Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-26
DISUSE OF COUPONS.
TIE LIouoR-DEALERy MOVEMENT
FINDING GENEaAL FAVOR
Action Yesterday Of the Richmond stock
Boara-The Situation as at Pres
ent Seen.

prior 10 the late presidential election. and
since until very recently, is again much.
tslkSd-oi thing.
Ssr5scems TO have revived With all OF Its
f6facr life and yivac ~, at least 30 FAR Ms
beng a subject Of conversation among the
businessmen oi Richmond.
It's pas, history, It's present condition, and
SIS future prospects were all freely discussed
Yesterday In every quarter and by nearly
evCry body.
This sudden infusion Of new life was
brought about by The action Of the liquor
dealers The night before in adopting as
body resolutions. and signing a. individuals
pledge not 10 use coupons In the payment
ot ihoir state hccnse.taXes which fall due
The ist Of May, but agreeing 10 pay them In
money.
The step taken by the liquoi-men set other
businessmen to thinking. and the coneen.
sus ~ opinion is that from this course
great good to the state will result.
BETTER PEEIING.
An Of the Capitol officers were very much
elated Yesterday at the outcome OF Thursday
NIGHTS meeting, and II was their unanimous
opinion that the step taken by the liquor
trade was a most important aud entirely
praisewOrihy one.
There is no doubt that the Governor and
tho Mayor carried out the plan well; IN fact
much more successfully than either OF them
tyrected.
they hope 10 meet with similar en-
courarement when they approach the other
branches oi business.
Their idea is first TO reach the license.
taxes falling due I'm MAY: then 10 put up
their fences FOR reaching the payers OF pro-
periy taxes.
THE STOCK BOARD ACTS.
Al the meeting OF the stock Board OF
Richmond yesterday morning Mr.. John Z.
Williams offered resolution. the text OF
which could not be learned. but which pro.
vjdea that the stockholders themselves
would not use coupons in the paymcnt OF
their taxes and that they would try 10 dis
susde their patrons from doing so.
Tho resolution created quite stir and oc-
exsiOned n lively debate. several spoke In
favor Of It, while Others opposed 1t strenu-
Ousy.
II was suggested that the matter be post
poned, As one member OF the Board WAS alb
cent but this was oyerruled.
Opposition was made on The two grounds
that the board had no rieht 10 take such action
and that IL was not practical
The resolution was adopted by vote OF
20 o3.
Il was agreed by The board that the reso-
luton should not be given ont for Dnblica'
ton. and sll Of the brokers approached 10y
the Dispatch reporter were very retcent
and non-cOmmiltal. II was with difficulty
that the vote was obtained.
THE SITUATION.
The resolution simply expresses the senti-
ment Of the majority OF the members Of the
board present. tut It's tertGs are not binding
t4s.fs ltur "a 9Y
the eight brokers in the city have been IN
the habit OF using coupons in payment OF
their taxes and in all probability there is not
one a. them but who as agent or otherwise
uses coupons.
Tho resolution cOntcmpates that they
shall Use their influence against coupons;
but does not forbid them handling them.
The matter seemed TO arouse considerable
feeling. Some Of those who voted AGAINST
tho resolution expressed the belet that u
would not amount % anything, but those
who voted for IL are confident that good VIII
come out OF the move.
FALL ~ LINE.
A prominent broker said last night:
al believe our action will have beneh-
c,sf effect. and that the other businessmen OF
Richmond a. for that, Of other cities,
tno-will follow the example OF the liquor
dealers. The prospect, IN my opinion, ~
brighter than it has ever been for speedy
settlement OF the state debt
FACrs AND FIGURES.
few facts and figures concerning the
AMOUNT Of license.taxes annually assessed by
the state, the portion paid bv the city OF
Richmond, aud 10 what extent coupons have
hoen used I'm the last few years. may be In
ieresting just at present, and III connection
with the subject now under consideration.
The aggregate amount OF icense-taxes paid
fhr state in 1888, was $6jS, 1868.
OF this S2S7.i75.si was on account OF
Hquor.lcenses and $3.50, 700.50 general busi'
ness licenses.
For Richmond city the following were the
figures:
Iiquor-l licenses. s....................... $500 20
Business-ncenses.,.. Ol,HS 70
Total. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $lii,5s6 6s
The exact amount Of coupons used in 1883
either for license or property taxes cannot
be given With any degree OF accuracy, as no
record il kept at the Capitol of the coupons
rendered In various sections Of the Common
wealth. Only the judgments are listed, and
In rive the figures thus charged TO 1883
would by no omcans fairly represent the cou'
pon tender OF lSSS, since many OF these
judgments were In cases Of long standing,
while on the other baud many coupons were
offered during the past year which viii be
charged To this or even future years sc>
counts, AS these cases many be finally adJudl'
Gated.
10 will be astounding TO many OF the read
ers OF the Dispatch TO learn that. despite the
perstsient efforts, entrcatics, persuaNons,
and inducements OF the bondhOlders' agents,
there are over ninety out OF the one hundred
counties in Virginia In which coupons have
not vet been used; or, IL at all, not last year.
A few OF the largest cities, however, have
msde very bad records in this particular.
TpE COMMITTEES.
As stated Yesterday the llquor-dealers the
pight before decided 10 appoint committees
10 wait on the members OF the trade who
were not present Thursday night with
view 10 getting them TO take the pledge
signed hy all OF those who were IN attend
apcc-sixty-three in number. These COM
mlttees will consist Of five for each ward,
and they will be appointed to- day by Presi'
dent Smith and Secretary Rediord. so that
they may begin their work early Monday
morning,
There are 10 the city between three hun
dred and thirty and three hundred and forty
nersons engaged In the liquor business.
This number embraces the Wholesale and
retail merchants and the bsr.keepers. Near
about two hundred and eighty OF these sell
hquer either over the oar OF oy lhc uihh'
The active membership OF the association Is
shout one hundred aud twenty-five, but
most. II not all, OF the other persons engaged
in the business are 10 full sy mpathy with the
organization and lend helping hand when
assistance OF any character whatsoever Is
needed.
FALSE IMPRESSION.
Mr.. Smith, president Of the association,
said Yesterday that sll OF those who attended
Thursday nights meeting would certainly
Keep the pledge, aud he believed large ma.
FORTY OF those who Dad vet to be seen would
undoubtedly act In accordance with the
resolution Of the association, even II they are
personally 10 favor OF using coupons.
"The false impression has gotten abroad
be continued, "that the resolution adopted
by the association in the spring Of 1856, when
the locaLoption question was asitAied and
an election near at baud, was not faithfully
kent. The reverse, though, Is the case. Only