The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-14
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
ADOPTS TAX ORDINANCE
However. Makes Exception OF Poll
Tax On Telegraph. Telephone and
Railway Companies.
ALREADY PAY LUMP TAX
Supervisors To Consider Claims Of
Rival Concerns ANXIOUS To Build
Railways To City Point--Smaiipox
Patient Escapes.

Petersburg. Va. April 13.-The
Board of Aldermen in regular monthly
session last evening adopted the
license tax ordinance for the year
beginning May /. as passed by the
Common Council in session last Thurs
day night with the exception OF one
section.
on motion of Alderman John h.
HarveIi, superintendent of the Virginia
Railway and Power Company here,
that section OF the ordinance which
was amended by the Common Council
so as to read as follows: Every tele-
graph telephone and street railway
company doing business in this city
shall pay a tax of one dollar and fifty
cents (si.5o) on every pole erected and
maintained on any OF the streets. lanes
and alleys in the city. subject to the
provisions and penalties prescribed In
the ordinance passed May /. 1898 In
relation to telegraph companies. WAS
changed by the following words be-
ing left out: Telephone and street
railway companies"
Mr. HarveIl pointed out that under
the franchise of the Virginia Railway
and Power Company the company was
taxed In lump sum and that IL would
be illegal TO place a separate tax on
each pole. He stated that If the al
dermen ccncurred with the Council In
placing these words in the section re-
iative to telegraph companies, the
virginia Railway and Power Company
would refuse TO pay the tax and talk
the matter into court. which. after
necessitating much cost 10 the city and
TO the railway company would uitl-
mately result In a verdict In the COM
paHy's favor.
| Mr.. Harveli moved that the privilege
of the floor be granted President Will
liam II. McIiwains. OF the Petersburg
Telephone Company. TO state the case
Of his company.
Phone Company Heard From.
Mr.. McIlwaine in a few brief remarks
pointed out to the Council that the
Petersburg Telephone Company paid
in taxes to the city for the year 1914
S.i9654 and In addition saved the city
s55S on phone service which was put
into effect several years ago Ife
thought that his company was already
bearing its portion OF the city's taxes.
while on the other hand the Western
Union and Postal telegraph companies
and the American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company combined paid the
city for license and pole tax for the
year 1914 only s270.sT.
] The action of the board in striking
out that portion OF the ordinance In
accordance with Mr. Haryelfs motion
will necessitate a call meeting OF
| the Common Council for the purpose of
adopting or refusing TO adopt the Or
dinance as amended by the Board OF
Aldermen.
The board concurred in numerous
items coming up from the lower
branch, including an appropriation OF
$4,000 for the erection of two high
service $4,000 gallon tank reservoirs.
an appropriation of 800 for the pur-
chase Of mattresses and blankets for
the City Jail: an appropriation of $3.50
for repairing and painting old Bland
ford Church; an appropriation OF $3.50
for repairs to the police patrol. and
safso eoHcurred In thA Gouncif's action
In accepting the abutments OF the Po-
cahontas bridge At cost of S2.22s.e2,
and nxtng tbs bonds Of operators Of