The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-07

"
eenate committee on cities and towns
providing that no city may annex ter
ritory representing more than rs pei
cent Of the taxable values of any
county, was given special hearing
last night in the chamber OF the sen'
sta
Representatives from Richmond. Nor.
folk and Newport News spoke In IA
vor OF the bill, and county representa-
lives from the counties in which the
three cities are situated argued against
its recommendation by the committee
City Attorney Pollard. Business Man
ager DAbney, of the chamber OF com
merce: Or6way Fuller, of the cit
sounoil: the Commonwealth's attorney
Of Norfolk. tho COMMONWEALTH az
torDsy Of Newport Sovss. aad hos
OF friends Of the measure spoke "
favor OF it, pAnoagA
Harry n Smith, G. ". ThrocsxnortaA
Of Henrino county. Gordon Cummins. 9
rspresoueAtivo Of Norfolk county. apokl
against the measure
DunAnesD Manager DAhney. OF Rioh.
mond. speaking In favor o( The meas.
urs. stated in the last ten ysass 2soh'
rnond had increased in prospsrdtys popu.
lat4sa end eongsst1en nearly ~ POI
cent. He shovel ShAS unloss ~ arss
Of the city WAS extended that osu4oua
ooansQasaoes we're liable and eha& TIA
oa1y WAy Tor Richmond TO vropsrls
~xpAnA WAs In the annexation OF ter.
rttcSy contagious to her boundaries. the
psopie q which wero more than wiu-
ing - como into tho city limits.
LnnA Spectators ResDoas1hts.
Xr. Dahnsy paid his respects to land
spSculaeoTa, saying that thsy were
largely responsible for tho opposition
20 the measure for tho sole reason
that II tho territory OF Riohnond.
boundaries WAS extended they would
no, reap tho high proceeds OF specu-
latton that now como to them.
Mr. babney showed .hs, Rich,
rnond's bank clearings. factories. sale.
ard population had increased aim osi
100 per cent in the last ten years
and that there was every reason fol
an extension of Richmond's bound
cries He decried the efforts Of the
opposition to the bill. saying that they
were making capital out of Rich
mond's efforts to increase, not only
her own prosperity. but that OF the
county.
Mr.. Dabney showed that II Rich.
mond annexed the small towns, which
are now ciamoring for annexation ir
order that they may reap the benefits
Of Richmon prosperity. which are
now well within the range OF Rich
mond's population. rs per cent OF
Henrico county's taxable values would
certainly be taken In, but he showed
that the fact Of that territory being
practically h part OF Richmond waf
absolutely responsible for the high
taxabiiity of the territory.
One Of Most Congested Cities.
Mr.. Dabney showed that the three
most congested cities in the United
States. of population Of 100000 tc
100000 were Reading. Pa, Paterson
n. j.. and Richmond He declared
that the only possible manner to re-
lieve this congestion and because oi
the situation OF the territory abou,
Richmond this could only be done by
annexing 25 per cent of Henrico coun-
tvs taxable values.
Cor Ion Cumming representing War
wick county. a portion OF which Is In
danger of being annexed by Newpor,
News, also spoke, declaring that the
one reason that Warwick was in the
position OF paying more into the State
treasury was the fact OF its high tax
able values II Newport News was
allowed TO annex IS per cent of the
taxable value Of the county, there
would certainly be a a.ump In the
revenues Of the county.
Mr.. Cummirge declared that the
cities could expend sufficiently with
out taking in the high priced territory
and that the counties should be pro-
tected against loss jus; as much as
the cities.
The committee heard the arguments
but did not take any action on the
matter.