The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-22
THE TAXPAYERS REVOLT
~ HENRICo AGAINST THE SUPER
TfsORS
Opposition to the Unnecessary Building OF
New Petition and Ar
guinent to be Ignored by the Bosses.

months ago the Board OF Supervisors OF
Henrlco county haa under consideration
the destruction Of the old county court
house and the building OF new one.
This expenditure was deemed unnecessary
by large number Of taxpayers Of the
county. and they accordingly, through Ma
jor J. II. Dooey, presented petition to
the Board OF Supervisors protesting
against the new building. In presenting
this petition, whien is presented here
with, Major Dooley made the following
remarks:
Mr.. Chairman,-Upon the occasion of
presenting this petition, / deem 1t my duty
10 make known some OF the reasons why
the Taxpayers OF HenncO county are be-
coming aroused in opposition 10 the Ge-
strucu0n oil their courthouse ana The
abandonment u their hre-prooI clerk
office.
II il were true that the walls Of the old
courthouse were unsafe or could not be
repaired, We might have TO submit, how
ever reluctantly. 10 the burdens Imposed
by The construction OF u new courthouse.
Efforts have certainly been made 10
produce the Impression that cur build
ing IS unsafe but you, gentlemen, are
aware, and 1 desire the public 10 Know,
that Colonel william l.. Cutshaw. the
distinguished engineer Of the city oil
Richmond, has nndily disposed OF th4t
question. lie has, a. your own request
investigated the subject, and has pro-
nounced the walls 10 be in such condition
that they can be made entirely SAKE ahe
adequate for yOgr purpose
lie has also most satisfactorily dls-
posed OF the allegation that our officials
cannot obtain adequate accommodations
without a new courthouse. lie mas,
presume. at Your request, proposed plans
Tor 50 altering this structure as 10
afford all the accommodations which you
can reasonably require. hold in my
hands his plans, which i received from
him, and which lie assured me could be
executed at a cost not exceeding S,vjo.
Mr.. West, also, the architect whom you
first employed although strongly adj
yocaung a new building, mace plans for
the alteration of this house a. compare
lively small expense. The taxpayers
committee, also. at your November meet
ing, pointed out the manner in which the
OH building could be altered, renovated,
and enlarged.
At that time after a full discussion Of
the subject you resolved that your
proper course was TO remodel The Old
courthouse. Il appears. IN pursuance OF
the conclusions oil that meeting. that
Colonel Cutshaw was called upon Tor MS
opinion ana assured you OF the entire
safety OF the walls and the practicaDility
OF 50 remOdeAiHg the house as TO OBJ
tain the required accommodations. Now
we learn. 70 our great surprise, that you
have reversed the solemn conclusion
which you then reached. after the full
est and most cordial conference with
the Taxpayers and their committee.
We have been told by some people that
you are determined 20 build a new court
house anyhow, and that all the efforts
of the Taxpayers viii be without avail.
/ DO not believe IT, / do not believe ii, be-
cause such conduct would imply that
you are influenced ny other interests
han those of the taxpayers, whom you
are bound 90 represent.
You, gentlemen, are the agents Of the
people, TO receive and Oisburse their
taxes in the manner most conducive 10
their interests. The primary purpose OF
the imD Jsiti0u aud collection of taxes is
not TO pay salarcl officers or surround
them with comforts, or 90 erect public
buildings for l1eir convenience. 10 IS
10 maintain go1l schools for the educa-
tion Of the children or the citizens, TO
and the transportation Of their products;
TO procure adequate protection Cor the
rights of persons ana of properly.
The payment Of salaries 10 officers and
the provision for their comfort by erect
ing fine public buildings is quite a sec
Jndary consideration and mere incident
Of government.
This building was good enough FOR our
public officers when HcnricO county was
Weather and her people far more COM
Portable than they are in these days Of
panics and sixty-cont wheat. But sup
pose that this building does not AFFORD
them all the comforts that they require;
suppose that even with Colonel cut
shaw's improvements and alterations they
arc not satisfied; suppose that we, the
Taxpayers, do not feel able 10 provide
them with all the elcgances and corfOrts
and conVenienccs which they demand.
are their comforts and convcniences 10 be
considered and provided for out of our
money, IN preference TO our nccessitiesY
We are told that the treasurer wants
better rooms. l hope that il is not in
consistent pith the respect which We owe
TO his Office 10 say that II Is better
that he should adapt mis- business TO the
accommodations which have sufficed for
his predecessors than that the COWS and
horses Of the farmers should be dis
trained 10 pay an increase of taxes.
We are Informed that our worthy clerk
summer breezes blow through his western
is Inconvenience. because when the
window De shifts the evil doors from the
adjacent jail Would it not be better
that the sheriff should clean the jail
in summer time. and even occasionally
wash its malodofous douizcns, than that
The invaluable documents and records Of
this county AID the munlments OF title tC
our lands should be taken from the fire.
proof ara costly building which We have
recently erected and stored IN q new
and fimsy structure?
The newspapers describe II as n slow
burning building. Mr. Chairman / am
lawyer and a large landowner. IN each
OF these capacities / deprecate and COIL
denim the proposition 10 remove onr rec
ords from nre-proof Office 10 a burn
ing building OF any kind. 1 care not
whether .t be q quick-bufning or slow
ords from firc-pfO0l office 10 n burn
burning building The importance OF
having our records safely kept I'm a fire
PROOF building cannot be oyer-estimated.
10 - incredible 10 me that you can serl-
Ously contemplate a change so reckless
and 30 incompatible with Tic interests OF
our people. one of the complaints
against the courl-house. which Is most
teudent Of Public Schools has not sun-
cicnt SPACE for the meetings OF his school
persistently urged. f. that the Supcrln-
teachers. Under Colonel Cutshaw'e plan
ne would have a room more than thirty
feet long and more than eighteen feet
wide, for ordinary meetings. while for
extraordinary meetings he could use The
courtroom.
IL Is inuorfopf -h4t hts rpoaffngs chouIG