The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-03
PUBLIC PLEASED
WITH COMP PROMISE
Settlement of r., F. & P. Tax
Claim Regarded as Victory
for State.
MONEY GOES INTO TREASURY
Is Part of General Fund-Merger
in Hands of Same Com
mission.

General satisfaction is expfesseo
over the settlement affected py 0oin
promise between the Commonweailn
and the Richmond. Fredericksburg anu
Potomac Railroad Company. The Ions
standing dispute and constant strhe
between the State and the company
have been the cause of much oieksr
ing and i'll feeling in the past TINS
being now at an end. with the consent
of the company to surrender It's en-
emptions from taxation. with which IL
was endowed in its ancient charter.
The result is regarded as victory
for the state. 1t receives franchise
and property taxes for i've 'of tHe ten
wears IL claimed. and the localities trs-
versed by the line get the same sum,
i'm proportion to mileage, share ana
share alike. with the State. Wheh inc
negotiations between the speclai com
mission of the state and the commit
toe Of The directors of the railroad, pe-
gan. il seemed unlikely that the Clues
counties and towns affected would re
ceive anything. but persistent "orh
was nut forth. with the result as std'e"-
In view of the agreement or the
railroad 10 pay Ave years's taxes anu
costs, and TO give up its exemptions
and special privileges. the IMPRESSION
prevails that il would PROBABLY ha'e
where the case is pending. and where
u will be now dismissed. But II Is
agreed that il was best for the state
70 settle and end the tedious ana
doubtful litigation.
Praise is being given not only 10
the Virginia commfssion-6oNern
Mann. Judges Prentis. Rhea and wing
feId, and Martin p. Burks-for the sue
cess of the negotiations. but TO me
men who bore the burden OF the suits-
The railroad first secured inJnnotlohs
in the Circuit Court OF the city OF
Richmond, forbidd'ng the collection OF
the franchise taxes levied by the S'ale
Corporation Commission In this court
tho state was represented by her At
torney-General. Major william A. An
derson. VIII, made vigorous defense OF
the tax claim. When the decision
was adverse 10 him. he appealed 10
the Supreme Court When Judge sam
uel w Williams became Attorney-oeh-
eral. he took hold Of the appeal prose-
cutting II with vigor.
He was aided by his assistant, VII,
liam + Bib. Major Anderson appeared
with them. all working hard On tho
case. The State won a decision ano
when the railroad appealed 10 the
supreme Court OF the United states
Judge williams followed it. trying I'M
SuCCeSSfuliy 70 nave inc tp.i' -.
the cause"-advance It on the docket
He has lately been aided by MS pres
Goes TO General Fund.
The sum of s165.564.S3. which the
state will receive from the railroao.
will go into the general treasury 70
be used with all other taxes IN meet,
ing the demands upon the genera
fund. It cannot go anywhere else
under the law. Dividends on the stock
owned by the State in the Rlchmono;
fredericksburg and Potomac Raliroao
this is a different matter. ana the
bondholders are already being cared
for according to the agreement with
them. with which will result in wip'ng
out the State debt long before 1t Is
due a..
be paid the localities was ferrous
one. The different rates OF taxation
in the counties and cities had 10 De
considered and the assessed value as
certained in every instance. inc "ork
was done by state Accountant carton
Mccarthy and his assistant W. F'aiA
Smyth.
While merger OF the roads max ne
nm the Richmond Washington system
mas not been determined on. II is. as
pointed out in The Times spatch
yesterday now possibility. II is
NOT unIikeIy that application for such
= contamination may be made al any
time. after the charter amendments
are secured. which will put the hich-
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad on an even basis with Ine
other railroads of the State. When the
time comes to consider a merger the
same commission which has pad
charge Of the tax settlement VIII rep
resent the interests OF the Common
wealth