The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-17
Chairman Pollard Elk
plains Why Bra ch
Theory Is Wrong.
CALLS HIGH-RATE
FEAR ALL HUMBUG
Chairman of Finance Committee
Declares New Assessment
Will Increase Taxable VAL
ues, Giving City Greater
Revenue -Consolida-
ton Stock Takes Boost.
ton Stock Takes Boost.



Chairman II. II. Pollard, Jr., OF the
joint Committee on Consolidation, md
,chairmnn OF the Council Committee on
Finance, took issue yesterday with
John II. IJrnncl, who stated In an in-
SterSicw, published In Tic Times-Dls-
pntch, thut annexation would prOb-
ably lncrense the local tax rntc from
S1.dO to $1.5O.
"With all due respect to Mr..
Branchp said Chairman Pollard, "AIl
this tnliS about an increase in taxation
is humbuE.
~ nm sntisaed that the new nssess-
mcnt which goes into eject In 1911
will Increase the taxable values OF
real estate from s.O,OOO,O00 to S25,-
100000, which means nm additional
revenue to the city of s30o,o0O per an
mum, and mn additional amount n nEninst
which the city could issnc bonds TO
the extent of from x3,5OO,0OO TO ST.
tO0O,oO0
Rntify Agreement To.NiEht.
Every assurance was given ycster-
Day that the ordinance providing for
the consolidation of Richmond and
Manchester would be ratified tonight
rt special meeting of the joint com
mittee, composed OF members from the
two cities.
and City Attorney GOODWIN, of Man
chester. have finally cast the measure
into proper legal form. as directed by
the committee. after all the points OF
difference were adjusted. The commit
tee itself is ready and anxious to act.
70 that the two Councils may adopt
the measure for approval by the May
prs.
With the introduction in the House
YA.I1 -aEa III -
old law relating to the consolidation
of cities. and the promise that It VIII
be speedily enacted. there does not
seem 10 be anything In the lgax Of con-
ySoiidation in time for the combined fig
ures to be counted as tho population
Of Richmond for the census of 1910.
Stock mt Highest Point Now.
At no time. In fact, has consolidation
stock been higher. 1t is admitted. OF
course, that there Is more or less ops
position to the measure, though this
Is regarded as nominal. in view OF the
tremendous and decided sentiment cx-
pressed by business organizations. bus
lness people and citizens generally.
You must remember there is oppo-
sition from some quarters to every
thing" said a member of the Board of
Aldermen yesterday. .'and some people
would object IL King Edward would
i HSfeeL 10 sDullQA Blk Tree sDTiQScS osS1
James River. They would declare that
the British government was trying to
nnnex Richmond. in order to give Lon :
don greater populations; so objection
TO our consolidation plan is to be ex-
pected. But 1t will hardly defeat the
cherished hope of our people. who re-
alizc the advantages and benefits and
who are not afraid that Manchester
will get better streets than Manches-
ter might have under its present sys-
tenn OF government"
Certain to Pass Council.
Enough heads have been counted to
Justify the assertion that the ordt-
nance, to be adopted by the Joint COM
Ynittee tonight, Will be passed by the
, Council OF each city without serious
opposition. It will be promptly ap-
proved Then will come the special
election In the smaller city, under a
new State law, which will make the
union effective prior to April l. after
which date the city would be deprived
OF the combined census count.
Members of the Legislature. ap-
preached at random, declared unani-
1nously for the amended law on con-
solidation. Gas we understand It,"
said aileader in the House OF Delegates
last night. Athis measure comes as
the joint request of the Richmond and
Manchester delegations. which alone
demands favorable consideration on
our part But behind 1t all is the prop :
osition to make a Greater Richmond.
and that could be the finest work the
General Assembly could do at one ses-
sion."