The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-15
letter from Petersburg,
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.I
PETERSBURG, February 10. 1915.


Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.I
PETERSBURG. February IL. 1915.
A MEETING OF THE TOBACCO EXCHANGE
Of the city WINS held yesterday-Mr. Z. II.
Osborne in the cbair-at which resolutio ms
were offered by Captain S. w. Venable dep
rccating the proposed increase of the internal
revenue tax on tobacco. The resolutions
were adopted by the unanimous vote of the
Exchange, and were directed to be sent by
the secretary to the Virginia senators and
representatives in Congress.
FIRE IN NoTTowAY.
Tue residence of Mr.. r. s. Eppea, at Blacks
and Whtes, In Nottoway county, took fire
day or two ago, but was eXtinguished before
serious injury resulted. The insurance COM
pany in which the owner had policy had
the building restored to the status quo.
BEARS NEAT.
One Of the novelties in the market day
has been consignment Of bears meat from
one Of the southwestern counties.
INSPECTIONS AND RECEIPTS OF TOBACCO.
The inspections of tobacco for the week
ending to-day were LOG hoesheads; the re-
ceipts 40 hogsheads. Total, 1874, 22S3
hogsheads total, 1875, 1,67S hogsheads-in-
ulSdltllS q uCCiluc Ill lSSCIpIS lOl
the current tobacco year, SO far.
CITY COUNCIL.
At a meeting of the City Council held this
afternoon the proposition made in behalf Of
the stockholders Of the Merchants National
Bank TO close up the account of that institu
lion with the city by the cash payment of
ten per cent. on the amount Of the city's de-
post lin addition to the dividends of nine
and fifteen per cent. already declared and
made by the reccivers) was rejected. The
Council went further, and declared that it
would make no compromise with the bank
for the residue Of the city'S deposit yet un-
paid, but would await the payments as they
might be made.
The following resolutions were offered by
Captain w. E. Hinton:
Resolred, That DR.. Thomas Withers,
late member Of this Council, be requested to
furnish the Council copy OF the statements
said to he taken by him from the books of
the City Treasurer, aud bearing on the rela-
tive expenditures OF this Council and the
late Republican Council, from which he
makes it appear that useless and careless eX.
travagance characteriZes this Council ; also,
to furnish all information said to he IN his
possession showing corruption in the past of
any member or members of this Council.
9 That this Council deprecates the con-
duct of DR.. WitheIs in attempting to show
outside Of this Council that it has been use
Iessly extravagaut when he, as member of
the Council, should have brought the fuct, if
1t existed, to the Councils attention, and en-.
dearored to correct it before he resigned:
and that this Council regards clandestiDe
charges on the part of an cX-mem Der 4. dis
honorable.
3. That any charge of corruption against
any member Of this Council is false, and the
Council challenges the assertion and proof Of
such corruption by any person. =
These resolutions were supported by Cap
tain Hinton in q speech Of characteristic
yigor, in which be reviewed in severe terms
the course Ct DR.. Witbers, stating that he Qhe
Speakcr) had traced TO him number of re-
ports which were cllculIted 10 pjure the in
tlueuce of the Council and to destroy popu-
iar confidence in its action. He charged that
gentleman with having acted and voted HIM
self in personal interests, and with having acl-
ed with gross ingratitude. The arraignment
was very heavy. The Council adopted the
resolutions without dissent.
The financial state of the city was discussed
at length n connection with the proposition
of the Merchants National Bank. In order
to elicit the fullest official information in re.
gard 10 the condition OF the city finances
the following resolutions were passed:
Resolred, That the Finance Committee
be instructed to inquire and report
l. W hat amount Of outstanding bills
payable the late Council left unpaid on July
1>t, 1874.
.. What amount of cllims contracted be-
fore July 1st. 1874, has been paid by the
present Council.
8. What amount of the taxes assessed for
the present fiscal year was received BY said
late Council.
4. What amount of bills payable are now
outstanding against the city; and any mat.
lers, in their judgment, OF Importance to the
Council.
The object Of these resolutions is also to
adjust the relative amounts OF expenditure
between the late and the present Council, TO
dispose of certain reports that have been in.
dustriouSly kept in circulation that this
Council has been more extravaganza than It's
predecessor. K, Bin HOOP.