Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-18
Representatives Of Merchants Ap.
pear Before Finance Com,
IRAle8 Of The Council.
anT LICENSE TAX INCREASED
captain Berkeley, Counsel for Assoca.
slon, Asks FOR and Is Granted Time
In Which 70 Collect Data to be pre-
scented Before Matter 10 Considered
Important Questions.


Another step In the fight for lower
& electric ligh; rates, which has been
saiinched, by the Merchants Associa
Ion, was taken last night when com
2Siaittee of the association appeared be.
Tore the finance committee of the city
council and asked for hearing In
gcpnneotlon With the fixing of license
j tils; upon electric light aud gus COM
panies.
Gaptain G, G. rcrklcy appeared as
;fs.ounsel and spokesman for the COM
1nsttee. Messrs. Alex Meyers AMI
lsdlayid Lee, of the committee OF mcr
chants, and Messrs, J. II. Spraguc ami
M II. Lash, members of the associa-
ton. were present with tho attorney
Captain Berkeley asked the finance
committee to postpone action on tina.
clause of tho license tax ordinance
yhich fixes the license TO be paid by
lighting companies. In order to give
him limo in which to collect certain
tiata With which he proposed TO dc.
monstratc TO The committee that the
license tax upon such companies
should be materially Increased
Beginning Of Fight.
He went on to say that tho appear.
ance OF tho merchants In this matter
MAS the beginning OF systematic
iight against the light and power
Nionopoly.' Explaining the situation.
Aic captain said that the recent
q chnnge or discounts by tho Citizens
hallway, Light and Power Company
realty increased the price of cleo.
triei,y TO the larger consumers and
mat tue rate formerly In effect WA
Z entirely too high.
III response to questions from Chair.
ism Read and other members OF The
Captain Rerkley said that
tle proposed TO bring before The com.
s5-lnlttee evidence of the enormous pro-
ny : made By the lighting companies;
comparison of the rates charged
here With those of other cities OF this
class, and an estimate of added
tesenue which VIII lie derived ms the
r result OF the recent change In dis :.
counts.
Declaring that the merchants pro,
posed to appeal to all the people of the
~ for assistance In The fight ag-
tiast the monopoly" tho attorney
said that, IN the event that no direct
measures can be adopted to compel
tho companies To lower their rates.
tpe merchants prefer to have part
4s4of their money go into the city treas
& lsrys and therefore desire the council to
< secure the money hy taxation.
Action Is Postponed.
INC committee decided to postpone
sonsiueration of the matter OF license
# taxes upon lighting companies until
iHesday March &c. II was not prac-
tteapie to nix Il later date,as all II
the budget ordinances must be ready
s Tor presentation when tho common
e8rpnncil meets
IN connection with this matter. civ
attorney sMas5ie was directed to sub
nut opinion upon several legal uues.
ions. This most important of these
81 ~ the question of whether or not the
# &c e of the legislature giving the Cit.
u Il iEcns Hallway. light and Power Com
pany tue right to operate upon The
streets of this city Is constitutional.
sar, Masslc Ia inclined 10 think that the
\ acS which was an amendment to !,
1srcVfcus act. may be declared nm
constitutional because It's title doc
not clearly set forth its import. The
attorney stated before the committee
mat The amendment in question wa
ss pushed through the legislature with.
ont the knowledge of tho local rep
81 Tesentative.
May Order Property Removed.
in the event that Mr.. Massie rcports
5 saEorably upon the proposition. the
committees may recommend to tho
council that the street force he al
rcetcd to remove the poles ana pro.
perry of the Citizens Company from
ne streets of the city. This would
cSult In an application for an lnunc.
ION on the part OF the company: then
ne question of whether or not tho
pinendment in question is constitl,.
y fiotlal could be fought out in the
cenrts.