The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-24

cent upon the gross receipts. Approved
March, 1885,
Nashville. Tenn-A city with n pop
ulation of a character like that OF Rich
mond-charPes 500 per mile. Passed I'm
1893
Albany. \. Y. with population of 100
ON, charges the general rate of taxaticn
upon basis OF $500 per mile
Grand Rapids, Mich. with Awhile pop
ulation Of 10000 charges two per cent
upon the gross earnings. and 500 per
mOtOr-car license tax per year. Ordinance
adopted May. 1899
CONSERVATIVE TAX.
Mr. Meredith. I'm closing. made a strong
appeal for a conservative tax He asks
that the roads be regarded as objects of
taxation, but as a means OF building mp
the city. The committee had mo right To-
disbelieye the figures presented. showing
the real condition Of affairs.
Chairman Hardwcke of the Finance
Committee then took the floor. He took
up first the statement of MT Meredith
that the bonded debt Of the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company was $780,
90 and the boating debt $4,000 In add
dition TO this, he said. there was a stock
debt Of 10000 making total of $780,
O00
1.-The road" said Mr. Hardwicka. could
be duplicated for 100000; or. If am
wrong, say 5000 600: what then has be-
come Of the other three miiions?2
Mr. Hardwcke went on 20 argue on the
line Of the increase OF the earnings OF
the roads IN the last two Years and said
he thought II the earnings of the roads
were increasing the city should receive
more money from them
Nlr. Hardwicke spoke only briefly and
.closed by saying that not being a pub
lie speaker he could not clearly art'cuate
what ne desired 10 say and what was In
his mind He. therefore. rclrguished the
task to special Accountant Carlton
Mccarthy.
Mr.. Mccarthy began by the statement
that whatever had been said by those who
had preceded him. the object was 10 get
something for their outlay
Capital" no said, demands blood. II
there is any in reach; II works every day
in the week Sundays included"
Captain Mccarthy. after paying n high
tribute 10 Mr.. Meredith, 10 whom. he
said. he intended not the slightest offence
by his statement at previous meeting
that paid attorneys would mislead and
deceive. took up the motives Of the COM
panles and gave them a very bad char
acter indeed. alleging self-interest as the
handspring Of all their actions.
GAVE AWAY STOCK.
The speaker warmed up 10 his work
n he proceeded with the question Of tax
alton. accused the Richmond, Railway
and Electric Company Of having given
away in blocks the stock, 10 bring which
to par value they desired now so be eX-
empted from taxes; accused Mr. Mere
dith OF false statements In saying that
the Traction Company had only $500
left after meeting necessary expenditures,
and generally and sweepingly denied all
and seyerally the allegations Of the other
side
CAPTAIN McCarthy's language was sew
eral times so pointed that Mr. Meredith
sought to interpose to explain, but the
sneaker would not listen. lie paid his
RESPECTS to Mr.. Newton's request that
they should not kill the goose that laid
the golden egg" saying he knew where
the goose was, but had not seen the gold
en- egg.
Mr.. Mccarthy called attention 10 the
fact that the companies plumed them
selves on the number OF half-rate tickets
issued. but that Mr. f.. L. Bemiss, presi-
den, NJ the Traction Company had been
greatly scared when a member or the
Committee had suggested relieving nm
OF that burden, and had asked 10 De re-
ieved I'm some other way.
Mr. Meredith i'm the absence or MT
pemiss. positively denied that the later
rad made any such statement, but cap
,afn Mccarthy insisted that ne could
,,ro,,e n bv seven witnesses.
NJ Mccarthy made an assault upon
az fortiicatlons Of steam and eleclrlc
railway lines and capital or every De,
scrintion all along the line and begged
Tho Councn to fix the applicants Tor
sroncbises before they fix YOU; it's the
last chance you will have for thirty
years" ,Do,>o
r,,A.,,ro, from the statements or the
-ity Accountant the RObber Barons OF
GA who sailed forth from their gloomy
cas,res and carried off the property OF all
ueaLer than they, were most estimable
citizens when compared with the street
car magnates Of The city OF Richmond.
Mr. Mccarthy proceeded 10 specihca-
tions. taking the cities OF Louisville, Ky;
Nashville Tenn. and baltimore. Md, as
a refutation OF statements made by Mr..
Meredith. He also cited Detroit, Newark
and 81. Louis. where ne claimed the COM
panies paid $4,000 a year into the eity's
treasury. with prospect OF an increase
Captain Mccarthy concluded by the
statement II the recommendations OF tho