The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-12
DANGERS OF BILL
ARE POINTED OUT
Chamber of Commerce Sends Out
Letter Opposing Wendenburg-
Gum Measure.

Hundreds of copies OF the following
circular letter. addressed by President
W. I. Reed. of the Chamber OF Com
mercc to the business men OF Richmond.
have been sent out in the last few days
In the hope of arousing greater opposi-
ton to the Wendcnburg- Gum bill now
pending in the Legislature. limiting tho
amount Of territory to be annexed by
Il city at one time.
There has been introduced in tho
Senate and House of tho General AS
sembly Of Virginia by Representatives
of Henrico County and Chesterfield
County two bills. Senate bill No. 1875
and companion bill in the House.
changing the present law OF annexing
territory by 4 city limiting tho torri-
tory to that containing not moro than
20 per cent OF tho county's taxable
values and changing the time of furth-
er annexation from three to five years.
This is class Legislation, pure and Sim
pie. and is particularly aimed ut tho
action that Richmond IS now taking
In procuring much needed territory.
We nre now tho second most congcsted
city In the country. and IL these bills
pass 1t VIII have a most deplorable CT
feet upon the development of tho cap
ital city OF our State on it's way TO
become the Southern metropolis and
we most urgently request that you do
all in your power to defeat this legis-
lation for tho following reasons:
First. Tho present law provides
every safeguard by court proceedings
before an impartial judge, upon whom
it is mandatory to see that the loss of
revenue to tho country Is not unfair,
and also carries with 1t the right OF
iappeal This law was enacted after
long md careful consideration, and
the effect OF tho passage of the present
bills would be that in few weeks
tho basic principles and scientific part
1.t., IL fx..- 1t,
such territory as Is suitable for devel-
opment. or already requiring city I'M
provements. Will be practically annull-
ed. And the whole principle of scien-
tifc and practical suitability OF ter
ritory would be changed to that Of dol
lars and cents.
Second. Tho consequences would
be most dire In retarding the manu-
featuring development of our State. rs
there may be instances where interests
may become go large that their tax
able values may exceed one-fourth Of
that OF the county. ana could only
come in by part at the interval Of five
years; md. with this legislation, the
cities of the State, which may In the
future need more territory, might face
the effort to further cut down tho
limits sufficient In amount only to come
within the constitutional provisions.
Third. Tho comparative high val
ues OF suburban property are duo to
the proximity to the city, and when
conditions are such that it is deemed
desirable by property owners and resi-
dents 10 obtain needed improvements
and facilities, which the counties can
not give. their rights should not DO
limited beyond those which tho court
Is now proceeding to pass on.
Fourth. Such n law would have a
direct bearing upon the revenues of
the state, as property brought In with
In the limits of the city show an in
crease of about 80 per cent In Value
within the fve-year period of the new
assessment. Richmond now contrib
utes about one sixth of the total
revenue OF the State. and. unless pre-
vented by this legislation. further
enhancement OF values Of this kind
VIII have every tendency to reduce tho
State tan
Fifth. The present law contem-
plates tho territory annexed shall be
considered upon the broad proposition
OF the necessity and deslrability that
consists OF control OF the Watersheds
ana sewerage topography, and, most
important of all. tho health of the
community involved, and should nor
be governed solely by and in consid-
Grafton of dollars and cents"