The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-11
LOCAL, MATTERS.

= 81
LOCAL MATTERS.
CITY Observation-Disclosures Meeting -
At an adjourned meeting of the City Coun-
Gil held last evening the following mem
bers were present Messrs. mcfarland
tpresident) I, and Clinton, Clopton, Crutch-
field, Humphreys, Miller, Pelouze, Sharp,
Saunders, Smith, Taylor, Van Lew, and
Wigand.
Mr.. Saunders presented, o conmunica-
ton from Mr.. Charles Bruce, inqniring
what provision, if any, had been made for
the payment of certain bond for 100000
falling due on the lst of January, 1868.
He moved its reference to the Finance Com
dmittee. 2ssE 's1g - ~ fzG@t ~ &Ha
Mr.. Humphreys feared that the debt
might have been contracted for wal. pur-
poses. He was unwilling to commit the
Council to the payment of such debt, ,.,a.
. Mr.. Saunders desired to quiet the fears
of the gentleman. No bonds issued for
such purposes were now out save one that
is in the possession of the Savings Bank Of
Petersburg. The communication was re-
ferred to the Finance Committee.
o hse The Idr Bill. eisa ~ ss
On motion of Mr.. Smith, the Council then
went into the consideration of the, protests
of the dentists, physicians, and others,
against the class tax levied on their re-
spectiye professions. An invitation was
extended to gentlemen representing the
professions to address the Council; in pur-
suance of which DR.. Burton was heard on
the part Of the dentists, and Drs. Snead
and McCaw in behalf of the physicians.
MIR. Crutchfeld submitted the following:
Z" ResolUed, That the Finance Committee
be and is hereby instructed, in submitting
their report, not to propose the imposition
of class tax on physicians"
Mr.. Saunders said that as the tax had oil
ready been imposed, the resolution could
not reach it. He desired to offer substl-
tute, which would not change the result
sought to be attained: -.r -.
ResolUed, That the ordinance imposing
q class tax on physicians be and the same
is hereby repealed"
Mr.. Smith moved that the resolutions be
laid on the table, and that that portion OF
the tax bill referring to dentists, lawyers,
and physicians be recommitted. ).
Mr.. Crutchfeld desired to include me-
chanics. , b . Ss. .
The amendment was accepted. 3ss.
A long debate ensued on the different
resolutions. -'> as <.. - ~
MIR. Clinton offered the following as an
amendment to the substitute for the whole
matter
-" ReSolued, That in the opinion of the
Council the tax known as the class tax is
entirely wrong, and the same ought to be
abolished, and the necessary tax for the
support of the city government be levied
and collected from the real estate, personal
property, and capital of the city :.
Mr.. Saunders thought the matter would
lead to more difficulty than was appre-
hcnded, as the property books had been made
out already, after four months labor, anu
the tax would become due on the 18th in
slant. tsf& els atgse .' $500
Mr.. Smith favored the proposition.
Mr.. Macfarland hoped the matter would
be allowed to remain as at present, with the
exception of the relief of the parties. who
had complained. He thought the tax which
would be collected, under the present ordi-
nance would be adequate to meet the inte-
rest on the debts due July lst. Ii neces-
sary heavier tax could be assessed pc
tween that date and January .lst. -.
Mr.. Humphreys offered the following re,
solution, which he hoped would be acted
upon in case the Council persisted in its ap-
parent determination of repeating hle the pre-
sent tax bill. .,.,a-44a
"Resolued, That the Finance Committee
be instructed to be governed by the same
rules in fixing the class tax OF physicians,
dentists, and lawyers, as prevails in liking
the class tax of merchants, mechanics,
manufa cturers, traders, &C., ',.,,,.,.o-,s.,a.-
Mr.. Smith moved to refer the whole sub
iect to the Finance Committee. 80.
Mr.. Pelouze presented another resolution,
and matters were getting considerably
mixed up, when Mr.. Saunders rose and ex-
pressed the hope that some action would he
taken by which the business might be
brought before the Council in % tangible
form. He thought if the Committee on
Finance was allowed half hours consul
tation. some defnitive action could be
reached. ~ -.,.s.4f ~ -.3s n, .tfz.s ;,
Mr.. Macfarland moved that the Commit
tee on Finance be allowed to take oil the
resolutions which had been offered, and re-
tire for consultation. Adopted.
Pending the return, of the committee, the
Council took recess. -.--....~.-,,.,
On reassembl bling, Mr.. Saunders presented
the following report, which was adopted.
"To the Council of Richmond: s.,sa .s
"Gentlemen The Committee on Finance
have considered the various resolutions re-
ferred to them by the Council, and after an
interview with the City Assessor and the
late City Collector, and being Informed that
it would take at least one month to make
out the books again if any change should
be made in the tax-bills, and also by the
Collector that it would take about four
weeks to make out all the bills after ne
obtains the books, your committee have
come to the unanimous conclusion that
it would be improper to- make any
change at. this time in the tax bill II y We
mean to sustain the credit Of the city ana
therefore we recommend to the Council to
make no change, but to let each case cSme
gup on petition and stand on its own merits,
Your committee would state that they are
of opinion that the tax should be mostly
upon real and personal estate and capital,
If not altogether.
The committee would have reported
more fully upon. the subject but for want
of time. Respectfully submitted,
s. ID. .sAuNDERs, Chairman. y ~
#.g Official Bonds. .g s.
+,g The Committee on Bonds not being pre-
pared to report in full, and owing tosthe
absence Of. Colonel August, the chairman,
action was postponed to an adjourned meet
1;no ordered for Friday evening next at 8