Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-07
TOTAX ALL BICYCLES.
THE PLAN OF THE FINANCE COM
u.TTEE SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL.
MANY MEMBERS FAVOR The IDEA.
The Measure II Said 10 Have nee"
Prompted by Wheeimcn-Condem
eJ as Glass Legislation and size
Tracked.

an ordinance which came HVA'
Finance Committee. imposing tax Oh al
bicycles. and by a resolution accompany
ING II which provided that all moneys -
derived should be expended In the con-
s,ructjon and maintenance of bicycle
track The ordinance was warmly sup
ported. and the statement was called iorth
! that even wheelmen were in favor or IT,
1t was. however condemned as class
| legislation, and succumbed to bombard-
ment Of questions. and was at length re-
ferred TO the Committee on Ordinances.
Among the questions raised was one
whether the ordinance would refer 10
children's bicycles and tricycies; ahothei,
whether the bicycle was not personal
property and so taxed; and another whe7
| Their IL was not private conveyance, ana
so exempt under the law
THE SESSION IN DETAIL.
The following members were present
Messrs. Caskie (presidenU, Blanks
Bloomberg, Camp, Curtis Fets ussoIi'
! CARRIER. Gibson. Grimes. Gunst, HARRISON
Ueeke. Hobson. Mills. Miner, Peters, Pol
lock. WaIlerstein, West, Nhalen' VIII
ston, and Woody
The Mayor returned with his veto
resolution appropriating $3.50 for the paw
ing of an alley on the south side OF Mar
LII street between Twentieth and
Twenty-first. The reason assigned by the
Mayor was that the measure did not re-
ceive the necessary twO-thirds vote IN the
Common Council The veto of the Mayor
was sustained.
FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The following appropriations were made
for street improvements: Eight hundred
dollars for repaving with granite
spalls the road-bed OK Venable street,
from Mosby to Pink street, the
amount TO be recovered from the
bondsmen Of the contractor; S2SS Tor
having the alley on the east side Of Eigh-
teenth street. between Board ana Grace;
$50 for paving an alley on the south side
of Marshall street. between Twentieth
and Twenty-nrst; $3.50 TO pave an alley
between Grace and Franklin ana tourth
and Fifth streets
An ordinance was adopted granting per-
mission TO the W. r. Trigg Ship-Buldins
Company 20 erect poles on the streets
Of Richmond under certain conditions.
The Southern Railway Company was au-
thoriZed 10 construct spur tracks on east
Cary street, and on the east side Of Four
teenth street. from Davenport Warehouse
to Lombard alley.
An ordinance was adopted fixing the
width Of Shafer street, between Park ay-
enue and Franklin street, at fifty feet.
An ordinance granting 10 the Southern
Railway Company permission to construct
a spur track on Virginia street, was
adopted.
Resolutions were adopted which provide
that the clerk Of special assessments
shall make apportionment Of taxes for
sewers and other Improvements according
TO the benefits derived. The amounts TO
be so apportiOned are $3.1J6O6 for sewers;
s5,157.G5 for sidewalks, and S6l5.61 for al
leys.
A TAX ON BICYCLES.
An ordinance was introduced by the
Finance Committee providing for the tax
alton of BICYCLES the fund thus created
to be used for the construction Of bicy-
Gle track. The ordinance makes ii I'M
lawful for any persons, a citizen Of Rich
mond, 10 ride a bicycle after April 3Oth,
which has not been licensed and regis
tered.
The ordinance provides that every per-
son desiring to ride a bicycle upon the
streets of Richmond shall apply to the
Treasurer and pay the sum of 81 before
May LIST each year. and shall receive a
metallic tag in return. \ fine for viola
ton Of this ordinance IS imposed. Of not
less than 81. nor more than SO. Persons
residing outside the city who come to
Richmond are not held liable for the tax
The question was raised as to whether
the word citizen did not apply only to
persons over p years old. Mr.. Caskie
asked whether the matter had been
brought to the attention of the Wheel
mems League, and Mr.. Wallerstein re-
piled that the Finance Committee had
acted upon the representations Of MEM
bers of the league. which had come TO
the committee through various channels.
OPPOSED AS CLASS LEGISLATION.
Mr. Miner opposed the ordinance on the
ground that it was class legislation and
would compel a certain body of people to
pay for a benefit which would benefit
equally the city Of Richmond.
Mr. Wallerstein took issue with Mr..
Miner as 10 the ordinance being class
legislation. 4 bicycle was personal pro-
perty, and from information in the pos
session of the Finance Committee few
persons included their bicycles in their
lists of personal property The speaker
expressed the hope that Richmond would
keep abreast with the other cities in
providing tracks for bicyclists
Mr.. Miner said the League Of Wheel
men had held that the bicycle was pri-
vate conveyance, and could not be taxed.
On motion of Mr.. Pollock, the ordinance,
with its amendments was referred TO the
Committee on Ordinances.
An ordinance providing for the eXpen-
diture Of the taxes so derived to the con-
struction of a bicycle track on Grace
street was likewise referred 10 the Ordi-
nance Committee.
A NEW ENGINE HOUSE.
An ordinance providing for the payment
Of a fee for the transfer Of city bonds was
adopted.
An ordinance authorizing the Fire Com
missioners to purchase a suitable lot for
an engine-hOqse, to be erected for Engine
| Company No. 2. at a sum not exceeding
| $500 was adopted.
| Mr.. Walersten explained that the COM
missioners had an opportunity TO sell their
present house. on Main street, between
| Twenty-nrst and Twenty-secOnd streets.
| and by adding TO the sum thus acquired
| 200 TO buy a more desirable location.
The ordinance governing the sale Of
coke was so amended that the person
desiring to purchase from the city can go
/ direct 10 the superintendent of the Cas-
Works. instead Of TO the Auditor.
There was a protracted debate over a
resolution that the water mains be ex-
tended TO Hollarans clearinghouse, OPP
posite the Richmond Locomotive-W Works,
and the matter was referred to the COM
mittee.
The Police Committee returned claim
for feeding prisoners with a report that
they had no fund to meet such an ex-
pense which was referred to the Finance
Committee.
BOARD OF HEALTH ORDINANCE.