The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-14
o. one profession, while ,pillng the taxa
OH others. ~
What Doctors Paw.

Az nthars q = i'f'i' i'i'''s VIZ thAS
What Doctors Pay.
there we're lo1 in thd cityiwho 'are y tn su,
md all of them togethet lthy tl,2lb license
tax. ssIxty.flve Of tfemtphy only $40 encn
and 81 Of them having failed to nav theii
poll taxes are not citizens, and M.
Blair argued from these facts that ths
doctors did not deserve tho RELIEF from
taxation they were asking. The speake,
also read n letter he had received from
committee of doctors asking that ha
vote for the exemption OF the doctors,
and lie made the point that the letter
rend: we the undersigned citizens and
yoters,' &C; with tho Ward voters under.
scored. Mr. Blair regarded this as m
implied threat. Mr.. Blair's argument WAS
ashinst discrimination in levying taxes.
Mr.. Dabney Defends Doctors.
Mr.. Dabney in replying to Mr.. Bla,r
charged him with Inconsistency, saying
that when the annexation question was
UP Mr.. Blair advocated the drawing Of
crooked line SO as to have a brewery
beyond thetcity taxing line. Mr.. pnh-
tney strongly advocated the cause OF the
Doctors, claiming that they were doing
nore than any other class to build IN
Richmond. They have brought 10 Rirh.
mono medical colleges which keen M
young men here eight months In ,hs
year. The doctors, or n Inrge n,,mher NJ
mem, teach IN these colleges and do
other work without paw to keen thom
UP. He said that the doctors without
5ostentation or show and without brau
glng. do more charity work than any
other class of men In the community and
they do II to Richmonds prof.. for u
they didn't do II the city would have "a
nj hn
would be much larger. Mr.. Dabney said
he had very reliable Information that 70
per cent. OF the practice OF the physicians
of Richmond is purely charity work.
DR.. Hodges Speaks.
Mr. Minor said there had been somo
things brought out In the discussion upon
which the Board wanted more light. and
moved that Or. J. Alllson Hodges be
granted the floor for ten minutes The
motion was adopted.
DR.. Hodges. after n few Introductory
remarks. In which he disclaimed strict
~ personal interest In tho matter. spoke
for his profession. The doctor said the
practice OF medicine lis unlike the bus
ines which engages the attention Of most
citizens and gave number OF indisput-
able reasons The doctor elaborated tho
points at some length. his time being
extended. and made a strong and telling
speech. and in conclusion congratulated
the Board on the establishment OF bac-
THEOLOGICAL department.
Mr. Blair vigorously criticised DR..
Hodges and some other doctors for
remark he made that he and others had
been dcrelict In their duty as physicians
in that they had failed To report births
TO the Health Department Mr.. Blair
construed this as n confession Of VIOLA
tions OF law violations which were large
~ responsible for the false reports that
had gone out concerning the health OF
Richmond.
Confusion Worse COMPOUNDED.
The question was called for and there
were all kinds of confusion. Fice-Prest-
dent Gunst. who was occupying the chhir.
hammered away with the gafel. but
could not keep order. The question was
direct upon the adoption OF the ordinance,
in spite OF the Mayors veto' ont many
OF the members did not 80 understand
II and they were ciamoring, all Mt once.
for enlightenment. Others wanted TO
know IL the ordinance was killed BY ErF
tanning the Mayors veto. could new
tax ordinance be framed In time FOR col
Letting taxes. and there We're dozen
different opinions on the subject. all seek
Ing utterance at once. Mouons ana
were made as fast almost
one cONIU count ,lHr vac t'''s'
MAYOR be called upon to explain the effect
OF n defect OF the ordinance and a sub
stitute was that the city attorney he
sent for Everybody was trying to talk
at once. and for ten or fifteen minutes
there was confusion worse COMPOUNDED
Finally. Mr.. Adams raised the point OF
order that all the motions Mere out OF
order. the roll call having been started
and he, the first man on the list. mad
voted The point of order was sustained
and Clerk August proceeded with the roll
call.
The ordinance was adopted notwith-
standing the veto by the following close
vote:
Ayes-Bennett. Burton. Cottrell. Dabney.
Donahoe. Gilman. Grundy, Gunst. Minor.
satterfied. NJ. F.. Seay, Washer, Whittett,
and President Turpin--H.
Noes--Adams. Allen. Blair. Mann, Rem
nolds. g. f. Seay and Wood.
Fourteen votes were csautred to pass
the ordinance over the veto.
There was enough business on the table
to keep the Board busy for two noirs
more, but the aldermen had had enough
for one night and they adjourned to meet
at the call OF the chair President Turp n
Immediately called meeting for o'clock
next Monday night.
Harrison Street Extension.
A three conored Joint subcommittee.