cry?] assessors of McKeesport, August Anderson and Robert E. Taylor, declare they received from eight out of every [ten?] women they approached for listing as new taxables.
The assessors are not opposed to the ballot for women.
They say it is entirely a matter for women, but they are certain that between 75 and 80 per cent of the women of voting age of McKeesport are not interested in the ballot and are opposed to paying any tax on its account.
The tax assessed is $1 for school purposes and is known as “occupation” tax.
Women say it is [misnamed?] as far as they are concerned, declaring that they should not be taxed because they happen to be housewives.
The assessors’ list shows about [9,000?] women taxables.
The registration in McKeesport showed 2,489 women enrolled, which gives color to the statement of the assessors.
Next, from the Greenfield, Pennsylvania, Record-Argus:
A Corry tax collector secured judgment against eleven women who refused or neglected to pay school tax.
The cases will probably get into court, as there seems to be a difference of opinion about what can be done when a woman who does not own property refuses to pay tax.
Next, from the Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, Item:
Refuse To Pay Tax
Tax Collector Edward Nahf, of Tamaqua, has sent out final warnings to those who refuse to pay their taxes in that city.
Most of the trouble, he states, is coming from the women who claim they have never voted and they never will and therefore they will go to jail rather than pay.
Next, from the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Telegraph:
Arrests Women Who Refuse to Pay Tax
New Cumberland, . — Women as well as men of Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, were notified by J.M. Witmer, tax collector, Elkwood, that they would be arrested if all taxes are not paid within the next five days.
Fifteen men and women have been summoned before a justice of the peace and more arrests are promised.
Next, from the issue of the same paper:
Man Refuses to Pay Tax; Wife in “Jail”
Sunbury, . — Mrs. H. Norman Byers, of Valley township, Montour county, spent several hours at the home of Sheriff Gross and family at the jail here when her husband refused to pay her taxes or permit her to pay them.
The sum was $7.65.
When a constable brought the woman to be jailed the Sheriff would not hear of it, and the woman spent the time with Mrs. Gross, instead of in the jail.
Neighbor women made up the amount.
The husband is a well-to-do farmer and operates a milk route in Danville.
Next, from the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Tribune:
Citizens Resist Tax Collector
Portage Official Refused Entrance Into Home to Make Levy
Cresson, . — William Mickey, tax collector of the borough of Portage, has been having trouble in collecting taxes in his bailiwick.
The trouble came to a head when he attempted to levy on the goods of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stankavitz.
He was prevented entering the house.
Mr. Mickey made information before Justice of the Peace Fred W. Veil, here, against Mr. and Mrs. Stankavitz, charging them with obstructing a process.
At a hearing on both parties were held in the sum of $300 for their appearance at court.
Information was also made by Tax Collector Mickey against Mrs. Lucy Sura on the same charge and when Constable Lytle went to serve the warrant, Mrs. Sura loaded children of the neighborhood in the constable’s car and said she was ready to go to jail.
It was found that but six of the eighteen children were of her family and when Lytle attempted to eject them from his car, Frank Sura, husband of the woman interfered.
As a result he was arrested on a charge of interfering with an officer.
Both he and his wife gave bail in the sum of $300 for their appearance at the next term of court when brought before Justice F.W. Veil .
Next, from the Reading, Pennsylvania, Times:
Woman Refuses to Pay Tax, Arrested
Ephrata, . — Refusing to pay taxes, Anna Beck, wife of John Beck, of near Hahnstown, was arrested and lodged in Lancaster county jail by M.B. Hecker, tax collector of Ephrata township and two deputies, Benjamin Wissler and Jacob Beck.
Next, from the Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, Daily News:
Women of Kulpmont Refuse to Pay Tax; Most of Those Back in Taxes Are Women
Efforts to force women of Kulpmont to pay their taxes are proving rather discouraging.
Constables are not anxious to serve warrants on members of the fair sex.
The Kulpmont News was told by Paul Azary, borough tax collector, on whom demand was made recently to clear up the big exoneration list, which contains the names of hundreds of women voters, that several thousand dollars is due and it was announced that among the delinquents, at least 90 per cent are women.
Objection of the women is principally to the $2.50 special school tax, which they consider exorbitant.
Next, from the Reading, Pennsylvania, Times:
Six Darby Women Refuse to Pay Tax
Most of 300 Who Defied Collector Turn In on Threat of Prison
Darby, Pa.,
(AP) — Six
women out of three hundred who defied the local tax collector and refused to pay a personal tax of $4.05 still were holding out against the payment of the impost.
Unless they pay the tax, says S. Robert Shaw, the collector, he will be forced to send them to the Delaware county jail until they meet this obligation to the borough.
Despite the resistance of the little band, a majority of housewives of Darby chose to pay the tax in preference to going to jail.
Bring Babies Along
Many of the women who decided to pay brought their babies along to the tax collector’s office and at one time there was a string of baby coaches outside the door.
Harry W. Shein, deputy collector, had his troubles in trying to find some of his delinquents.
There was no response to his call at several of the homes and there was nothing for him to do but pass on to the next delinquent.
He found Mrs. Margaret Lytle at home.
She was busy doing an odd job in painting.
“I’m the tax collector,” said Shein.
“So I see,” said Mrs. Lytle.
“You had better pay your taxes,” said Shein.
“What will my husband do if he comes home and finds no supper,” asked Mrs. Lytle.
Shein had no reply to this and again warned Mrs. Lytle that non-payers of taxes will go to jail.
Another woman who is reported to have failed to pay her tax claimed she was laughed at by her friends when she paid her tax in former years, and she would not be laughed at any longer.
The tax has been imposed to complete the new Darby High school, and is part of $5,000 that is needed.
All the men apparently have paid the tax.
Next, from the issue of the same paper:
Recommit Woman to Jail When She Refuses to Pay Tax
Lewistown, Pa.,
(AP) — Mrs.
Lillian Reed, of Milroy, was recommitted to the Mifflin county jail here by W.H. Prints, Mifflin county sheriff, when she refused to pay her school tax.
When the woman was faced with the alternative of paying her taxes or going to jail, she calmly said she preferred jail.
Even when offered the opportunity of giving a security for the tax to be paid in 10 days, she refused.
Exclusive of her attorney fees, Mrs. Reed refused to pay the items of the cost of her case to the court which include court records $29.20, school tax with extras added $5.25, and sheriff costs, $4.40.
Z.T. Stine, Lewistown borough tax collector, stated today that since Judge Bailey delivered his decision against Mrs. Reed many women had come to his office to pay their taxes.
Next, from the issue of the Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Daily News is this item that may or may not be related to the campaign:
Woman Refuses to Pay Tax Bill, Goes to Jail
Easton, Pa., .
— (AP) — Mrs. Ada Housden, of Bangor, a widowed mother of nine children was brought to the county jail today on the warrant of Joshua Price, tax collector because of her inability to pay taxes an penalties assessed against her during the past three years.
The bill is for $17.43. After she had been in jail for several hours she was released upon orders of the solicitor for the county commissioners.
She admits owing the bill but says she is unable to pay it.
