Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-20

company absolutely at the mercy OF the
Council. A Council might be elected In
ten years that would be hostile to the
company and they could tax IL out of
existence. or. on the other hand, they
might make concessions that would not
be TO the best interests of the city. The
taxation on gross receipts was an IDEAL
mode.
WANTS COMMITTEES PLAN.
Mr.. Wallerstein advocated tho adoption
OF the Finance Committees report, which
recommends a tax OF per cent. on the
gross receipts for the first ten years. IL
for the second ten years. and 10 per cent.
for the third term OF the franchise. In
the North, he said. company would be
willing TO pay 100000 for such privilege
before the question OF taxation was con-
sldered. yet the city OF Richmond got
nothing. The company had endeavored to
create public sentiment through the news
papers on the ground that heavy taxa
fion would mean poor service. Instead
OF popular sentiment, they had created
popular fallacy. No one would invest In
such an enterprise as this to give poor
service That would be suicidal The
city only received $40 a year In taxes
from the electric-light plant. Mr.. Waller
stoin charged that the city was, at the
present time, receiving between $3.50 and
$4,000 less than 1t ought to receive, II the
figures Of street-railway earnings given
In Poe's Annual, an absolutely reliable
authority, were correct Upon the basis
of last years earnings Of the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company, the city
would receive $4,000 OF the $4,000 and
that, he contended, was no hardship He
moved that the plan of the Finance Com
mittee should be ADOPTED as a substitute.
Mr. Ebel followed and contended that
fair remuneration should revert to the
Treasury for the exclusive use OF the
streets. The city contributed 90 per cent.
of the value of tho business. The city
furnishes the streets, and the public, and
police to see that the company received
cash for each and every passenger car
ried. while the company only provided
the cars and the lines ut is" he said.
"the old story OF the lion and the lamb
lying down together. and when the Hon
gets up the, lamb is a 'goner.' We must
control the lion. and ! stand here to at
tempt TO do that with my vote"
1.-THE city pays to the company" he con-
tinued. nearly as much money for the
lighting OF the streets as the company -
to pay under the taxation plan proposed
In the ordinance" He advocated the
adoption Of this plan. There was no rea-
son 10 fear the councils Of ten or twenty
years hence. because tnere was no reason
TO fear the people who would elect those
councils. Mr.. Ebel said he had been IN
formed that each of the eleven corporators
of the Richmond Passenger and Power
Company was to receive sl5 900 for their
influence and the use OF their names
IF the company can pay Slo5,VU 10 the
promoters Of this company, they can pay
taxes. and they shall pay taxes Mr.
Ebel took his seat. challenging contranic-
ton of this statement
Mr. Caskie said the taxation was 10 DC
decided on the franchise TO the railway
company, and not the electric-light COM
pany. This latter had nothing 10 do with
the case
Mr.. Ebel: But they're figuring on the
electric-Iight business in their bond issue.
SHOULD DEAL LITERALLY.
Mr. Caske continuing, contended that
the bonds Of the company could not be
sold If the question OF taxation were LETT
open TO be decided by council TO be
elected ten years hence. IF you want 10
get good road. and get II as soon az
possible" he said. 'ycu should make the
bonds as salable as possible" He urged
the Council TO be liberal in dealing with
the company
Mr.. Ebel. in reply. argued that the
Traction COmpany's bonds had been
foated most advantageously although
the taxes had been left subject to change
in five years. In other cities the street
sorts OF provisions. They were compelled
to pave from curb TO curb; to light the
streets along their routes: TO sprinkle the
streets, and TO pay taxes on poles and
licenses on cars.
ANOTHER SUBSTITUTE LOST.
Mr.. ,Bloomberg seconded Mr.. Caskie's
amendment.
After some further discussion Mr..
Blanks offered d substitute, providing
for a tax Of per cent. on the gross re-
ceipts for the whole term Of the fran
chise. with the property tax Of Sl.40.
Mr.. HARRISON moved to lay Mr.. Blanks's |
substitute on the table. Adopted.
similar motion in regard TO Mr. Cas- |
kie's motion was lost. 1t was a test vote, |
and the result was as follows:
Noes-Messrs. Blanks BloOmberg,
Camp. Curtis. Ferguson. Gunst, Grimes. |
Mccarthy, Mills, Miner, Neale, Pollock, |
Shea, Teefey. West, Whalen, Williams,
Winston. and Caskie--l9
Ayes-Messrs. Ebel, HARRISON. Hobson, |
Peters. Wallerstein, and Woody-6.
Mr.. Wallerstein offered as a substitute |
for Mr.. Casne's motion the plan pro-
posed by the Finance Committee 1t was
lost by a vote Of % TO 9.
Mr. Caskies amendment was then put
and adopted by vote of Is to T.
THE ORDINANCE is ADOPTED.
Section 8. which fixes the term of the |
franchise for thirty years, was adopted.
The remaining sections, when refer TO
the imposition OF lOF NlOIdllOnS
OF any requirement of the ordinance, the
bond clause, and the time limit wherein
the franchise may be accepted by the
company. were adopted. One amend
lnent only was made. ana that requires
the head office Of the company TO be
within the city limits. with the auditing
and diSbursing offices. and at least three
Of the directors of the company are TO !
be residents of the city of Richmond.
The ordinance was then adopted as q |
whole the only votes being cast against |
/ being those Of Messrs. Ebel, Harrel-
son, and Hobson.
VIII Condemn Justis Island.
The Committee on James River I'M
)roVement met last night and received
d 10 negotiate the purchase of Justis
sland The body, 1t was stated. had
withdrawn the offer rs 10 the dredging
# sand, and had proposed TO give 5000
n cash for the land. Mr.. w. M: Justis
,ad rejected this offer. The committee in
the City Attorney to prepare
esolution providing for the condemna-
ion Of the island, which resolution is to
~ submitted TO the Council at the next
Meeting.
Claim Against the City.
The Committee on Claims and Salaries
,ad under consideration q claim for dam
yes, made by Mr. Louis Kimmel, who
iieges that he sustained painful inJu-
les by falling into washout at Beech
nd Chaffn streets. Action was postponed
ntil next meeting, when witnesses are
D be examined
NEXT CONVENTION IN ROANOKE
he Il. Y. y. U. of Virginia to Meet
There in February.
a,ha ,oxt state convention of the Rap- |