Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-23
NO RIGHT TO EXEMPT
JUDGE cLopToN go HOLDS REGARD
ING PROPERTY NOT NOW TAXED
The Lseser-Liosnss Tag and Base OF TAXA
sioa 70 Rsmain - Rormsriy-
Other Sasuohsster News.

seaslon last night, with M " y. osueo'
the president, In the chair. The other
members present were Messrs. Weisieer'
OBrien, Morris, Jones, Browder. hoiin'
Fahr. Taylor, 6tarke. and Pitt. Clty-Attor-
nsy William L Clopton and City-Ensineer
Nelson were also in attendance.
After the Council had been called to
order Mr.. Morris took the chair and pre-
sided through the meeting.
Judge Clopton. IN obedience to resoiu-
ton adopted ct the last meeting OK the
Council requesting his opinion concerning
the effect OF the late decision OF the su.
preme Court of Appeals in the case OF
Whiting %. West Point relative to exemp,,
tionsfrom city taxation heretofore granted
in Manchester. submitted his views ~
writing. He said by this decision oil such
exemptions granted by councils are de-
clAred to DO illegal and void. He stated
further that he had advised the Commis-
sioner of the Revenue to include all sucn
property % has been heretofore exempted
IN his land and property books and TO ex-
tend the taxes against all such property as
soon a. the Council shall have prescribed
the rate for the current year.
Judge Clopton said further that for tne
Council to pass an ordinance or resolution
to sSsoss this exempted property would
only be recurring him to do what the law,
~ Interpreted by the Supreme Court,
already makes his duty.
THIS MAY BE ExENpr.
He called special attention to the property
on the river-front sold by the city in 1881 to
the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad
Company, now owned by the Chesapeake
aud Ohio Railway Company. In the
contract of sale the exemption from taxa
ton granted IS made q part OF the con-
sideration for which the purchase-money
was paid. Whether this will prove effect
i've before the courts it would be improper
for me to say IN advance of Adjudication
by tho courts. The city, however, might
take high ground and conserve its moral
and equitable obligations IN the contract
by the Council passing q resolution or or
dinance declining to collect this particular
tax"
He said further that II this company
was required to pay taxes on the property
named no doubt the contract made with
the city would have to be anuulled and
the city would have to refund the amount
of urchase-money--about $2O0,00O.
NO INCREASE IN LIoUoR-LIcENsEs.
The Committee on Ordinances, to whom
was referred the ordinance prescribing
the license.taxes to be imposed on public
entertainments. intoxicating liquors. &C.,
recommended the adoption OF the paper
with the provision increasing the liquor
license from $50 to 500 stricken ont.
Mr., Perdue opposed the committees re-
commendation in this particular. he did
not think 300 was an exorbitant tax for
liauor-lioenses, and If this section was to
be stricken out he was In favor OK reject
4
Mr. Browder then offered resolution
to reject the ordinance.
MIR. TAYLOR said he did not think the
Council should act upon this question Just
now. as the Excise Board convenes to-day
and the court meets Monday. Conse-
ouently the dealers would not have any
notice to prepare for taking out such
licenses if they so desired. He suggested
that the 800 be stricken out and $50 be
inserted.
Mr. O'Brien requested Mr.. Browder to
withdraw his resolution, to which he as
sented, and Mr.. O'Brien offered resolu.
tion providing for the license-tsx tc re.
mann as previously adopted. e., $50
The resolution was adopted, as was reso
luton offered by Mr.. O'Brien, providing
tor the adoption of the ordinance as &
whole.
WILL ORGANIZE A FIRE COMPANY.
Mr. Perdue asked that the ordinance
relative to the organization OF fire de
parIment be taken up, which was done
and Mr. Jones made o motion, which wa.
seconded by Mr.. Perdue, to postpone &C
tion indefinitely. An aye and nay vote
was taken, and the motion was iost-ayes
Mr. Starke then moved that the ordi
nance be adopted. The motion was car
ried by q vote of ayes z, noes 4.
A report from the Committee on Streets
relative to decreasing the expenses of tn,
city by dispensing with the services OF thu
Engineer was read. and Mr.. Pitt moved t.
Law the paper on the table until the regula
meeting OF the Council in June. This wa
agreed to.
proyiding that the rate of taxation remaiI
the same as last year-x1.40 for city anC
2Oc. for school purposes. The resolution
was unanimously adopted.
A number of building permits wer,
granted, after which the meeting ad
journed.
PERSONALS AND BRIEFS.
The Board Of Supervisors Of Chesterfield
county will meet Monday.
Rev, MIR. Harrison Is expected to begin
series of revival meetings at the Balm
bridge-Street Baptist church about tn
LIST OF May.
The case of Foster against, the city o
Manchester was argued in the Supreme
Court day before yesterday by Judg
James ri. Gregory for the plaintiff an'
Judge William !. Clopton for the defen
dant,
The funeral of Mrs. Virginia Il. Brown
whose death was announced in yesterday
D1spArcH, will take place tomorrow after
noon at 8 o'clock from the cambridge
Street Baptist church. She was the widow
of James brown. and was for o long time
sufferer from consumption, which causet
her death.
Mr.. v. Lee Turrentine, for some tim,
employed at the Danville macElne-shops
has left to accept position on the Norti
Carolina division of the Danvllle system
Next Tuesday evening at 8o'clock Stuar
Lodge. No. 141, and Henderson Lodge. No
IO5, /. o. o. f., will jointly celebrate tn
seyenty-third anniversary Of the order il
America. The exercises promise to be o
q very interesting character and will tax
place at Odd-Fellows' Hall, corner o
| Eighth and Hull streets. Rev. j. j. Clop
| ton, Rev. Decatur Edwards, and other
will speak, and refreshments will b
| served.
The cars on the Perry and Decatur stree
lines were stopped yesterday afternoon
during the thunderstorm which passe'
over Manchester.
The wall IN front of the lot on PER-.
street owned by Mr. w. i. Reams fell int
the street Yesterday afternoon. Th
structure was made OF brick. on top
which was the front fence. The cause o
the fall is not known. Some suppose tina
il Was struck by lightning, while others ar
of the opinion that the foundation CAV
way in consequence Of the recent We
weather.
THE WALKER LIGHT GUARD.
The Infsntrymen Feast ut the Exchsnge
ro..s. sra II a. uonses-Tha parada