The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-16
John r. Branch and N. w. Bowc
Oppose Movement for
Greater Richmond.
FEAR H.!G HER TAX RATE.
Chamber Directors and Commit
tee 1idorse Annexation :
After Careful Thought.

Richmond and Manchester on the part
Of large property holders In this city,
VINO believe the agreement to be too
expensive and that It may lead to an
increase In property taxes. is expected
from certain large property owning
interests The ordinance, az agreed
on and amended by the two committees
at their last meeting has been cast
IN proper form. and meets tho approval
OF the attorneys and now awaits final
action on the part OF the committees.
IT does not seem to have been def
ritely determined whether the oppo-
sitton to ratification of the pending
ordinance will be In the form OF n
protest adopted by those known to DO
opposed. or whether such citizens will
merely use their individual influence
to prevent the contamination of the
sccmc.
Large Tax Payers Oppose.
John +. Branch. James Caskie, y. w
Bowe and other representatives of large
property interests are among those
who will oppose the plan for union as
presented by the committees.
Mr.. Bowe said last night that while
he was emphatically opposed to the
union. he did not anticipate taking the
lead In any concerted movement for
opposition. He added that he would be
glad to join such a movement and to
contribute to its expenses IL there
were any. Mr.. Bowe took the ground
that any further annexation at this
time would result In the diversion OF
funds that should be spent in improv-
ing property. In the present city Of
Richmond to the new area, without
any adequate compensation.
Costs Too Much, Snys Mr.. Branch.
Mr.. Branch was even moro positive
In his opposition. He said: "Hfanches-
ter Is now only making enough 10
make both ends meet, with the low gall
aries the town is paying. The 80 per
cent. to be spent In street work will
have to be paid by Richmond for five
years. and 1t VIII require many times
that amount. az their streets are in
terrible condition and VIII need large
sums But they want us to keep all
their officeho!ders. and those employed
in Richmond departments will want an
increase in Halarics to the Richmond
scale. They are too anxious abont
Keeping Jobs for their Office holders.
II they have better men than Rich
mond has in Office. why don't they
como on in and then run for tho place?
II their Mayor Is a better man than
Richmond puts up at the next cleo
ton. then he should be elected.
But they want too much. We
must build bridge and put IN new
water mains and gas mains and sew
a.
court is ridiculous. II merely means
an added expense on account of local
pride. 1t will show that they are not
really a part of Richmond. and the
money to support the court viii como
out of the pockets OF Richmond tax
{ payers. They are barely taking in
!. enough to get along now. and they
! run the town cheaply. too.
Increase Only on Paper.
81 do not believe that such q gem
eral annexation Is good for this city.
In the former annexation and my
friends had hard work to keep tho
city from taking in cornfelds away
out in Hcnrico county. II we had
taken In the Locomotive Works. for
instance. as was proposed. when the
recent depression came the plant
would have been closed down entirely.
The Schenectady and Paterson works
got the orders We are too far off,
The difference is made up by the Rich
nlond works not having to pay city
taxes
'.As for the argument about the cen
sus. don't think 1t is worth conti-
mental 1t will enlarge our showing OF
population. without increasing the ac-
tual number of people. While we viii
have larger total, we will not SHOW
as large a credit per capita as at
present. believe such an increase IN
population on paper. without any rea1
increase in the number of people doing
business. would be rather disadpan-
tage. as there would be no increase IN
business commensurate with the show
ing.
spcndiuS Too Much.
IT think the city of Richmond is
spending too much money anyway. u
is living extrava santly. 1t pays 81 a
day TO men TO drive the street cleaning
not because the labor is worth that
amount. Everybody knows the kind
OF log rolling that has been used 10
get improvements in sections where
the values did not Justify it. II all
this money Is to be spent in Manches-
ter the taxes there will not meet III
and it will inevitably result in an IN
crease in the tax rate In Richmond. !
should not he surprised to see inc
rate go from s1.40 to s1.50 any time
tive go on spending moneysas wc nave
DONE"
Business Manager Dabney, OF the
Chamber of Commerce. said last night
that the special committee from that
body was fully prepared with facts
and figures to show the benefits 10 both
cities from union and that the ordlz
nance as finally agreed upon had been
Endorsed by the board of the chamber
as a move for the best interests OF THIS
city, as wall as OF Manchester.
Tt is not known whether those who
oppose the union will make fight be-
fore the committee Tomorrow nisht
against the ratification of the ordi-
nance or whether the fight Will be
transferred to the floor of the Council.
1t is certain, however, that there VIII
he a vigorous opposition among Ger.
tain Richmond property holders aga ns'
any sunion at this time and especially
against the ordinance as drawn, which
some OF tho large tax payers hold lf
entirely too favorable to the Interests
Of the Southside city.
Attitude of mber,
The point was made yesterday thai
the attitude of the chamber on annex.
alton has been thoroughly clear and
consistent. Tho statement was 1nade
that the hoard of directors, which hat
absolute power to pass on all questions
OF public policy. has officially Endorsed
the agreement as ratified by the ioln'
COMMITTEES; that the chambers senti'
.fInent on sthe question and the absence
OF a negative sentiment indicates tts
lnterestsAh the movement, and tina