The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-13
THE LICENSE
FOR LIQUOR
Board Adopts an Ordinance
Making 1t Flat $3.50.
TO BEAR ON ALL ALIKE
Measure Providing for Four Substa-
tons for the Payment Of Gas and
Water Bills is Adopted-Sixth
Street Grade.
TO BEAR ON ALL ALIKE,

m1ttee on Finance In regard 70 liquor H.
ccnse taxation last night, which places
all whiskcy dealers-wholesnlo and ro-
tail-upon equal footing. $3.50 por an
mum fiat scale, the long drawn out and
hotly contested fight over the question
was settled for good and all. certainly
SO far as the Board Of Aldermen Is con-
cerned. And 1t Is almost foregone con-
olusion that the Common Council Will
concur in the action, which means that
III the future. after the present fiscal
year has expired saloons will pay a IL
cense tax into the city treasury OF $3.50
per annum, regardless OF their location
or the amount of business transacted,
WAS LITTLE DEBATE.
Contrary to expectations. there was lit
tie debate or opposition over the adop-
ton OF the report, the Board to a man
almost agreeing with the Committee on
Finance, although Mr.. zimmerman did
inaugurate move to amend the original
ordinance by reducing the stated amount
to 5000 a year. He withdrew this, how
ever, and the measure went through.
And having passed upon this important
action, disposed Of the Battle Abbey pro-
ject and settled the Sixth Street grade,
the members. or a number of them, lost
interest In the proceedings, as result OF
which adjournment was finally taken I'M
til next Monday night at $3.50 o'clock.
7
will be acted upon.
Unable to interest themselves in what
was Transporting about them, no less than
five members asked to be excused from
further attendance, when President Tur-
pin made the startling discovery that only
thirteen members of the body were pres
ent. Mr.. Gordon, who had just been
granted leave to absent himself from the
chamber, kindly consented to return, in
crcasing the number by one. and giving
the desired two-thirds. But Mr.. Turpin
held that single obstinate member could
| XIII every concurrent measure-and these
| were just coming up-and he could see no
| further necessity for remaining, especially
| in view of the late hour. 1t was then
| 1880 o'clock.
When the recommendation Of the FL
nance Committee came up last night
Chairman Gordon explained that the or
dinance. full copy of which Is printed
| below, contemplated assessing wholesale
and retail liquor dealers alike. instead of
taxing the first named at $500, as origi-
nally proposed. He gave n number Of rea-
| sons for this move.
THE ORDINANCE IN FULL.
Mr.. Zimmerman made a strong talk
in favor Of the saloon men. proposing an
amendment OF 5000, whereupon Mr.. Bahen,
himself a. saloon man, asked that the
amendment be withdrawn. stating that
! he thought the LIQUOR men could stand the
additional $50. Mr.. Zimmerman COM
| Piled with the request and the ordinance
was adopted. Messrs. Washer. Satterfeld
and Zimmerman alone voting in the neg
alive. The ordinance follows:
Liquor Ordinance.
Be 1t ordained by the Council of the
city Of Richmond, That section 6 of chap
ter 10 of the city ordinances, concerning
the ievying OF taxes be amended and re-
| ordained so as to read as follows:
| The taxes imposed by the preceding
sections shall not include the privilege Of
| selling by wholesale or retail any wines
or spirituous liquors, or! a mixture there
| OF. except by apothecaries furnishing the
same as medicine on the prescription of
a licensed physician For any such priv
! lege a tax, In addition to all other taxes,
shall be imposed, and all persons deslr-
| Ing such privilege shall pay the sum OF
I two hundred and fifty dollars (s260) per
| annum. Ees
SIXTH STREET GRADE
The ordinance establishing a ff1t grade
for Sixth Street. between Grace and
| Broad Streets. passed by the Common
Council caused n deal of discussion. Mr..
Allen wishing to have the question sent
back to the Street Committee. This ac-
ton was opposed by Messrs. Zimmerman.
| Bahen, Whittet and Gunst. Finally an
hour and half WAS used up In cross
firing on the question, and then an
effort was made to hear from interested
property holders This was voted down,
| and the debate along the old line was
renewed. The bone Of contention seemed
! to be whether the street should be paved
with asphaltum. Major Allen favoring a
| rough pavement-grante spalls.
| When the final vote was taken 1t showed
that Mr.. Allen was practically alone In
| his contention and the action Of the
| Council was iconcurred In.
A resolution from the Finance Commit
ton accommodating the ndnnti0n nf N
ordinance establishing four sub-treasury
| stations for the payment Of gas and wa
ter bills and allowing the City Treasurer
an additional clerk at n salary not ex-
ceeding $40 per month. was adopted with
| out debate.
The ordinance adopted Is a substitute
for a similar measure which has been
| pending for months,
An ordinance from the Finance Com
mttee requiring that all express and
| telegraph companies doing business in
| the city be divided into four classes. and
required to pay license tax next year
| as follows: II of the first class. $500; II
of the second class, s40o; II OF tho third
class. $500. IL of tls, fourth class. 500. was
| read and adopted,
The ordinance from the Committee on
| Electricity, providing that all affairs APP
| pertaining to electrical matters stand re-
| ferred to 1t, met with strong opposition,
| and was tabled by vote of nine to SIX
The Board regarded the measure quite
drastic and too sweeping.
AS a result of the above action the
Electrical Committee will continue body
without duty. and Mr. Sattertleld. II
| member of the committee said he was
tempted to move to have tho body abol-
| ished.
GO UNDER GROUND.
A resolution from the same committee
instructing the Committee on Streets to
report at the next meeting of the Coun-
eli an ordinance giving the car and
telegraph companies right to go under
ground in accordance with petitions SOW
pending, was the means Of publicly adj
yertsng a breach between the Commit
tees on Electricity and Streets and
| Shockoe Creek,
| Mr.. Whittet, member OF the Street
| Committee moved that the resolution be
| laid on the table. stating that final action
would be taken shortly.
Mr., Gunst, chairman OF the Electrical
Committee. said 1t looked as II the Street
Committee wished to usurp all OF The
| powers vested in other bodies OF n like
| iature He did not think the members