The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-28
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1905.
For Greater Richmond.


For Greater Richmond.
The Council Committee on Charter, Or
S& dnances and Reform is for Ore .tef Rich
,nond. BY the decisive vote OF six to two
81 the committee last night voted TO recon- recon-
mend the extension OF the corporate
limits along the broader lines adyi SCI by
the Joint committee on progress. rms ms
result followed an interesting discussion ?:
81 in which both the advocates and oppo-
IA I,ents OF annexation were fully heal
notwithstanding the assertion Of
member in opposition that The Iines-
Dispatch and others had talked cap
X trap and tomfoolery and made absurd
proposals, ne think that all fair minded
men who heard the debate Will agree
that those who spoke In favor OF greater
expansion overwhelmed with their arGu-
n,ent the objections of the objectors TIC
committee, We are gratitied TO know.
seem TO have taken this view.
5S So far, 20 we'll The first step in the
D movement Tor more territory AID
greater Richmond has teen take:l, ana
with entire success. L ct the friends at
,f,es cause renew their interest and 81!
q forts and work with Increased zeal. They
nave good cause for hope and enthusl g si,..
Isf them press forward. The matter now
ro,es L, the Council. and i,is-e the battle
must be pressed
81 ore Of The main arguments urged
against extending the city lines mort 2 n
5.,atd Is tisas in doing So we would DC
sassag ii.Io the corporation nuMper OF
manufacturing enterprises and territory,
,sa.ts,, should be reserved outside the cor-
4x,r.siea for other such enterprises The
oi,;ec.ors contend that Il this territory be
taken IN. we cannot hope TO have new
factories built, and that we will run a
great risk of driving away those factories
which are already here. because. they can
rot stand city taxation.
* In saying this they are proGla!msng 70
The world that manufacturing industries
X cannot live in Richmond under the present
rate of taxation, and II that be true,
Richmond is in bad way, and Will so
backward instead OF forward, unless We
apply the remedy. We cannot afford as
+ a community TO make any such proclama-
ton, least OF all can we afford to have
s such a condition within this municipality.
But the statement Is not true. There are
many mar:afacturing enterprises within
the corp6tate limits Of Richmond and they
i are doing first rate. They pay more taxes
than factories on the outside, but they
get value received in the way OF city
AL e;.. IT., 4 -,
former meeting of the committee q
n speaker said that he was urged in build
ing a new manufacturing plant TO go out
side tho corporation TO escape city taxes
but that he did not entertain the propo-
{ sition for the simple reason that there
Is was more than compensation for the OK
ira taxes in the convenicnces and pro
i lection which he received.
This.is a serious question. II taxes il
iRichmond are too high for manufacturing
concerns they must be lowered. We can
not exempt such concerns from taxation
and we should not do SO. We cannot givt
them n lover tax, for under the Copsti
luton the rate must be uniform us to al
property OF The same class But we car
accomplish the same thing by maxim!
l tho assessment reasonable. We shoul,
assess manufacturing plants according Il
s their value, " not actively employed AM
not according to The value which is give
TO them through the energy and intclli
(. gence and spirit Of the men who carr.
them on. Let rs adopt This principle o
assessment and lei us proclaim the fac
FAR and wide that in the city OF Rich
Inond we offer every indueement possi
bic 10 manufacturing concerns-l Location
railroad facilities. banking facilities. eli
eonyenences and protection, cheap home
IS and taxation so reasonable that no fail
minded man can complain. II we wi
adopt that principle and advertise III
fact far and wide SO far from drivin
manufacturing plants. away We ~ili IL
dace others 10 come in, Civic progress
never a menace 10 industry.
Fl ~ . F. y i. .