Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-05
FIGHT FOR DISTRIBUTION
OF ROLLING STOCK TAX
Eighteen Counties Join In Movement
10 Resist Effort of Cities to Have
Law Declared Unconstttutfonal.
I Special to The Times-DIspatch1

Especial to The Times DIspatchl
LYNCHBURG, VA, December At
a conference here to-day of Common
wealth attorneys representing eigh-
teen counties, together with y. e. Man
son, Jr., the city attorney of Lynch
burg, steps were taken looking to CO.
operation to resist the efforts of cities
in the State. which are seeking
through the courts and State Corpora
tion Commission to have the law pro-
viding for a distribution OF tho rail-
road rolling stock tax among all of
declared unconstitutional.
The conference lasted from 8 o'clock
this morning until we'll into the after
noon. and 1t resulted in the retention
of Randolph Harrison. OF Lynchburg,
and ID. p. Buford. of Brunswick
County, as counsel to represent the
cities and counties in resisting these
several actions. These attorneys both
accepted the proposition offered them
by the meeting, and agreed to under
take the defense Of the law.
During the conference Mcssrs. Har-
rison and Buford appeared, by request,
before the conference and expressed
confidence In the law as IL stands at
present upon the statute books of the
State. saying they believed the effort
to have the law declared unconstitu-
tional could be defeated this time.
Tho officers elected by the conference
are: president, A. II. Light, of Camp
bell County; secretary. Frank T. SUIT
ton, OF Henrlco County; treasurer. III.
Hobson, of Chesterfield County
The officers were instructed to notify
the counties and cities of the State
which Will benefit by the law being
declared constitutional, and to request
them to Join in the movement, with
tho understanding that after the case
Is settled the cost Of the litigation will
be apportioned according to the mile
age OF the railways in the respective
counties and cities.
During the discussion this afternoon
1t was suggested that Congressman IL
ID. Flood be retained as one OF the
counsel for the defenders OF the law,
and 8. L. Ferguson, of Appomattox, Of
fered the services OF Mr.. Flood to the
committee without cost, declaring Mr..
Flood would be associated in the
matter. IL his services were desired,
from n patriotic standpoint, and with
out remuneration.
Among the counties not represented
at the meeting, but which promised
by letter to be identified with the eff
fort, are Roanoke. Wythe. Louisa,
Lunenburg, Botetourt and Charlotte
The delegates in the conference were
NJ. p Bonifant of Prince Edward
County: Parke Doane, of Isle of Wight
County; Frank r. Sutton, of Henrico
County; w. T. Lewis. of Clarke County;
Marshall B. Booker. of Halifax County;
w. b. Snidow, OF Giles County; A. II.
Light, Of Campbell County; r. p. Blu
ford, OF Brunswick County; n iIobson,
of, Chesterfield County; j. p. Taylor, Of
Henry County; Otto Evans and Thomas
Whitehead, Jr., of Amherst County; N.
c. Manson, Jr., and Fl. D.. Yancey, OF
Lynchburg; E. w. Hubbard. Of Buck
!nsham County: r. II. w. Duke, of
Alhemarle County; 8. l.. Ferguson, of
Appomattox County; II. Fl. Kerr, Of
Augusta County, and j. r. Horsely,
OF Appomattox County.