Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-30
THREE GOOD SPEECHES.


The three gentlemen who addressed the
Chamber Of Commerce meeting night be-
fore last were Colonel Archer Anderson
Robert w. Powers, and Beverley b.
Munford.
Colonel Anderson is the eldest son OF
the late General Joseph r. Anderson zone
of the most useful citizens Richmond
ever shad, and succeeded him as the
head of the Tredegar Company. Mr..
Powers is the president of the Powers
TAYLOR Wholesale Drug Company ana
is one Of our best known and
most influential merchants. Mr. Mum
ford is a member Of the law firm OF
STABLES & Munford, and is also actively
interested in several business enterprises
here. And he has the advantage of
having had many years of legislative eX-
perience. His subject was, Municipal
Affairs" while Colonel Anderson and MI
Powers discussed, respectively, our
Manufacturing Interests" and our Com
mercial and Trade Relations.
All three addresses were thoughtful,
suggestive. and encouraging. They con-
tanned valuable hints and timely criti-
-cisrus. Heretofore. as community, we
have not INDUCED in self-criticism, or
self-exaInination, rather, as much as we
ought We have not been as willing as
we should have been to have our faults
and shortcomings pointed out But we
are getting over that, and it is sign
of robust growth. Had we had TINS
habit when our city was building the
new City Hall, we should never have
gone to the length we did go in the mat
ter of expense.
We remember that, after several hun
dred thousand dollars of our money had
been spent. and the building had not
been one third finished. there was dis
position 10 discuss the question OF uiti-
mate cost, but gentlemen who were very
influential discountenanced it. They SAID
that. to get up a discussion as 10 the
probable expense in which the city would
be involved would injure our city's credit
and hinder the sale of our bonds.
Their view prevailed but we are salts
fed that it was a mistaken view. Had
the question been intelligently and ex-
haustfvely discussed at the time, checA
would have been put to some OF the eX-
trayagances that were afterwards IN
dulged in. Yes; that policy was a bad
policy. So too, has been the policy that
we have quietly INDUCED In OF saying
little or nothing of the fact that our
CITY was living beyond its means.
In all the speeches made before the
Chamber night before last the desira-
buity of adopting a different policy was
roferred to-referred TO in such terms
os will awaken the attention of our COM
munlty without alarming investors. The
truth is, holders of city securities are
heartily glad that the movement In be-
half of retrenchment and reform mas been
made. since 1t holds out the prospect
that hereafter no city bonds VIII be Is
sueJ. except TO retire maturing bonds
or 10 make permanent improvements.
Colonel Anderson, after enumeratng In
his speech the advantages OF Richmond
as an Industrial centre, added:
] wish / could complete the enumera-
zion by a reference 10 low rate OF TAXA
ZION. Unfortunately, we nave 10 AUNT
thai our eNtCtlht 30 'N'' "%o--'
aud 1 need not add that every proper
effort we can make by economical re-
form TO prevent It's increase and tighten
Its burden Will greatly encourage indus
trial expansion.
BY defective taxation we take 1t that
Colonel Anderson refers TO the fact that
though our tax-rate is but sl.40 on the 500.
by reason of the very high assessment OF
real estate here the tax-rate is really
much higher than IL appears TO be.
Mr.. Powers briefly referred TO the sub
Sect as follows
Nor have i said anything about the ne
cessity OF the city government being
economically administered, so as 10 reduce
taxation to the minimum. as bearing d.
rectly on our commercial interests. as 1
am satisfied that my friend. Mr.. Munford,
will clearly present his views on this sub
sect. ] simply refer 10 II as very I'M
portant factor In the development of our
commerce, and one which should demand
the serious attention OF every business
man interested I'm the. growth and pros
perity Of Richmond.
Mr.. Munford considered the subject OF
municipal economy at length. and took
the ground that there Is absolutely no