The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-31
WILL FIGHT FOR
RAILROAD TAXES
Seventeen Commonwealth At
torncys Agree to Defend Roll
ing Stock Bill.
ROANOKE JOINS PETERSBURG
Counties Employ Hill Carter. L.
p. Buiord and Randolph
Harrison.

Representatives OF seventeen coun-
ties met here yesterday for the pur-
! pose of devising n joint defense of tho
rolling stock act adopted at the last
session of the General Assembly, tho
constitutionality OF which is attacked
by tho city Of Petersburg in a test
case fled October Is before the State
Corporation Commission. The meeting
was held in the Offices or Haskins Hob
son, commemorative attorney OF Chcs-
tcrheld County, at IL O'Clock, and re-
suited III the adoption OF resolution
calling upon each county in the State
TO bear its quota OF the expense of re-
tanning three attorneys TO conduct the
/ defense.
The meeting was called hurriedly
and large number or the 100 or
moro Commemorative attorneys of the
state were unable to reach hero in
time for the conference. while the short
length OF time prevented others from
getting the sanction or the supervisors
Of their county to enter into any agree
mont 1t is not anticipated, however
that any county will refuse 10 bear its
share OF the expense, as each and every
one is vitality Interested IN the result of
the test. Should the city of Petersburt,
win. every county in the State through
which railroads are operated will bo
deprived OF a large share of railroad
taxation.
VIII Cost S3.3OD.
Eleven of the sixteen Common
wcalth's attorneys, and the one member
Of tho BoPrd OF Supervisors who am
swcrcd the call to the conference. were
authorized to take action with the
others. il was determined to employ
three lawyers MS counsel for the va
rlouS counties, and to ask every county
,T.. "a
the meeting and to pay its proportions
ate share Of the expense. Hill Garter,
of Richmond; T.. =. Buford, Of Bruins
wick, and Randolph Harrison, of Lynch
burg, were retained to conduct the de-
Tense. The estimated expense will be
$4,000.
The General Assembly of 1912
adopted what was known as the roll
ing stock act, which provided that the
/ Corporation Commission should APP
portion the total amount of rolling
stock tax paid by amy one railroad
among Tho counties, cities and school
districts through which the road runs,
4 the apportioum.nt not to take effect
until the 1913 assessment In the pro-
ccedines filed by tile city OF Peters
burg, the railroads are only technical
defendants They have TO pay the same
amount OF money in each case, and
+ have no primary interest in Its dis
( tribution.
Every County Affected.
Only two lines are named in the
4 bill. Both have their headquarters III
:a.s STATE ~ Petersburg. which. prior
/ to the passage OF the act in question,
received the total tax from all engines,
ears and moving equipment. known in
7 railroad parlancc as rolling stock, of
those two roads. The various roads
III the State Will be governed in ac-
cordancc with the ruling in the case
at bar.
November 3 has been set by the Cor
poration Commission for the hearing OF
the test No matter which way the
/ decision goes. II liz expected that II VIII
I hc appealed 10 the supreme Court FOR
final settlement. The three representa-
lives OF the counties Will Immediately
begin 10 prepare their answer TO the
\ brief flied by the city OF Petersburg.
/ The meeting Yesterday was called 10
! order by Mr. ilobson. The temporary
| officers chosen were A. H. Light. chair
| man: H. =. sutton, II, secretary, and
| HaslSins liobsol., treasurer me ioi-
| lowing were present:
/ Cornmonwealth's attorneys-A. IL.
| Light. Campbell County. L. I. sutton,
Jr.. Iicnricu. lIasliins liobson, Ches-
| terncld; Judge Timothy Hives. Prince
! George: H. j.. Lee. Nottoway. Il !.
I hoop Montgomery: Thomas l.. Wilkins.
I Charlotte: 4. s Everett. Nanscmond;
II Mani ii. barnes, new lNftlt A. y.
\ Watkins, Prince Edward: l.. :. Butord,
| Brunswick; NJ. II. Booker. tlalifaN'
/ George IL. IIaw, hanover; Norvchc l.,
! Henley jane city. Park T. Deane,
| Isle Ct Wight, and William -. Cooke,
| SUSSEX. and Supervisor ". {. Winn, OF
.unenburg County. Orange and Au
gustu, according TO kilograms received
by Mr. Hobson, Will abide by the ac-
tion OF the conference. Othcr coun-
ties will be notified Immediately, IN
/ order that Immediate action can he
taken by the board OF supervisors.
Ronnokc Joins in Context.
The city of Roanoke. through its at
torncy, Richard T.. Byrd, yesterday
asked the State Corporation Commits
sion 10 make II a party TO the suit
brought by the city Of Petersburg
against the Atlantic Coast Lane Rail
road and the Seaboard Air Line HAIL
way to prevent the distribution IF the
state tax on rolling stock among the
counties and cities through which the
TWO railways run. Roanoke has insti-
tutcd idcnticnily the sane kind Of pro
cccdirgs against the Norfolk and
Western Railway. ana wishes TO pre-
sent its argument before the commits
sion II the same time that Petersburg
offers the case Of the cities. The hear
ms ftts neen set FOR November 3.