Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-30

FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL EN-
poRsE STREET COMMITTEE PLAN.
FIRST. CLASS SERVICE is ASSURED.
Agreement between the Two Com
panics as to InterchanSe""'e
Trnnsfer.-PoIicem Minor to he
Peu.Ioned-Comm Notes.


There seems little reason TO believe tha'
| the taxation clause OF the ordinance
which empowers the Richmond Passeh-
| ger and Power Company to construct
| and operate a street railway in Richmond
| will be altered before II goes to the
| Common Council. next Monday.
The Street Committee is a unit in its
| favor and II is authoritatively stated
f! that the Finance Committee Will amend
| its report on the taxation question. 50
| that II will embody the recommendation
| of the Committee on Streets, which likes
| the tax at $40 on all the property
of the company, and per cent. Of
| the gross receipts for the first ten years,
| this tax to be increased according to the
wisdom Of the City Councils Of 1903 ana
! 1919
The Finance Committee will meet on
Saturday night, and the action INDICATED
above will it is confidently believed De
the result The original report OF TINS
| committee proposed a property TAX OF
l.40. per cent of the gross receipts loI
| the first ten years, Z IL per cent. FOR the
second ten years ana ~ pei C'h'' III '''~
last term Of the franchise
WILL PASS THE COUNCIL
A prominent member Of the Council,
who has tested the sentiment OF the
lower branch, says that he is confident
that section Of the ordinance 0he taxa
ton clause will prevail in that body. He
believes that the measure will pass with
few amendments, and those Of minor
Importance.
This same gentleman was present at
recent interview between counsel for the
syndicate and several councilmen, when
the taxation clause was under discussion.
Counsel contended that the tax should
be fixed for the whole term for which the
franchise is granted by the present COun-
Gil He argued that 1T would be fairer
TO the syndicate, though he did not deny
that a Council elected by the people
would carefully guard the interests Of the
city, and would be unlikely TO do anything
that would hurt the community which
they represent.
Mr. Ebel, who was present at the inter
view. and who is the author Of section
4. asked whether it would be satisfac-
tory to the syndicate TO have the ques-
ton Of taxation referred to the people
and fixed by popular vote. Counsel re-
piled that this would not be acceptable.
FIRST-CI.ASS SERVICE ASSURED.
Mr.. Ebel was seen last night, and con-
firmed this statement. He also said that
the ordinance would compel a first-class
service whatever the tax might be. 1T
is part Of the contract that such a ser
vice shall be given and maintained, for
as Shakespeare said, 1t IS so nominated
in the bond.
Mr. Ebel says, further. that there is no
xrb q e
franchise will be accepted in its present
form by the BOyd-Newton syndicate. lie
has information. he says, that enables
him TO make this assertion very positive
~.
Some color is lent TO this statement by
the fact that an agreement has been
reached between the Newton-BOyd synsi-
cate and the Richmond Traction Com
pany in regard TO transfers. Mr.. bemiss
said last night that plan fot the inter-
change Of transfers was decided upon at
a meeting held yes day Afternoon "he
question OF ISN'T use o. tracks was also
under consideration.
Pension for Policeman Minor.
At the meeting of ;he cornell Commit
tee on Police hcl1 in The City Hall yes
terday afternoon. q motion was adopted
recommending II The Council an ordi-
nance providing for the payment Of an
annuity of 500 I'm monthly instruments Of
| $50 to Policeman i. G. Minor during his
lifetime from the time of the eXpira ton
Of his term in Office, which will be jay
| /, 1909.
| Policeman Minor was seriously wound
! ed in the eye on May Il. 1896. about half
past / o'clock i'm the night while trying
To arrest a negro named Thomas. who
with a companion. and having in their
possession a bag OF stolen goods. We're
acting very suspicOusly In the neighbOr-
| hood of Eighteenth and Main streets. Mr..
Minor was shot by one OF the negroes,
who then escaped. but they were after
/ wards captured and sentenced 10 ,he pen
| itentiary for a term Of years. For long
| time after he was wounded grave Tears
for the recovery Of Mr.. Minor were Ell
tertaine6 He did recover, but his eye
| sight began TO fail rapidly, until now he
| is totally disabled.
The resolution adopted by the commit
tee to recommend that an annuity be
paid him is a recognition of his courage
and fidelity.
THE VAGRANT GANG.
Squire F. =. Jones in charge of the
vagrant gang. submitted his report for
| the month of November showing that
! the gang was employed twenty days
| breaking rock. The average number Of
prisoners working each day was six, and
| seventy-seven tons of stone was crushed
| and delivered TO the Engineers Depart
ment 10 be used in repairing streets.
4 motion was adopted instructing the
! City Engineer to designate a place in the
| city stable yard where the vaGrant gang
shall hereafter be employed in breaking
stone. The gang has been working near
| Byrd and Eleventh streets during the
months in which they are required 10
break rock, and this place has proved 10
| be a very unsuitable one owing 10 its
| location and the distance from the Jail
\ contract was awarded To r. j. Grace
to paint license tins for peddlers for the
year 1909 The payroll of the depart
ment and sundry bills were approved and
| ordered to be paid and other routine
| business disposed Of.
OTHER COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The Committee on Water met al 1913
/ east Main street yesterday afternoon
| Only routine business was transacted
The committees on Second Market and
Schools were both scheduled 10 meet in
J the city Hall last evening but neither
| had quorum.
THE TOURNAMENT TO-DAY.