The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-29
BIG INCREASE in
P0RAT|ON TAX
Growth Of Virginia Business in
1909 Indicated in Corpora
ton Commission Report.
FRICTION is DECREASED
Better Feeling Exists Between
Public and Utility
Companies.
FRICTION is DECREASED

s1.165.2S6.s5 was paid into the treas
ury OF the State as the result OF Its
assessments during.th past year, the
seventh annual report Of the state
Corporation Commission was issued
yesterday. The book contains exactly
1.400 pages. as against 1857 for the
preceding year, but there Is In addition
an appendix, containing certain addi-
tional information, and which COM
rrises 253 pages. making an actual
total OF 1,75s
Attention is called to the fact that
the registration fee and general fran
chise tax On corporations, together
with the franchise taxes imposed on
railroads and canals. constitute sources
OF revenue created by the provisions
OF the new Constitution, and which did
not exist prior to the year 1903. These
sources of taxation yielded the fol.
lowing amounts In 1908: Registration
fees and general franchise taxes
s22a,795; franchise taxes agains,
canals and railroads, $4S4,053.s4: total
s71s,S4S.64. The amount of these taxes
for the year 1908 was $694,250.4s.
Fees from Charters.
During the year there was paid into
the State treasury for charter fees for
the Issuing and amending Of domestic
charters the sum OF $36,634, and on
charter fees from foreign charters, on
Issuance of licenses to them by the
commission. the sum OF $12,3e1.
Public service corporations paid as
follows. including both franchise and
property taxation: Steam railroads
and capals, s755.46716: electric rail-
ways. ss6,1ss.77: steamship and steam
boat companies, s701943; telegraph
and telephone companies. s46.66s.72.
Property and license taxes against ex-
press companies totaled $13,s40.S5.
while the Pullman Company paid in
license fees the sum of s4,6777s The
remainder assessed by the commission
was $2.605s4, made up Of clerical fees.
tax on seal and fines.
In 1908 the steam railroads and
canals paid s72s.506.16, which shows
an increase in 1909 of s2S,961. Elec-
trio railways, on the other hand
showed decrease, they having been
assessed s6a,Hl.55 IN 1908. loss OF
s3,224.7s.
Better Feeling.
I'VE believe" says the report, that
there is less friction between the rail-
road corporations and the general pub.
lie at the present time than has exist.
ed for several years. Several new sta
lions have been erected and some are
In contemplation. The physical prop
critics of the railways generally are
being impr oved. and as the result OF
improved roadways and careful opera
ton there have been no serious accl'
dents in the State during the past
year.
"There have been fewer judicial hear
inss, because of the settled policy OF
the commission to adjust all COM
plants by mediation If possible. we
find that by bringing the compliments
in the presence OF and under the direc-
IN the presence of and under the direc-
tion of the commission, such hearings
can in many cases, be avoided. ana
that in most cases such relief as is Just
ana proper can be secured without the
DELAYS and expense of litigation. No
record Of such matters appears IN TINS
renort. but the wisdom Of this metnoo
~ dealing with such cases OF friction
Is fully justified by the GOOD resu, ,
ACCOMPLISHED for the general pupiic.
Clerk IL Dilisent.
Praise is given in the report to clerk
Wilson for his diligence In re-
on,rinr foreign corporations doing pus-
mess in Virginia to pay all fees pre-
scr;hed in the statute and to take OUT
naners Of domestication. 1t is ire
nuently difficult, 1t is pointed out, 10
determine whether such corporations
are protected against the State tlevles
nv the commerce clause of the united
States Constitution, and much time ana
labor has been expended in the STUDY
of the legal questions which arise IN
almost every case. Mr. Wilson has,
IN this work, 1t is asserted, added ma
terially to the revenues of the state.
During the year 1909 971 original
charters were issued, against 751 In
1905. 946 in 1907, 1899 in 1906. 7o5 In
1903, 56s in 1904 and 4s2 In 1908. SIX
old charters were revived last year,
1877, amendments were issued, two Mer-
gers were filed, and 106 corporations
were dissolved. Licenses were granted
to sixty-one foreign corporations to DO
business in Virginia, and ten amend
ments were issued to the charters or
such companies.
In the appendix are published the
rules and regulations relating to stor-
age the demurrage and car service
rules of Virginia, the regulations for
the transportation of explosives, the
Virginia classification, No. /, and the
exception sheets, with the freight tar
IFS, the rules and regulations govern
ing express companies and the rates for
telegraph companies.