Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-07
r11rsDAy SEPT. 7, 1897.
MANUFACTURERS, NEW AND OLD.

MANUFACTURES, NEW AND OLD.
Our people are by no means unani-
nous as to the propriety of eXempung
new manufacturing plants from TAXA
ton. The difficulty presented is that
such a provision might give great adj
vantage to new manufacturers over old
ones.
Suppose there is a company here en-
blowing a hundred. men making saws.
Suppose that 1t had been enriching our
city for twenty years or more. when
another company came along and wished
IN establish n rival sawfactory here;
ought we then to exempt the iattec
from taxation and make the former pay
Its taxes as before? Or ought we TO
exempt both plants from taxation?
These are certainly serious questions.
And So at most, all that we should ex-
meet the Legislature to do would be to.
propose an amendment to the State
Constitution giving the Legislature the
power 10 grant tax exemptions, or 10
allow the Legislature to allow cities
and counties to grant such exemptions
..for limited periods where it is clear
ly to the public interest that this should
be done.
Only to this extent would 1t be either
necessary or prudent to go. We should
try TO see to 1t that in attempting to
serve the people we do not open wide the
doors of legislation to grave abuses.
We have been told so often that Rich
mond suffers because of its inability TO
srant this tax exemption, we really
should like TO have the opportunity to
try that experiment as other cities are
doing We think that the advantages
OF tax exemption are much overrated,
but yet we should like to see for our
selves whether or not 1t is that tails
manic thing 1t Is said to be In the
way OF encouraging and promoting
manufactures. The reports that come
10 us from other communities are con-
nlcting: we want to try the experiment
for ourselves.
But with investors of capital. there
are many things far more important
than tax exemption. One desires to
know II his home people will take pride
whether there will be 'home market
for large part of his output Again.
he would like TO know what is the price
OF labor, whether II is more or less
than his competitors elsewhere have to
Gay. He would also like TO be in
formed whether fuel is as cheap here as
II is In other important manufacturing
cities. Or IL water power or electric
power is offered. he would be pleased
to learn how the rates charged for IT
compare with rates prevailing in COM
petltlve cities.
In our opinion. IL the great scheme
proposed by the General Electric Com
pany for "electrifying" the water power
OF James river here should prevail, we
should have In 1t an attraction and in
ducement for investors that would leave
the tax exemption "out OF sight" Cheap
power and cheap labor are what all
manufacturers seek, and II is In the
power Of Richmond to furnish both OF
these. particularly II the electrifying Of
James river is done as planned.
II Is In our power, also. to provide a
home market for many manulacturers.
In the past We have not distinguished
ourselves for cracking UP and buying
Richmond goods, but the Dispatch
thinks 1t now sees signs of Improvement
in this respect. We have the popula-
lion ana the money to infuse life into
many languishing industries, IL we
wouid but patronlze them as we ought
20 Go.
Recurring TO the subject of tax ex-
cmptions we say that no hard and fast
law or rule ought to be adopted But
We think the Legislature ought to be
clothed with more power than It now
has TO deal with the subject OF such
exemptions. II shs matter OF taxation
-'"nhs IN the ~ay Of any city or coun-