The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-03
R,.E.&P. TO VOTE
ON COMPROMISE
Stockh olders VIII Decide
Wednesday on Acceptance
of Agreement.
AUDITOR IS STILL IN WAY
M.y Prevent Payment of Sum TO
State and Counties, With
Surrender of Exemption.

stockholders of the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
company will be called upon. at a
General meeting to be held Wednesday
morning of this week at IL o'clock In
tbe Offices of the company. in the
First National Bank Building 10
ratify or reject the compromise pro
nosed with the Commonwealth of Viz
sinia in the tax controversy Which
has been pending for years
should the action of the stocknoi
ers be affirmative of the proposition
agreed upon between the committee
Of the board OF directors on the one
hand. and the special commission rep
resenting the state on the other me
company must pay TO the state the
s,n Of S165564.SS. in lieu of all fran
,bise and property tax claims 10 and
ircluding the year 1912. and TO fur
tber nav the sum of $l7S.9S7.21 TO the
cities. counties and towns through
which il runs II must. further. sur
render forever all exemption from tax
alton il has heretofore enjoyed, and
give up every nonrepealable feature OF
IFS charter. and must agree TO secure
S,,ch amendments to its articles OF in
corporation as will put il on par
with all the other railroads or the
state. being relieved of its special
burdens and surrendering its special
privileges.
suit Might Go ON.
On the other hand, should the
stockholders take the unexpected ac-
lion of rejecting the compromise, the
suit for payment OF the accrued taxes.
now pending in the Supreme Court OF
the United States. Will be prosecuted
TO a final decision. which may be
reached within two years. The amount
claimed by the State is nearly twice
that agreed to be paid by the rail-
road. and besides. no penalty nor IN
ferest is included in the compromise
The Commonwealth won a Judgment In
The Supreme Court of Appeals OF Nlr-
GINA in suit for one years iran
cbise tax. and the railroad appealed
on a Federal question. claiming that
clause in the Constitution of the
United States had been violated.
Ratification of the agreement by
the stockholders viii not end the
chapter There remains the opposi-
ton of Auditor c. Lee Moore to set
Element on this basis. In letter TO
the Governor. as chairman of the Spe-
cial commission on the part of the
State. the Auditor takes the ground
that the Legislature had no right TO
pass a law authorizing the acceptance
of any sum by the State which is less
than the amount really due 10 II. In
accepting less than half the total of
tor thinks. the Constitution is Nlo-
lated.
Auditor May Block Game.
BY his declination to recognize the
validity of the compromise II is sup
posed Auditor Moore VIII refuse to &C
cept the railroads checks when they
are rendered him, and will not allow
them to be covered into the Treasury.
In this event the special commission
is likely TO take some action-perhaps
TO ask for writ of mandamus to COM
pei him to accept the money. such
proceeding would. no doubt. be con-
tested 70 a final adjudication, and the
matter may hang in the courts for
some time. or. the Auditor may re-
consider and decide to receive the pay
nent.
The localities traversed by the rail-
road seem generally pleased with the
compromise, since il insures their re-
ceiving ave years arrears OF property
taxes. and further means that they
will regularly reap the harvest here
after. sums which are large TO the
localities are involved.
The amount OF SI734223S going TO
the political subdivision by the terms
of the agreement i divided as follows:
city Of Richmond. S57,59l-s1; Brook
land District. Henrico County. ST.
z5I.1s Tuckahoe District. Henrico
county, Sl.0fo.>3: Ashland District
Hanover County, .~Ss075.Ss; Beaver
Dam District Hanover County.
S6SOt7l. town Of Ashland. $3.547.I6;
Reedy Church District. Caroline Coun-
~. SI3.s6J.3I Bowling Green District
Caroline County. Ss.S15; Port Royal
District. Caroline County. S>.s97.5l !;
CORTLAND District. SpotsylVania Coun-
u. SI2.5i91S. city Of Fredericksburg.
S2459se; Falmouth District, Stafford
County. S1e.e23.95. Aqua District.
Stafford County. S25.sI7.o5; Prince
william County. Ss73.12