The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-07-05
FRANCHISE
For the West Kentucky Telephone
Company in Union City.


With the mercury making a bal
loon ascension, and thirsty Threats
seeking for the ice that was not left
in the pitcher, the Board, in their
shirt--waists, held one of the warm
est meetings we have had the pleas
ure of attending since becoming ac-
quainted with that fine body of
gentlemen. Whether it was called
forth altogether by the gravity of
the subject, or somewhat intensified
by the temperature of the council
room, is matter that did not occur
to us, since we were wholly en-
crossed by the unexpected elo-
quence of the Aldermen, and of the
Mayor himself, when, under the
order of new business, the West
Kentucky Telephone Company fran
chise came up for consideration.
All the members of the Board
were present. Upon the reading of
the journal by the Recorder, bust
ness proceeded to the reports of
committees. Mr.. Polk reported the
purchase of pest house and lot by
the county on the land lying south
west of the city near the covered
bridge close to the old Fair Ground.
The report of T. B. Greer, chair
man of the finance committee, is
given below.
Committeeman John Adams re-
ported the young trees in East
View Cemetery dying for lack of
water. He recommended a visit of
investigation during the dry wealth
Their to ascertain the real impor-
lance of laying water pipes to the
cemetery for the irrigation of the
shade trees, plants and flowers.
]. c. Reynolds, John Adams and
DIR. Il. d. Edwards, appointed to
investigate the West Kentucky
Telephone franchise, filed a ma
jority and minority report.
A petition was presented from
w. L. Clemmons, Of Rives, for ex-
emption from city tax on stock held
in the First National Bank of Union
City. This brought about some
discussion as to the custom OF ex-
non-residents from the
payment of tax on bank stock. The
opinion of the Board seemed to be
that it is unfair and unjust; that a
man living outside the city or coun-
ty in which he owns bank stock
should not be exempt from the pay
ment of the regular rate of taxation
assessed to citizens owning stock
in the same bank that under the
conditions existing man could
live in one city or county and in
vest his capital in bank stock in as
many other cities or counties as he
was able absolutely free from tax
alton, while resident stockholders
paid on all the local stock held by
them. Notwithstanding citation
10 the decision of the Supreme |
Court, in the case of a bank at |
Morristown, sustaining non-resI-
lent stockholders in the exemption
# taxes, the Board laid the petit
ion aside, and, upon motion OF DR..
7. d. Edwards, decided to retain
Moore & Wells to take such steps
s are necessary for the collection
f the tax, thus making test case
pom matter involving the pay
lent of taxes all over the State,
to thousands of dollars.
The report of the Tax Assessor
vas received, giving the amount of
axes altogether unpaid, $411, and
be names of fifty-six delinquents.
Upon reaching new business, j. ,
! Reynolds made a motion that
he West Kentucky Telephone Com !
any be granted a charter for two I
toll stations in Union {
ity, in accordance with the ordi- ! |